What Type of Grass Needs the Least Water?

What type of Grass Needs the Least Water?

Looking to maintain a vibrant lawn while keeping water usage to a minimum? Choosing the right type of grass is key. With water conservation and efficiency at the forefront, finding grass varieties that thrive on less water has become increasingly important. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a newcomer to lawn care, understanding which grasses require the least water can help you create a lush, sustainable outdoor space. In this blog, we’ll explore low-water grass options, providing insights to help you make informed decisions for a beautiful, water-efficient lawn.

Cool Season vs. Warm Season Grass

Before selecting a species of drought-resistant grass, you must first determine whether your area requires a cool season grass or a warm season grass. Here in eastern Nebraska, we are in the USDA Plant Hardiness zones 5b & 6a, so we need to select a cool-season grass.

What Type of Grass Needs the Least Water?

Cool Season Grasses

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the most common types of grass in our area. Its rich color and fine texture make this lawn beautiful and soft on your bare feet.

This type of grass also handles foot traffic well, making it ideal for kids and pets. It spreads readily through underground rhizomes, giving it tremendous self-healing properties. Bare spots from damage or yard work will fill in quickly without seeding.

Of course, this natural spreading can also creep into your landscaping beds, increasing the time you spend maintaining the lawn.

Kentucky Bluegrass has some drawbacks. It is more susceptible to fungus and disease than other species of grass. Full sun with sustained temperatures over 100 degrees may cause some wilting. It also needs 1-1.5 inches of water per week.

Fescue Grass

Another common and reliable drought-resistant grass for eastern Nebraska is Fescue. Researchers have made great strides in the last 15 to 20 years by developing varieties of fescue with thinner blades. These varieties, including fine fescue and tall fescue, closely resemble the beauty of Kentucky Bluegrass.

The blades’ edges are rougher than Kentucky Bluegrass. While a fescue lawn may not be as soft, it will hold up to more rough-and-tumble play than the Bluegrass. It also tolerates the heat and dry conditions better.

Another reason why fescue is an excellent choice is its resistance to fungus and disease. Fescue is a clump grass, so it won’t invade your flower beds or the neighbor’s lawn.

However, that also means that any bare patches will not fill in on their own. You will need to seed this lawn grass.

Blends

A common way to get the most out of your lawn is to use a blend of different seeds. Nature’s Helper uses a blend of Bluegrass and Dwarf Fescue, which is made for our area.

Your lawn will be thick, lush, and resistant to disease and drought. Our blend performs well in both sun and shade, making it an excellent choice for any yard condition.

Zoysia Grass

This species is a popular choice with homeowners due to its resilience to drought. This type of grass is suitable for growing in a wide array of conditions. It has a deep root system, allowing it to feed on deep water supplies rather than surface water.

Zoysia will grow into a very dense, cushiony lawn, but it is also invasive. It is known to:

  • Choke out bluegrass and fescue
  • Invade flower beds
  • Compromise any adjoining lawns

More of a warm-season grass, Zoysia will give you a nice, drought-resistant lawn in eastern Nebraska.

Important to note the following:

  • It will be the last to green up in the spring – usually not until May
  • It will go dormant much earlier than cool-season grasses and will not stay green past September.

Meanwhile, Zoysia Grass can perform as more of an evergreen lawn in warmer, southern areas of the country.

Warm Season Grasses

Bermuda Grass

This hardy, drought-resistant species is a great choice for a low-maintenance lawn. It stands up to heavy foot traffic and is a great choice for warmer regions in the United States.

Bermuda isn’t without its drawbacks. It requires more water than other species of lawn grasses on this list. Because it is not a cool-season grass, it doesn’t tolerate cold climates well.

This type of grass is a great choice for the homeowner who wants an evergreen lawn throughout the winter. Its hardy, weather-resistant properties make it a great choice for southern states and is a common species used in golf courses as well. It reduces watering costs significantly, with the roots extending up to eight feet deep into the ground.

St. Augustine Grass

This warm-weather grass species is a good choice for homeowners who want a low-maintenance lawn. It grows slowly and doesn’t require much mowing during the summer months. However, this species needs soil offering good drainage as it waterlogs easily, causing it to turn brown and die.

St. Augustine is a shade-tolerant species. It is a good grass choice for partial shade yards. If you have trees that cast shadows on the lawn during peak sun hours. The fertilizer requirements are low; one seasonal feeding is all it takes to keep it looking great.

Buffalo Grass

This warm weather grass species prospers in gardens that experience low rainfall during the summer. It’s a popular choice in the southwest. The drawback of buffalo grass is that it tends to lose its color during the winter. This is when monthly rainfall gets below one and a half inches of water per month.

Buffalo grass grows slowly and to a low height, meaning it has minimal mowing requirements during the summer. It’s a good choice for homeowners who want a low-maintenance lawn.

Bahiagrass

This grass species is great for yards with poor soil conditions. It’s common across southern coastal regions. Bahiagrass isn’t as drought-resistant as other species on this list. However, it holds up well to heavy foot traffic and doesn’t need much maintenance during the summer.

Bahiagrass grows well in poor soil conditions and prefers humid regions of the US. It’s not the best choice for shady lawns, so southwestern homeowners should consider another variety like St. Augustine.

Blue Grama

This species is almost as drought-resistant as buffalo grass and offers low maintenance requirements for the homeowner. Blue grama needs as little as seven inches of water per year to thrive, making it a great choice for gardens in southern California.

Many drought-tolerant grass varieties are available, giving gardeners a choice for a low-maintenance lawn that looks great without a high water bill. Nebraska is in a transition zone regarding grasses, making it difficult to balance warm-season and cool-season grasses. 

The United States Department of Agriculture provides a helpful tool (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map) for choosing what kind of grass you need depending on where you live.

 

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Nature’s Helper – Lawn Sprinklers Omaha

With so much drought in recent years, it’s an essential step to install a sprinkler system designed for maximum water efficiency that still delivers a lush, healthy lawn. For more than 25 years, Nature’s Helper has been helping Omaha residents turn their lawns from ordinary into extraordinary. Through designing and installing residential and commercial underground sprinkler systems, we’re committed to providing innovative solutions and outstanding customer service every single time.

Are you noticing brown spots even with a drought-resistant lawn and a water-efficient sprinkler system? Periods of drought can reveal a poorly designed sprinkler system. At Nature’s Helper, we don’t just get water on the lawn, we focus on hydraulics, spacing, and nozzling to put down 1/3” of water on the lawn as evenly as possible every time your system runs. If you find yourself pulling hoses even with an irrigation system, call Nature’s Helper – we can help you!

To request service or schedule a free installation estimate, contact us online or call us at (402) 334-2625.