Warm Season Lawn Care
Warm-season grasses thrive in southern climates with hot summers and mild winters. They grow best from late spring through early fall.
Best Grasses for Warm Seasons
These grasses perform best in USDA Zones 7–13.
Bermudagrass
The most common warm-season lawn grass. Extremely heat and drought tolerant. Forms a dense, wear-resistant turf. Goes dormant and browns in winter.
St. Augustine
Coarse-textured grass with excellent shade tolerance. Best for coastal and humid areas. Requires more water than Bermudagrass but stays greener longer.
Zoysia
Slow-growing but creates a very dense, weed-resistant lawn. Good wear tolerance and moderate shade tolerance. Takes longer to establish.
Centipedegrass
Low-maintenance grass for acidic, low-fertility soils. Light green color with slow growth. Minimal fertilizer and mowing required.
Warm Season Zones
Select your zone for location-specific guides.
Zones 6–7
-10°F to 10°F
Moderate winters. Transition zone — both cool and warm season grasses can work.
- Tall Fescue
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Perennial Ryegrass
Zones 7–8
10°F to 20°F
Mild winters. Warm-season grasses thrive; some cool-season options in shade.
- Bermudagrass
- Zoysia
- St. Augustine
Zones 9–10
20°F to 40°F
Hot summers, mild winters. Warm-season grasses dominate.
- St. Augustine
- Bermudagrass
- Zoysia
Zones 11–13
40°F+ to 60°F+
Tropical and subtropical. Year-round growing season.
- St. Augustine
- Bermudagrass
- Zoysia
Warm Season Guides
Essential lawn care for warm-season grasses.