
Grasses used in Oklahoma are turfgrass species and cultivar that is adapted to the environmental conditions of Oklahoma and that fits your personal needs and interests. The grass should also be suited to the physical or environmental limitations of the planting site, such as shade, no supplemental water, or poor soil conditions. Bermudagrass, buffalograss, and zoysiagrass are the warm-season (grows in the summer and dormant in the winter) turfgrass species most commonly planted in Oklahoma. Occasionally, cool-season turfgrass species, such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are planted on shaded sites because the warm-season turfgrasses cannot tolerate shade. Cool-season turfgrasses, such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass can also be successfully grown in full sun, but requires more frequent watering during the summer than bermudagrass to prevent wilting, thinning, and a loss of turf density. Thus, cool-season turfgrasses may be utilized in full sun only when a convenient means of irrigation is available.
Cool-season grasses:
Tall Fescue - Tall fescue is adapted to a wide range of
soil and climatic conditions, but performs best on well drained clay soils in the
"transition zone." Tall fescue demonstrates good shade tolerance in the southern region and
remains green year-round under irrigated conditions. The improved turf-type tall fescues are
finding widespread acceptance as lawn grasses in the transition zone. And, in the southern
region under moderately shaded conditions, tall fescue is gaining in popularity. With proper
management tall fescue can survive in densely shaded sites that warm season grasses cannot
tolerate. Also, the improved tall fescues retain color during the winter months and provide a
year-round green lawn. The best grass species that we recommend
for shady conditions is the turf-type tall fescue.
Perennial ryegrass - Perennial ryegrass can be utilized for overseeding into dormant warm-season turfgrasses or for soil stabilization during the fall and spring when a turf cover is rapidly needed. Perennial ryegrass is commonly seeded into an established bermudagrass turf when a fine textured, green turf cover is desired from October through April.
Kentucky bluegrass - Kentucky bluegrass is a persistent and attractive species that is used in many home lawns, institutional grounds, parks, and athletic fields. This species has a medium to fine leaf texture and a medium- to dark-green color when properly fertilized. It produces extensive underground stems, called rhizomes, which provide good sod-forming characteristics and superior recuperative potential when compared to most other cool-season turfgrasses. Kentucky bluegrass is cold tolerant, wear tolerant, and moderately heat and drought tolerant. It makes optimum growth during the spring and fall and becomes semi-dormant under prolonged periods of heat and drought. It usually recovers quickly from dormancy with the advent of cooler temperatures and adequate soil moisture. Kentucky bluegrass is limited for use in the cooler zones of Oklahoma.
Warm-season grasses:
Bermudagrasses - Bermudagrass is an aggressive, warm-season turfgrass
species that spreads rapidly by above-ground (stolons) and
below-ground (rhizomes) stems. It is the best-adapted turfgrass
for full-sun areas in Oklahoma due to its excellent heat and
drought tolerance during the summer and its sufficient winter
hardiness. Bermudagrass cultivars having a fine texture (relative
measure of leaf-blade width) and a high turf density
(number of leaves or stems per unit area) are best suited for
areas such as lawns, athletic fields and golf courses.
Zoysiagrasses - Zoysiagrass is fine to medium-textured warm-season turfgrass that spreads by stolons and rhizomes. Its winter hardiness and its ability to grow under light shade are its desirable features. Its slow establishment rate is its greatest liability. Zoysiagrass requires more frequent watering to prevent wilting than bermudagrass but has lower annual fertilizer requirements. Zoysiagrass, like the fine-textured bermudagrasses, should only be utilized for lawns when a top quality and high-maintenance turf is desired.
Buffalograss - Buffalograss is a warm-season, sod-forming, native prairie grass that spreads by stolons. It has a fine texture and a grayish-green color. It has excellent tolerance for the heat, drought, and cold conditions found in Oklahoma. Buffalograss is best suited to full-sun sites in areas of Oklahoma receiving 12 to 25 inches of rainfall per year. It grows best on heavy-textured soils and has some tolerance of alkaline soils. Buffalograss is the best choice for unirrigated lawns and general turf areas of western Oklahoma. It produces numerous seed heads which may distract from the general appearance of the turf. Buffalograss can be established from processed and treated seed or from sod.
Below is the USDA Zone Map for Oklahoma so you can determine which zone you reside in. Below that are our picks for your state which will do best in your area. Next on this page are tables which list various grasses and their characteristics so you can compare before you decide on your purchase. Click on the product name (ie. La Prima) for more information about that grass and to make your purchase.
