Lauren Bellg, an eco-savvy Landscape Architect with Verdi Landscape Services contributed this timely water-wise information:

As the hottest summer in Austin history comes to an end, most of you are probably looking at your dead or damaged lawn and wondering what to do now.  For those of you faced with replacement, I want to share with you information about some of the common and not so common options for turf grass for the Central Texas area.

 The most widely used grasses in the southern United States are St. Augustine and Bermuda grass and they each come with problems.  St. Augustine requires frequent watering applied every three to five days.  This becomes a problem not only in the cost of maintenance but also in the loss of your lawn when summer water restrictions are put in place.  Out of respect for the environment some municipalities and neighborhood groups are banning the use of what has been the gold standard of lawn grasses for the South. 

 Bermuda grass does not have St. Augustine’s excessive need of water but it is difficult to maintain and requires frequent use of fertilizers that have also come under the scrutiny of regulatory agencies and citizens, aware of the dangers of synthetic chemicals.  Thankfully there are better options for lawn grasses available today.   

 Zoysia grass has close to the same look and feel of St. Augustine without being a water hog.  Some varieties of Zoysia even require less mowing and tolerate shade. It can seem expensive to install when compared to other types of grasses, with sod installation costs almost twice as much as St. Augustine or Bermuda grass.   However, a variety is now available in seed form which will cut the cost of starting a Zoysia lawn significantly.  Another environmentally friendly turf grass is Buffalo.  Buffalo grass has been available in the South for a long time but only recently has it been offered in solid sod that makes it easier to establish.  Buffalo grass works best in naturalized areas since it responds best to infrequent mowing.  A new variety from Texas Tech called Turfalo can be used in a more manicured setting. Buffalo grass needs a lot of sun but with only 25 inches of water required per year you won’t find a more water wise lawn option. 

 There are other lawn grasses to choose from such as Centipede and the promising new Seashore paspalum.  Ask your lawn care professional about which will work best for you.  With the variety of turf grass options available today you are sure to find one that meets your specific lawn requirements while reducing your impact on the environment.