What types or species of grasses to choose for the garden? Check out!

Types of grasses - Which species to choose for your garden?

You are establishing a lawn in your garden for the first time? Or maybe you're planning to replace your current lawn? Sit back and read this article. In it you will find all the information you need to choose the right species of grass for your garden.

Introduction to grass types - What are the main differences?

To choose the right lawn and plan to implement your vision for your garden, it is useful to know the existing types of grasses. There are several of them. In garden applications, the most common use is:

• ornamental grasses;
• lawn grasses;
• sports turf;
• meadow grasses.

Any of these types can be used to create a recreational lawn or ornamental lawn. In addition, each of these includes particular species of grasses. Importantly, the types of grasses and their species can and even should be mixed with each other. This is a great way to create a healthy, interesting and beautiful lawn. But before you choose your mix, learn about the available options. We describe them below.

Ornamental grasses - What species of grasses are best suited for the garden?

Of course, your choice in this regard is best determined by the nature of your garden or, while still in the design phase, your own vision of the planned space. Remember that perfectly universal solutions do not exist. However, below you will find some suggestions from HECHT experts that you can use as inspiration for your purchases or further research:

• Red fescue. One of the most popular species in Poland. It is distinguished by the characteristic red coloration of its leaves.
• Perennial ryegrass. Extremely hardy grass variety, so it is used in demanding areas. Suitable for sports lawn. Also allows you to create durable recreational lawns.
• Meadow meadowgrass. One of the most important grass species in Poland due to its environmental importance. Great for meadow and ornamental lawn.
• Sheep's fescue. Widespread grass. Used as animal feed, one of the best fodder grasses.
• English raggrass. Often used as an ornamental grass. English raygrass has distinctive light green leaves.

However, this is not the end of the list of valuable types and varieties of grasses. Which are still worth paying attention to?

Miscanthus grasses - What are the advantages and disadvantages of these species?

Miscanthus is a widely distributed worldwide genus of plants in the panicle family . It includes 14 to 20 species of perennial grasses. Miscanthus are steadily growing in popularity in Polish gardens. They are distinguished primarily by their appearance - these plants form clumps and can reach heights of up to 2 meters. This makes them an excellent enrichment for backyards and gardens. What's more, they work great as animal feed. Besides, thanks to their specific root system, they have a stabilizing effect on slopes or other steep sections of land. Unfortunately, because of such a root system, miscanthus is particularly difficult to remove. They are also able to dominate other plants in the ecosystem.

Red fescue - Why its popularity?

Speaking of popular grasses, let's return to red fescue for a moment. You'll find it in a plethora of grass blends for a variety of applications. Where does the popularity of this variety come from? There are many arguments in favor of red fescue, such as its resistance to drought and difficult soil conditions, or its ease of cultivation. Its only downside is that some people are allergic to the pollen produced by this grass. However, if this problem does not affect you or your loved ones, you can bet on red fescue in the dark. It will work well as part of recreational, forage and sports lawns.

Utility and all-purpose grasses - Which species work best as natural cuttings?

The grass growing in your garden or yard can be used in a practical and environmentally friendly way. What we mean by? Of course mulching! This name is used to describe the technique of breaking up a swath and spreading it on the mowed turf. It is used by many owners of utility and all-purpose grasses. Mulching is best done with a mower equipped with a module that allows it. Of course, not every species of grass is perfect for mulching. For certain grasses, this technique is worth avoiding. It works best with varieties and slow-growing species with a low tillering node.

Grasses for shade - Which species grow best in shaded areas?

Photosynthesis without light is not possible. For this reason, grasses growing in shady areas have a difficult task. Of course, photosynthesis still occurs in the shade, nevertheless it is not as intense as in the open air. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with the scarcity of light in the garden. The best one is to choose the right grass mixture in the right proportions. If we were to create an optimal connection for shaded areas, it would look like this:

• Red creeping fescue - 30%
• Clump red fescue - 20%
• Perennial ryegrass - 20%
• Bristle fescue - 10%
• Sheep's fescue - 10%
• Meadowgrass - 10%

Lack of sunshine is, of course, not the only difficulty affecting yard and garden owners. How to prevent another popular problem - lack of water?

Grasses for drought - Which species cope best with lack of water?

You have dry soil in your garden? Or maybe you live in a place where it rarely rains? This problem can be dealt with in several ways - for example, by providing the garden with artificial irrigation. However, it is best to address this issue at the planning stage of the space, choosing the right mix of grasses. Below you will find the optimal combination, along with the suggested percentage of each species in the total:

• Perennial ryegrass - 50%
• Cane fescue - 20%
• Red fescue 10%
• Bristle fescue - 5%
• Dipper - 5%
• Mathilde - 5%

Of course, this is not the only correct mix. You can use it or be inspired by it, but you don't have to rely solely on our suggestions. Exactly as in the case of grasses for shade, there are several optimal combinations that can be created, and which will produce the desired results.

Grass care - How to take care of grasses so they grow beautifully in the garden?

Choosing the right grass varieties and keeping them in the right proportion is key to keeping your turf in great shape. The best mixture will not give you the results you want if you do not take care of your green carpet. Even a seemingly ordinary recreational lawn needs work. So what should be taken care of? Adequate soil hydration is extremely important. In addition, it is worth paying attention to its nutrition. For this purpose, you can use organic or mineral fertilizers, of course, taking into account the varieties of grass you have and its needs, and applying at least twice a year aerator and scarifier.

What about mowing? This is one of the most important treatments lawns undergo. And although this activity seems trivial, in reality it is not always so. After all, sometimes your mowing method and schedule should depend on the type of grass you have. Of course, in general, you should mow once a week - this is the optimal frequency to keep most lawns healthy and looking great. The exceptions are carpet and sports lawns, which require frequent mowing - twice a week on average. At the same time, however, it is not worth diminishing the role of observation. Every lawn is different, so you should pay attention to how your turf behaves after mowing and when it really needs trimming. Too frequent mowing, especially during the hottest time of the year, can lead to drying out of the grass, which in turn can lead to ugly stains and even the death of the green carpet. This is especially important when it comes to ornamental lawn - after all, its main task is to beautify the garden.