According to NIDIS (National Integrated Drought Information System) as of October 11, 2022, 46.43% of the United States and 55.41% of the lower 48 states are in a drought. Because of this, drought tolerant grass is well worth considering.
What can you do to help this situation? You can make changes in your landscape to drastically reduce the water use on your property. Many people have the misconception that a drought tolerant landscape will look like a desert – dry and arid. This does not have to be the case.
Some people think it must be cacti and succulents to be drought tolerant, and many don’t like the look of these plants. There are many beautiful and colorful plants that are drought tolerant and can keep your outdoor living space a sweet piece of paradise.
Advantages of Going Drought Tolerant
There are a lot of reasons to replace a thirsty landscape with a drought tolerant one. To name a few:
- Water conservation which is much needed in Southern California at this time could benefit greatly from this change.
- A reduction in your water bill would be a plus.
- This change to a drought tolerant landscape can increase the value of your property, since many home buyers don’t want the high water bills.
- Less maintenance. If you eliminate some of your grass, there will be less mowing. Drought tolerant plants often require less pruning and care. Beautiful rocks and pebbles can add a different color dimension.
- Your landscape will become more wildlife friendly often providing food such as berries and nectar to wildlife.
- Many drought tolerant plants seem to be less prone to plant disease and more pest resistance.
Let's Talk Grass
Most of us love those green spaces in our landscape that feel so good to walk on barefooted, play games with a soft landing, or even lie on watching the stars at night. It feels good, it looks good, and it brings a sense of refreshment.
Just exploring the influences of the color green, we learn green connects us with nature. It can also bring a feeling of tranquility and refreshment. Green is also associated with relieving stress and healing. It’s calming. It’s natural. So why would you want to get rid of that beautiful color? You don’t have to!
Going Drought Tolerant and Keeping the Green
You can do your part in conserving water and keep that wonderful green influence. Grass is a large part of the color of the landscape, but so are the trees, the perennials, the shrubs, the ground covers as well as cacti and succulents which can provide a kaleidoscope of colors accompanying other vegetation.
If you’re in love with that soft green carpet of grass that visually invites you into a relaxing, tranquil moment, then let’s explore some of the best options of drought tolerant grass. But first, let’s consider how much water you may be saving.
To put this in perspective, let me share a personal experience with you. I designed and managed a wedding garden for 15 years. This garden had over 10,000 square feet of rich, green grass. This grass was framed with beautiful flowers of every color. To keep this grass rich and beautiful and so wedding worthy, in the heat of the summer I had to water three times a day anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per station per cycle. This garden was irrigated by a well, but the owner calculated the monthly water bill without the well to be over $2,500 per month. With that thought, let’s move on.
Irrigation Requirements for Drought Tolerant Grass
All grass performs better (drought tolerant or not) and becomes more drought tolerant with less frequent but deep watering. When irrigation provides moisture to the depth of approximately six to seven inches, this moisture encourages the roots to grow deeper. The top of the soil dries out much faster than the soil six inches deep. So, these deeper roots can provide the moisture the grass needs as the top few inches of soil begin to dry out.
This is not an exact science. There are many contributing factors as to why one piece of ground will dry out before another. Some of these factors include organic matter in the soil, the type of soil you have, reflection of heat from the walls of adjacent buildings or windows, etc. Drought tolerant grass may require watering two to four times a week depending on the composition of your soil and how quickly it dries out.
For best results, calculate the amount of water your irrigation system is distributing and how much is needed to penetrate your soil six to seven inches deep. Click here for a simple method to do this calculation.
Four Popular Drought Tolerant Grasses for Southern California
At the end of each of the lists below, I have listed some negatives about each type of grass. All grasses have their pros and cons. This is not to discourage you. It’s to inform you, so you can make the best choice for the grass that best suites your property and your outdoor lifestyle.
Bermuda Grass - USDA Zones 7-10
- Season: Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass meaning it’s a grass that grows best in warm weather and can go dormant in the late fall or winter when the soil temperature drops below 55° F. and air temperature below 32° F.
- Color: The blades are dense light to dark green.
- Growth habit: Fast.
- Spreads: This is a mat-forming grass that spreads by rhizomes, stolons, and seeds.
- Sun: Full sun between six to eight hours daily is required.
- Shade: It will not grow well in shaded areas.
- Tolerance: Drought, disease, pest, and salt tolerant.
- Foot traffic: Foot traffic is tolerated well. It can tolerate foot traffic better than Zoysia grass.
- Soil: It can grow in a variety of soil conditions, and it’s drought as well as salt tolerant.
- Irrigation: Depending on the soil, during the summer Bermuda grass will need between 1 and 1 ½ inches of water weekly. During the dormant period, 1 inch every 3-4 weeks should be sufficient to keep the rhizomes and stolons near the surface of the soil from drying out. Always consult with your local sod grower for the recommended watering schedule for your area.
