What Different Types Of Grass Grow In New Jersey

Vinny Sessa | February 20, 2024 1:21 am

Choosing grass seed for your lawn can be a bit of a daunting task. The options are vast and depending on what type of lawn you already have or whether or not you already have existing lawn, the kind of land you are planting on, the quality of your soil and how much maintenance you want to put into growing your lawn will define the type of seed you choose, and plant.

The truth about lawn seeds is that no two are the same. Some grasses perform better in different parts of the country; some perform better closer to the ocean, some perform better in shady areas. If you are looking at planting some new lawn on your New Jersey property, here are a few tips.

What You Need To Know

Different grass seeds are suited to different areas. The type of lawn you choose will also depend on a range of other factors. What type of use will your lawn get? If your yard gets a lot of foot traffic, you need to choose a hardier lawn seed that can handle a constant pounding. Fescue is an excellent grass for this type of use as it is very robust. It also stands up very well against cold weather. Your local conditions also influence the type of seed you should grow in your yard as well, in particular, how much sun or shade your property receives.

Hardiness Zone

The hardiness zone of your area is also something you need to consider. The hardiness zone is the minimum temperature extreme that your lawn will encounter. A lot of grasses can’t survive if it gets too cold, however for the NJ area, the hardiness zone ranges from -10 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The range is quite broad here, which leaves you a few great options for a lawn that fits into that category of hardiness. Northern areas will be slightly different categories to southern or coastal regions of New Jersey, so find an online tool to help you work out the zone for your local area.

Warm Season Grasses & Cool Season Grasses

New Jersey Grasses are categorized into two different types.

Warm Season Grasses – These grasses thrive in southern areas of NJ. They go dormant during winter and turn brown. Their texture is coarse, and the two most common varieties are St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass. Warm-season grasses are best planted from sod or plugs rather than seeds.

Cool Season Grasses – These grasses perform better in NJ zones north of 7. Cool season grasses handle the extreme cold temperatures very well. The most common varieties are bent grass, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. Cool season grasses can be wither planted from seeds, or you can lay down sod of these particular grasses. Turf will help you to establish your lawn very quickly.

Best Grass For New Jersey

As most of the state is in hardiness zone 7, cool season grasses are the best option for New Jersey. Cool season grasses aren’t as vulnerable to the lower extreme temperatures as warm season grasses, and you’ll be far better off after winter retreats, by not having to replant your warm season grass again every year. If you live in southern or coastal areas, you could get away with either option. However, you should check the individual hardiness zone for your zip.

Happy planting!

Vinny Sessa

Vincent Sessa is the owner of New Jersey Best Lawns, Sprinklers & Fencing, a company that has been in business since 1989 and has more than 60 employees. He has pioneered the business to becoming one of the top lawn, sprinkler, irrigation and fencing companies in all of New Jersey.

Since graduating from college, Sessa has been an entrepreneur and business owner that has achieved a lot of success in the lawn industry. He understands operations, marketing, sales and oversees a large team to ensure homeowners achieve their ideal lawn and all of South, Central and North Jersey are served with excellent customer service and results.