Native Grasses for Your Low Maintenance Lawn

Native grasses are grasses that are indigenous to a specific region, country, or continent. Planting grass seeds that are native to your area can equip your lawn to thrive under the exposure and conditions of your region. Native grass can help you to achieve a beautiful, low maintenance lawn.

Why plant native grasses?

Whether you’re transitioning your grass from non-native turf or you’re starting with bare soil, native grass can help you achieve a lush and sustainable lawn. Advantages of a native lawn include more drought resistance, increased hardiness, resistance to pests and disease, and it provides a natural ecosystem to helpful wildlife and insects. While native grasses can take more time to establish, they become much more low-maintenance and cost efficient than traditional turf lawns down the road.

Types of native grass

Native grasses are categorized as either warm-season or cool-season, meaning they require different conditions to thrive. Warm-season grasses grow best in the southern and western regions of the United States, while cool-season grasses are most widely adapted to the middle to northern region of the U.S. If you’re located in the transition zone, the middle region of the U.S., then you may be able to grow both types of grasses. 

Warm-season grasses, like Native Wonder and Buffalograss, thrive in the summer and require plenty of sunlight offering great drought tolerance. Cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass and Creeping Red Fescue thrive in the spring and late fall under cooler conditions.

Caring for native grass

Caring for your native grass depends on the species you’ve selected. A few native varieties form sod, however most are “bunch type” grasses that grow in separate clumps. This  means that most native grasses are ornamental, meaning that it looks like healthy grass but is less maintenance. Keep in mind that native grasses are not turf grass substitutes and results will differ. 

While native grasses do offer greater tolerance to drought and harsh conditions, your native lawn will still require a little TLC. Once you’ve found the right seed for your area and soil type, prepare your soil to create a clean and even surface. Plant your seed according to your grass seed description and water regularly until established. Mow high for best results.

Planting with the Cultivation Experts

Prepare your home and garden with a little help from our team at Curtis and Curtis. We source and process our seeds with the highest standards to ensure each seed blend exceeds your expectations. With over 65 years in the seed industry, we pride ourselves on producing the highest quality product on the market.

Let's get started!

Grow a successful native lawn with the Cultivation Experts on your side! We have plenty of helpful resources and over 65 years of industry experience to provide helpful consulting throughout the entire process. For quality results, use quality seeds from the start!