Knowledgebase
What grass to plant in front yard #823832
Asked March 29, 2023, 12:29 PM EDT
I live in the Raleigh Durham area and am wanting a really green front lawn. I have now tilled the ground because of the hard shell that was on the surface and am adding about 2" of topsoil that has fertilizer and time mixed in it. I want to know what type of grass will be the greenest and thickest and will withstand the summer heat (But I am willing and able to water when needed as it is a small portion of the lawn). I would like it to be green in winter but realize I may have to sacrifice or reseed in fall. The dirt under the top soil is definitely alot of clay and loam. Please let me know how I should proceed with the seed for the grass being planted this week and the maintenance of it year round, Such as reseed in fall
Thank you, Beverly Mills
Wake County North Carolina
Expert Response
Lawns are very hard to grow in the Piedmont of North Carolina as it is too warm for cool season grasses and too cold for warm season grasses that go dormant and turn brown in the winter. I don’t think it is possible to have a thick, green lawn in summer and have it stay green in winter. That would be your first decision about what you want. There are many varieties of grass seed and most promise a thick, green lawn, but few actually do that. The best guide to lawns is the link below called Carolina lawns. It covers both types of grasses, gives details on how to plant, manage and care for a lawn. The key to any lawn is to water correctly, mow at the correct height, fertilize as needed, and have plenty of sun. Almost all new housing puts in a Bermuda grass lawn using sod, not seed, as that provides an instant lawn.
