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What is Drought-Resistant Grass?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Drought-resistant grass is a kind of grass that can continue to flourish even when there is limited rainfall. There are a number of varieties of drought-resistant grass, including tall fescue, Bermuda grass, and zoysia grass. Other grasses that are sometimes included on lists of drought-resistant grass are St. Augustine grass, Bahia grass, and buffalo grass. Each of these grasses flourishes under slightly different conditions, so it is important to research the needs of the grass prior to planting it. St. Augustine grass, for example, does best in dappled shade while Bermuda grass, Bahia grass, and buffalo grass all do best when they receive full sun exposure.

Each of these grasses has its own list of benefits. Some of the grasses are well suited to areas that receive a good deal of traffic. Zoysia grass and Bermuda grass, for example, can tolerate a fair amount of traffic. Other grasses such as buffalo grass do not stand up as well to traffic. One should consider the specific use of the area where the drought-resistant grass will be planted when choosing a species to plant.

Drought-resistant grass will grow with very little water.
Drought-resistant grass will grow with very little water.

Other important considerations include the speed at which the grass grows and the kinds of temperatures that it can withstand. Some grasses, such as Bermuda grass, do well in very warm climates and others, like fescue, can withstand winters. Some grow rather slowly and require little trimming while others, like Bermuda grass, grow quite quickly and need to be cut on a regular basis.

People who have drought-resistant grass can enjoy green lawns during a drought.
People who have drought-resistant grass can enjoy green lawns during a drought.

There are a number of reasons to plant drought-resistant grass. One of the most obvious is to be able to maintain a lawn in areas that are known for rather dry weather or are prone to droughts. It is quite common for a community to ban residents from watering their lawns during a drought or a period of little rain. People who have drought-resistant grass can enjoy green lawns even during these periods of the year.

Bahia grass was introduced to the U.S. in 1914 as a grass for cattle and horse pastures.
Bahia grass was introduced to the U.S. in 1914 as a grass for cattle and horse pastures.

Another reason to plant this sort of grass is to reduce the amount of water that is spent maintaining the lawn. People are becoming more conscious of conserving the Earth's resources. As one of the primary resources is water, people are doing a number of things to reduce their water usage at home, including planting drought-resistant grass on their lawns. Some are also finding alternative ways to water their grass, such as using collected downspout water.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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    • Drought-resistant grass will grow with very little water.
      By: Tomasz Zajda
      Drought-resistant grass will grow with very little water.
    • People who have drought-resistant grass can enjoy green lawns during a drought.
      By: Elenathewise
      People who have drought-resistant grass can enjoy green lawns during a drought.
    • Bahia grass was introduced to the U.S. in 1914 as a grass for cattle and horse pastures.
      By: Kseniya Abramova
      Bahia grass was introduced to the U.S. in 1914 as a grass for cattle and horse pastures.