The Best Drought-Resistant Grass

Maintaining a green, healthy lawn during the heat of the summer poses a challenge for many homeowners. Traditional turf varieties often require frequent watering to remain attractive and healthy. Fortunately, researchers have been busy developing drought-resistant grass varieties that are ideal for the home landscape. These drought-resistant grasses save time, water and money.

Buffalo grass is a hardy native plant with excellent drought tolerance. According to the University of California Cooperative Extension, fossilized seeds indicate that buffalo grass has been growing on the American Great Plains for 5 to 7 million years. In recent years, however, scientists have worked to develop buffalo-grass varieties that offer the perfect combination of aesthetics and drought tolerance. While older varieties have a more open appearance, more modern varieties retain a dense, attractive appearance even when mowed. Buffalo grass is a warm-season grass. It actively grows between May and September, quickly becoming dormant after the first fall frost. According to Anthony J. Koski, Extension Turfgrass Specialist and Professor at Colorado State University, a buffalo-grass lawn uses 50% to 75% less water than a traditional bluegrass lawn. Not only does this type of grass require less water, it also requires far less fertilizer. A buffalo-grass lawn only needs to be fertilized two or three times per year. The newer, more dense varieties are also resistant to weed invasion. Homeowners who wish to establish a buffalo-grass lawn will have to water it regularly at first. Once the grass has firmly taken hold, however, it's extremely drought tolerant.

Tall fescue is a cool-season grass with a deep root system. Although it grows most actively in the spring and fall, it will survive long, dry periods in a state of dormancy. According to the Texas A and M University Cooperative Extension, tall fescue is a very adaptable grass suited to a wide variety of conditions. It especially excels in clay soil that is high in organic matter. Tall fescue also does well in shaded areas, which warm-season grasses may not tolerate. Tall fescue does not have to be irrigated until it shows signs of stress, such as wilted or rolling leaves. At this point, homeowners should water the lawn so it is moist to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Watering infrequently but deeply encourages this plant to grow deep roots that will help it to survive dry periods. A tall-fescue lawn may thin out and appear less dense during a particularly hot summer, but homeowners can overseed in the fall for a thicker lawn the following spring.

Zoysia grass is an extemely thick and rugged plant that is native to Asia. It is a warm-season grass that greens up quickly in the spring. It grows all spring and summer and, like buffalo grass, goes dormant after the first frost. Zoysia grass will go into a dormant state during an extended period of drought, but it is quick to rejuvenate once it receives water again. It has deep root system which helps it reach subsoil moisture. According to Kenneth L. Diesburg, a turf expert from Southern Illinois University, zoysia grass is ideal because it excels without fertilizer and it is dense enough that weeds can't take hold. The only regular maintenance it requires is mowing; because zoysia is a warm-season grass, it doesn't need to be mowed that often in the spring and fall. Zoysia clippings should be bagged and removed, however, since this grass is so thick that clippings can sometimes build up as thatch. Another advantage to a zoysia lawn is its durability. It performs well in high-traffic areas, making in the ideal turf for parks and sports fields.