Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardi): An Illinois native grass. Manage mowing in shady spots. Features columnar, upright clumps of blue green leaves that sway in the wind. Hardy Pampas Grass grows to about 5 feet and then sends up airy, white plumes that can reach up to 10 feet tall. USDA Zones 4 to 10; Most grass-like ground cover; Also called monkey grass (though there’s a totally different family of plants that also shares the common name) and lilyturf, this easy-care perennial is a fantastic choice for borders and those awkward areas of ground between sidewalks and the road, or around trees. Grass seed can be a challenge for zone 6. Zone 4: Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.) Zone 5 Perennial Ornamental Grasses – Top 6 Choices. The grass grows thick and green and keeps its color for most of the year. Size: To 6 feet tall. Like many grasses, this tough plant tolerates a wide range of conditions. Saccharum ravennae 'Erianthus' will grow in colder regions down to a zone 6. These grasses flourish across cooler northern climates and into the challenging “transition zone," where cool and warm regions overlap. Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) It is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and grows in both full or part sun. The most popular ornamental grass, feather reed grass offers a distinct upright habit that looks fantastic all winter long. Adjust your mower to leave the grass taller in shaded areas. Photo by Roger Foley. If the pH of your soil is higher than 6.5, apply sulfur to get your levels between 6.0 and 6.5. Only apply sulfur when the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Zoysia grass (zones 5-10)—A popular type of warm-season lawn grass with good cold tolerance. Warm-season grasses thrive in the lower Southeast and Southwest, where growing-season temperatures range between 80 and 95 degrees. This warm-season perennial grass can have either coarse or fine texture, and is adapted to a wide range of soils. When to plant: April . Zones… Turf Grass Selection Climate Zone Map Zoysia (Zoysia spp, zones 6 to 9). Traditional warm- or cool-season grasses do not do well in this area. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermudagrass, Bahiagrass , Zoysia grass, and Centipede grass , peak in growth during the warmer temperatures of … Well adapted and trouble free … Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis): Blooms earlier than most grasses. Mow 1 to 2 inches high. Alternatives: Centipede grass, Bahia grass, Seashore paspalum. ... may be grown as a permanent lawn in USDA zones 3 through 6 … Changes to a reddish, copper column in winter. Finding the right grass or MIXTURE of grasses is an important step in planting a great lawn, pasture or sport field. In between, across the country, lies the transition zone, where both warm-season and cool-season grasses can do well. In southern climates it performs fairly well in semishaded areas, but the farther north you go, it’ll need more sun. Name: Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. Japanese blood grass is a showstopper in the garden, growing up to 2 feet in height and width. Choosing Grass Seed. Hardy Pampas Grass is a more cold-hardy variety of the popular White Pampas Grass. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 7, these grasses prefer low-traffic areas with well-drained soil. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are typically applied to Zoysia grasses in early, mid and late summer. The best bet is to choose a grass that handles temperature extremes such as a cool-season grass that handles the heat or a warm-season grass that can handle the cold, suggests Neil Christians and Ashton Ritchie in the book, “Lawns.” The Turfgrass Selection Climate Zone Map - This map, found below, is a color coded map for selection of the type of grass based on climate (rainfall, etc) and on temperatures. 60-144" tall (5-12 ft) x 48-72" wide (4-6 ft). This accent grass is hardy in zones 6 through 9. 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