Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Types of Grass to Grow in Central Alabama
Types of Grass to Grow in Central Alabama. Plant warm-season grasses in central Alabama for best results in sun or partial shade. Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass and fine fescue do most of their growing from fall to spring, and prefer cooler temperatures. Prepare the planting site well ahead of spring planting. Leveling,...
Plant warm-season grasses in central Alabama for best results in sun or partial shade. Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass and fine fescue do most of their growing from fall to spring, and prefer cooler temperatures. Prepare the planting site well ahead of spring planting. Leveling, cultivating and removing rocks and vegetation will give the grass the best chance to establish quickly. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System recommends several warm-season grasses for Alabama lawns.
Zoysiagrass
Plant zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) anywhere in central Alabama. One of the most cold-tolerant of warm-season grasses, it does well at any elevation, provided it gets about 60 percent sun each day. It may become sparse in more heavily shaded areas. Because it grows slowly, it's faster to lay zoysia sod than establish a lawn from seed. Zoysiagrass becomes quite dense, and may need dethatching every few years. Other than that, it is drought-tolerant and makes a durable lawn for high-traffic areas.
Bermudagrass
Seed your lawn with bermudagrass (Cyndodon spp.) only if your central Alabama landscape lies in full sun. Bermudagrass will not tolerate shade. It is extremely fast growing, and spreads through running roots, making it one of the more favored lawn grasses. Durable and tough with a fine texture, Bermudagrass recovers quickly from damage, but may need to be mowed once a week during growing season to keep it in check. Like Zoysia, it is drought-tolerant.
Bahiagrass
Use bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) for playing fields and very high-traffic areas, on slopes or near water in central Alabama. Its main advantage is an extensive root system that can stabilize soil where erosion or dust is a problem. Disadvantages include a clumping growth habit that can be tough on mower blades, and a tendency to produce tall seedheads if it is allowed to get out of control. Bahiagrass can be used for lawns, but is probably best for areas where appearance isn't the top priority.
Centipedegrass
Plant centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) for a fast-growing, low-maintenance lawn that needs little to no fertilizer. Centipedegrass is drought-tolerant, has a coarse texture, and is lighter green than most other lawn grasses in central Alabama. Its worst problem is a tendency to develop thatch. Centipedegrass does best when kept short -- about 1 1/2 inches -- and may require frequent mowing to keep it healthy and dense.