- Negatives: This grass does not do well in overly wet conditions. It can encroach into flower beds and areas where it’s not wanted causing extra maintenance to control this. If the roots freeze, it may not come out of dormancy in the spring.
St. Augustine Grass - USDA Zones 8-10
- Season: Augustine grass is a warm season grass.
- Color: The blades are green to blue-green, thick, coarse, and wide.
- Growth habit: Rapid.
- Spreads: Low creeping habit.
- Sun: Full sun.
- Shade: Part shade.
- Tolerance: This grass is salt tolerant and works well in coastal areas.
- Foot traffic: Kids and pets can play on this grass, but it cannot take heavy traffic such as parks or sports fields.
- Soil: This grass can tolerate a large range of soil conditions. It cannot thrive in high alkaline, compacted, or waterlogged soil.
- Irrigation: To irrigate this grass, apply approximately 1 inch of water weekly during the growing season. Always consult with your local sod grower for the recommended watering schedule for your area.
- Negatives: It holds up under normal lawn traffic. It will not hold up under heavy foot traffic. Although it tolerates part shade, it won’t thrive in the shade. It can’t take waterlogged conditions and is vulnerable to pests and diseases.
- To learn more about St. Augustine grass, click here.
Zoysia Grass - USDA Zones 6-11
- Season: Zoysia grass is another warm season grass.
- Color: The blades are dark green with a medium texture.
- Growth habit: The growth rate of the grass is slow, mat-forming, and creeping. It can creep onto the hardscape it’s adjacent to requiring some pruning to keep it out of areas where it’s not wanted.
- Spreads: Spreading occurs in clumps.
- Sun: Full sun.
- Shade: This grass can tolerate limited shade better than Bermuda grass but prefers full sun. Growth can be stunted by shade.
- Tolerance: Drought, fairly disease and pest tolerant, most heat tolerant of warm season grasses.
- Foot traffic: Because of the thickness of this grass, it’s kid and pet friendly and can take a lot of wear.
- Soil: Zoysia grass will grow in most any kind of soil if the drainage is good. Sandy soil may drain too fast, and organic material may need to be added. It likes slightly acid soil.
- Irrigation: To irrigate this grass, apply approximately 1 inch of water weekly during the growing season. Always consult with your local sod grower for the recommended watering schedule for your area.
- Negatives: It’s slow spreading. Shade can cause stunted growth. It requires frequent mowing. It can develop heavy thatch and can spread into places you don’t want it. According to the University of California, is it susceptible to nematodes.
- To learn more about Zoysia grass, click here.
Bahia Grass - USDA Zones 8-11
- Season: Being a warm season grass, it will go dormant in the winter.
- Color: The blades are light green and coarse. Bahia grass stays green longer than Bermuda grass and greens up in the spring sooner than Bermuda grass.
- Growth habit: This grass is mat-forming and slow growing.
- Spreads: It spreads by rhizomes as well as seeds.
- Sun: Full sun.
- Shade: It can tolerate limited shade better than Bermuda grass, but it prefers full sun.
- Tolerance: It’s drought tolerant and fairly disease and pest resistant.
- Foot traffic: Not the best. It tends to grow uneven and is not a good option for outdoor activities.
- Soil: Poor soil conditions are not a problem with Bahia grass.
- Irrigation: This grass has deep roots which give the roots access to moisture and nutrients deeper in the soil if being watered deep enough. To irrigate this grass, apply approximately 1 to 1 ¼ inches of water per week during the growing season. Always consult with your local sod grower for the recommended watering schedule for your area.
- Negatives: Bahia grass can grow uneven and look bumpy. It doesn’t grow in a high pH soil which can cause an iron deficiency and yellowing. Because of the tough seed heads it produces, it tends to dull your lawnmower blade when mowing, so the blade will need to be sharpened more often.
- To learn more about Bahia grass, click here.
Summing it all Up
Saving water is crucial, and many landscapes consume a large amount of water. Lawns are estimated to use about 40 to 60 percent of the of landscape irrigation in California.
Using drought tolerant grass can significantly reduce the water needed to irrigate your landscape. Reducing the amount of drought tolerant grass in your landscape will also make an additional decrease in your water use.
Residential landscapes can be beautiful, inviting, and create a outdoor living space that provides a retreat from our busy lives.
Save water, save money, and keep the green! Allow us to assist you in making a difference in the amount of water your landscape requires, still providing that small piece of paradise in your own backyard. Let’s talk.
Hi. I’m Linda Rose. I have 17 years of professional experience as a landscape contractor and landscape designer. I’m passionate about nature and using nature’s palette to create beautiful gardens for my clients. I’m an advocate for the Earth with a mission to encourage people to connect with the Earth and receive the abundant gifts of beauty, health, and balance. My goal is to create your ultimate outdoor experience at home.