| USDA Zone Map For Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
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| Best Grasses For Oklahoma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Species | Category | Applications |
| La Prima | Bermuda Grass | Warm Season | Lawns - Full Sun |
| Yukon | Bermuda Grass | Warm Season | Lawns - Full Sun |
| Supreme | Buffalo Grass | Warm Season | Lawns - Full Sun |
| Zenith | Zoysia Grass | Warm Season | Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun |
| Compadre | Zoysia Grass | Warm Season | Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun |
| Combat Extreme | Fescue - Turf Type | Cool Season | Lawns - Shady Areas |
| Champion Ryegrass | Rye Grass | Cool Season | Lawns - Winter Overseed |
| Midnight | Kentucky Bluegrass | Cool Season | Lawns - Full Sun, Cooler Zones |
| World Cup | Kentucky Bluegrass | Cool Season | Lawns - Full Sun, Cooler Zones |
| Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool Season Grasses |
Leaf Texture |
Establish Rate |
Nitrogen Use |
Water Use |
Drought Tolerance |
Salinity Tolerance |
Shade Tolerance |
|
| Bentgrass - Creeping | Fine | Moderate to Fast |
Low to Moderate |
High | Poor to Moderate |
High | Poor to Moderate |
|
| Bentgrass - Colonial | Fine | Moderate to Fast |
Low | Moderate | Poor to Moderate |
Moderate | Moderate | |
| Bluegrass - Kentucky | Moderate to Fine |
Slow | Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Good | Moderate | Poor | |
| Bluegrass - Rough | Moderate to Fine |
Slow | Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Poor | Moderate | Excellent | |
| Fescue - Chewings | Fine | Moderate | Moderate to Low |
Moderate | Good to Excellent |
Low | Excellent | |
| Fescue - Hard | Fine | Slow to Moderate |
Low to Very Low |
Moderate | Excellent | Low to Moderate |
Excellent | |
| Fescue - Creeping | Fine | Moderate | Low to Moderate |
Moderate | Good | Low | Excellent | |
| Fescue - Turf Type | Moderate to Coarse |
Moderate | Moderate to High |
Low to Moderate |
Excellent | Low | Good to Excellent |
|
| Ryegrass - Perennial | Fine to Moderate |
Very Fast | Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Good | Poor to Moderate |
Poor to Moderate |
|
| Warm Season Grasses |
Leaf Texture |
Establish Rate |
Nitrogen Use |
Water Use |
Drought Tolerance |
Salinity Tolerance |
Shade Tolerance |
|
| Bahiagrass | Coarse toVery Coarse |
Slow to Moderate |
Low | Low | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate to Good |
|
| Bermudagrass | Fine to Moderate |
Moderate to Fast |
Moderate | Moderate to High |
Excellent | Very Good | Poor | |
| Blue Grama | Fine to Moderate |
Slow to Moderate |
Low | Low | Excellent | Moderate | Very Poor | |
| Buffalograss | Moderate to Coarse |
Slow to Moderate |
Low | Low | Excellent | Moderate | Very Poor | |
| Carpetgrass | Coarse | Moderate to Fast |
Low | High | Low | Low | Excellent | |
| Centipedegrass | Moderate to Coarse |
Slow | Low | Low | Good | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
|
| Seashore Paspalum | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Excellent | Excellent | Good | |
| Zoysiagrass | Fine to Medium |
Slow to Moderate |
Moderate | Moderate | Excellent | Good | Moderate to Good |
|
| Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics - Continued | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool Season Grasses |
Fertility Needs |
Wear Resistance |
Mowing Height |
Cold Tolerance |
Acid Soil Tolerance |
Thatching Tendency |
Heat Tolerance |
|
| Bentgrass - Creeping | High | Low | Low | Low | Medium to High |
High | High | |
| Bentgrass - Colonial | High | Low | Low | Low | Medium to High |
High | High | |
| Bluegrass - Kentucky | Medium | Medium to High |
Medium | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
| Bluegrass - Rough | Medium | Medium | Medium | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
| Fescue - Chewings | Low | Low | Medium | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
|
| Fescue - Hard | Low | Low | Medium | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
|
| Fescue - Creeping | Low | Low | Medium | High | Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
|
| Fescue - Turf Type | Low to Medium |
Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Medium | High | Low | High | |
| Ryegrass - Perennial | Medium | High | Low to Medium |
Medium | Medium | Low | Medium to High |
|
| Warm Season Grasses |
Fertility Needs |
Wear Resistance |
Mowing Height |
Cold Tolerance |
Acid Soil Tolerance |
Thatching Tendency |
Heat Tolerance |
|
| Bahiagrass | Low | Medium to High |
High | Low | Low | Medium to High |
High | |
| Bermudagrass | Medium | High | Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
Medium | Medium | High | |
| Blue Grama | Low | Low | High | High | Low | Low | High | |
| Buffalograss | Low | Low | High | High | Low | Low | High | |
| Carpetgrass | Low | Medium to High |
Low | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
High | Low | |
| Centipedegrass | Low | Low | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
High | Medium | High | |
| Seashore Paspalum | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Low | Medium | Low | Medium to High |
High | |
| Zoysiagrass | Low to Medium |
Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
High | Low to Medium |
Medium to High |
High | |
There are two methods to calculate the square feet of the area you are planting. Method 1: measure the size of your yard or yards that you want to purchase grass seed for. If you have circles or triangles you may have to get out the old math book to determine the length and width. Method 2: enter the measures for you lot in the first section. Enter measures for your house, garage, and other buildings in section 2. In section 3, enter other dimensions of areas you will not be seeding such as driveways and sidewalks. The calculator will subtract the area you are not seeding from you lot size to determine the amount of square feet that you will be seeding. After you have entered your dimensions, scroll down to the next section and choose the grass seed you want to purchase and enter the seeding rate into the calculator.
| Before you leave our web site with your grass seed, please be sure to check out our LazyMan Liquid product line. No need to rent aerators and dethatchers any more! Just spray on and let the products do the work for you and enrich your soil at the same time. |