In your yard, you might have noticed that you have two distinctly different types of grass.
Yes, we all know that grass comes in a few different tinctures and textures, but how come you have perfectly deep green blades on one side of your yard and bright green blades on the other side of your lawn?
Is it just a different variety of grass or is there something more to it? What exactly is the difference between these lawns and what’s causing it?
Well, it all has to do with one or a combination of factors. However, the most common reason why you’ll have two distinctly different types of grass is that the lawn provides favorable conditions in terms of temperature, moisture and nutrients (nitrogen) for different types of grass to survive.
A comparison between the two different types of grass in your yard will reveal the inconsistency in the lawn.
Believe it or not, there is a slight difference in the geographic distribution of these grass types and this diversity triggers their habits.
Here’s how to tell them apart in your yard and a brief reason why you’ll want to do so.
Read More: Is My Lawn Too Far Gone? Noticeable Signs
How to tell what type of grass I have in my yard
The easiest way to figure out what type of grass you have is by examining the leaves.
Blade width should give you insight into the grass type, but there are also other subtle differences that are noticeable between different types of grass:
- speed of grass growth
- grass leaf arrangement
- blade tip shape
- grass leaf color and texture
- density of grass blades
- grass growth habit and pattern
- vernation shape
- season of growth
- frequency of mowing (Check out: How Often to Change Riding Mower Belt)
- grass height
- amount of rainfall/water needed
- growth location
- other plants in the same area/planting site/yard etc.
Why do I have different types of grass in my yard?
Usually the reason for having different types of grass in a yard is because of the care of the lawn.
Different types of grass need to be treated differently because they have different needs and requirements.
Sometimes the variations in the type of grass arises because of different types of soil and/or growing conditions present in the same lawn.
Some types of grass can handle more sun or water than others, while some can survive in shade or dryness better than others.
Not all grasses like hot weather, nor do they prefer wetter or drier conditions.
Some are best in drier areas, some need more rain than others to survive.
There are also a variety of grasses that can cope with similar conditions in an area, though these combinations may be rare in certain instances.
Can you mix grass types in the lawn?
Yes, it is possible to mix grass types in a single lawn to create a much more diverse landscape.
You can usually find information about the different types of grasses and their characteristics as well as how they react to a certain environment if you can identify what you have.
Some people purposely create combinations of two or more grasses in their yard, this is often done in order to have the best of both worlds – ease of maintenance, slow growth and looks along with durability and resistance to wear due to different growing habits.
Improved hardiness and long lasting appearance can be achieved by blending grasses, a thing observed in nature all the time and some of the most cherished landscapes showcase this. Creating a monoculture of one type of grass, however, is probably not a great idea unless you have a specific reason to do so.
A lawn made of the same type of grasses in the same locations at both ends of a yard can be a beautiful sight but otherwise offers very little in the way of diversity and uniqueness.
Why are my grass different shades?
Many, if not all, grasses have a more intense color when a part of the grass is bleached by sunlight.
Grass color is determined by genetics, in some cases different types of grass can be grown together.
However you may notice that the same grass has two different shades of green.
Multicolored grass is a common occurrence influenced by the difference in sunlight exposure from one area to another.
Shade on the grass blades causes a lower rate of photosynthesis which usually results in paler leaves on that spot of grass.
Usually this means that there is less chlorophyll.
Variations in chlorophyll concentration from one grass to another will in turn be influenced by factors like:
- shade
- time of the day
- season
- age
- health
- grass species
- type of fertilizer
- weather
- disease
- nutrients availability
What is the most common type of lawn grass?
There are many different types of grass that are currently used for home landscaping, but the most common types of lawn grass in the United States is a result of hybridization and crossbreeding.
Many of these cross-breeds have been developed by the state and federal government to create the best varieties for their region with the least amount of maintenance.
While there are many different types of grass, the most common found in lawns are:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Fescue
- Bentgrass
- Ryegrass
- Floratam
- Centipede grass
- Bermuda grass
- Bluegrass
- Zoysia
- Dichondra
Can you overseed with a different type of grass?
In some cases, you can overseed with a grass type that is different from the one you are currently using.
Related: Is Overseeding Bad?
Also: Overseeded Lawn Not Growing: Causes & How to Fix Them
Usually this is done in order to improve the hardiness or drought resistance of the lawn that is struggling with among other things, pests like webworm.
If this is the method you choose to fill thinning or bare spots in your turf, it is usually best to stick with grasses that are similar in characteristics to the variety you are replacing.
Since the climate in your region does affect the growth and survival of a grass, try to use a grass that is native to your area and will endure your environment.
If, on the other hand, you want to install or transplant grass with better drought resistance, or just a different look altogether, it is best to match the new grass type with your planting location in order to achieve long-term success.
Related: What Is Considered a New Lawn?
Find out more: Will Overseeding Get Rid of Clover?
How to get rid of different grass in lawn
Make a plan.
Decide what you want your yard to look like when it’s finished.
You need to treat this like one yard or like two separate yards.
Use a product that will help the dominant grass take over.
If there’s just a little bit of one grass and a lot of another, then try to get rid of the non-ideal grass that has just a little bit using a herbicide that does not harm the prominent grass.
But if it’s kind of a 50/50 split, then treat it like the more sensitive grass type and try to make a happy medium with both of them.
Unless they’re just so ugly you can’t live with them, where they just look weird, they won’t blend well.
For instance, it does look weird to have St. Augustine and Zoysia in the same lawn.
They’re just two different grass types.
Whereas if you had some Emerald Zoysia mixed in with some Bermuda, that doesn’t look terrible.
Or maybe some St. Augustine with Centipede, that doesn’t usually look terrible.
But some combinations just look weird and you want to try to get rid of one to make it look more normal.
Final thoughts
There are many reasons why your lawn could look different from its neighbors.
It’s important to understand which ones apply to your situation before making any changes.
Different types of grass can be found in any lawn, mostly because of different environmental conditions, fertilization, soil composition and climate.
Knowing which type of grass you have in your yard can be useful information.
The easiest way to figure is by looking at its leaves, growth pattern, location and season.
When grass grows in different areas of your yard, its color changes depending on where it gets light, water and nutrients.
References:
https://www.pennington.com/all-products/grass-seed/resources/how-to-identify-your-lawn-grass
https://www.moving.com/tips/10-types-of-grass-for-your-lawn/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/overseeding-information.htm
