Southern grasses are typically known for their dense lawn cover, and turn brown in color when temperatures become cooler.

1. Warm Season Grasses
LNT 132 – Spring 2017
Mark Valen

2. Climatic Turfgrass Map

3. Warm Season Grasses
• Prefer growing temperatures of 80 ‐ 95
degrees F.
• Often come from warm tropical areas.
• Grow best in late spring and summer.
• Examples are bermudagrass, kikuyugrass,
zoysiagrass, buffalograss, paspalumgrass,
and St. Augustinegrass.
• Best in San Diego in inland areas such as La
Mesa, El Cajon, and Borrego Springs

4. Warm Season Grasses
• Common
Bermuda
• Hybrid Bermuda
• Zoysiagrass
• St. Augustinegrass
• Kikuyugrass
• Paspalumgrass
• Buffalograss

5. Common Bermudagrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Acute
• Leaf Color: Medium green
• Leaf Blade: Flat, stiff, sparsely hairy above
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Fringe of hairs
• Collar: Continuous, medium
• Sheath: Split with overlap
• Stems: Erect or ascending
• Inflorescence: Digitate spike
• Growth habit: Stolons & rhizomes
Cynodon
dactylon

6. Common Bermudagrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Warm, humid,
tropical or subtropical
• Adapted Climates: Marginal cold
winter areas
• Soil ph preference: 5.5‐7.5, takes all
but soggy and very salty soils, likes
well‐drained soils.
• Native to: East Africa
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: E
• Drought recovery: E
• Flood tolerance: E
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: P
• Shade tolerance: P
• Wear tolerance: E
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

7. Common Bermudagrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: Y
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: Athletic fields, lawns
areas where it has invaded and
taken over.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: E
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: No,
except when overseeded in during
winter dormancy.
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

8. Common Bermudagrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: High
• Optimum Cutting Height: ½ ‐ 1”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
¼ ‐ 1/2” for putting greens, tees.
• Nitrogen requirements*: .8‐1.8 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium
• Thatch removal: 1‐2 times per year
• Establishment methods: Seed, stolons,
sod, sprigging, plugging.
• Seeding rates: 1.0‐1.5 lbs.
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, sod webworms,
cutworms, armyworms.
• Diseases: Dollar spot, pythium, spring
dead spot, rhizoctonia brown patch.
Varieties: (hybrid bermudas)
• Tifgreen – fairways, greens
• Tifdwarf ‐ greens
• Tifway – fairways, athletic fields
• Santa Ana – fairways, athletic fields
and more smog resistant.

9. Common Bermudagrass
Key Features
• Most popular warm season
turfgrass.
• Hybrid bermudas are more
attractive but also more
expensive.
• Planted by seed.
• Best mowed at .5 ‐ 1”.
• Looks best if fed regularly.

10. Common Bermudagrass
Key Features
• Spreads by seeds, stolons and
rhizomes.
• Can be very invasive.
• Goes dormant in winters of less
than 45 degrees.
• Often overseeded with ryegrasses
in winter.

11. Hybrid Bermudagrasses
Key Features
• Fine turfs for putting greens,
fairways, tees, and manicured
lawns.
• Must be installed by sod, plugs, or
stolons.
• True‐to‐type seed is hard to find
but showing up on the market
more and more.
• Best if cut at 3/8 or less.
• More expensive than common
bermuda.

12. Hybrid Bermudagrasses
Key Features
• Varieties include Tifgreen,
Tifdwarf, and Santa Ana.
• Very common turf in southeastern
United States.
• Spread by stolons and rhizomes.
• High thatch problems.

13. Zoysiagrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Rolled
• Leaf tip: Acute
• Leaf Color: Dark green
• Leaf Blade: Flat, stiff, slightly hairy at base
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Fringe of hairs
• Collar: Continuous, broad
• Sheath: Split, slightly compressed
• Stems: Round, erect and prostrate
• Inflorescence: Short spike
• Growth habit: Slow stolons & rhizomes
Zoysia japonica

14. Zoysiagrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Warm, humid
• Adapted Climates: Transitional
zones
• Soil ph preference: 6‐7, avoid water‐
logged soils
• Best heat tolerance grass but worst
spring green‐up and long winter
dormancy!
• Native to: Japan
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: E
• Drought recovery: VG
• Flood tolerance: P
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: G
• Shade tolerance: G
• Wear tolerance: E
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

15. Zoysiagrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: N
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: N
• Cemeteries: N
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: Buffer between bentgrass
greens and bermuda fairways.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: P
• Sod grass: Y – a bit hard to find
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: N
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

16. Zoysiagrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Medium
• Optimum Cutting Height: ½ ‐ 1”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
lower for less thatch & puffiness.
• Nitrogen requirements*: .5‐1 lbs
• Water requirements: L
• Thatch removal: 1‐2 times per year
• Establishment methods: Seed, stolons,
sod, sprigging, plugging.
• Seeding rates: 1.0‐1.5 lbs.
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: sod webworms, nematodes,
armyworms.
• Diseases: rust, brown patch, but
usually disease‐free.
Varieties:
• Emerald: cross between Z. japonica
and Z. tenuifolia (so a finer bladed
grass)
• Meyer: very popular, more drought
and wear tolerant.
• El Toro: developed in S. Calif for
drought and faster growth.

17. Zoysiagrass
Key Features
• Most cold tolerant warm season
grass.
• Tends to have a long dormancy
period.
• Slow growing but will eventually
crowd out weeds and other
grasses.
• Very drought tolerant grass.

18. Zoysiagrass
Key Features
• New varieties are faster growing
with shorter dormancy problems.
• ‘El Toro’ Zoysia is the most
common variety in San Diego

19. St. Augustinegrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Boat‐shaped
• Leaf Color: Medium green
• Leaf Blade: Petioled, smooth, broad
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Faint fringe of hairs
• Collar: Continuous, broad
• Sheath: Highly compressed
• Stems: Very prostrate
• Inflorescence: Raceme
• Growth habit: Stoloniferous
Stenotaphrum
secondatum

20. St. Augustinegrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Warm, humid
• Adapted Climates: Few due to lack
of cold hardiness but can grow in
Southern California
• Least cold tolerant grass of all warm
season grasses.
• Soil ph preference: 6.5‐7.5, likes
moist, well‐drained soils.
• Native to: Caribbean Islands
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: G
• Drought recovery: G
• Flood tolerance: G
• Smog tolerance: P
• Low temperature tolerance: VP
• Shade tolerance: E
• Wear tolerance: G
• Salt tolerance: VG
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

21. St. Augustinegrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: N
• Golf course greens: N
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: N
• Cemeteries: N
• Airfields: N
• Roadsides: N
• Others: Primarily a Southeastern
United States lawn that is great in
shade. But, still sometimes found
in San Diego
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: G
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: N
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

22. St. Augustinegrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Medium‐Low
• Optimum Cutting Height: 1½ ‐ 2½”
• Special Use Cutting Heights: 1” but
no lower for lawns
• Nitrogen requirements*: .5‐1 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium high
• Thatch removal: 2 times per year, can
be a big problem if ignored
• Establishment methods: Sod, sprigs,
plugging.
• Seeding rates: No seed available
Pests:
• Insects: chinch bugs, sod
webworms, armyworms.
• Diseases: brown patch, leaf spot,
dollar spot, SAD virus (St. Augustine
Decline)
Varieties:
• Bitter Blue: blue green color, better
low temperature color retention.
• Floratine: slight blue green color,
better low mowing tolerance.

23. St. Augustinegrass
Key Features
• Coarse, stoloniferous grass.
• Grows well in shade and along
seaside locations.
• Very popular in Gulf coast states.
• Has A boat‐shaped leaf tip.

24. St. Augustinegrass
Key Features
• Often confused with Kikuyugrass
but has no hairs and has flattened
stem in collar area.
• Very thatch prone.
• Popular in the 60’s in San Diego
but rarely planted now.
• Problems with chinch bugs in San
Diego.

25. Kikuyugrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Acuminate
• Leaf Color: Lighter green
• Leaf Blade: Hairy, flattened at apex
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Fringe of hairs
• Collar: Medium with hairs
• Sheath: Slightly compressed w/hairs
• Stems: Thick, hairy
• Inflorescence: Spiklets – white threads
• Growth habit: Stolons and rhizomes
Pennisetum
clandestinum

26. Kikuyugrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Warm, humid,
tropical
• Adapted Climates: Coastal climates
with no cold winters
• Rarely intentionally planted but
often takes over lawns
• Soil ph preference: 6.0‐7.5, does
well in poor drainage areas.
• Native to: East Africa
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: G
• Drought recovery: E
• Flood tolerance: G
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: P
• Shade tolerance: E
• Wear tolerance: VG
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

27. Kikuyugrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: N
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: Y
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: N
• Others: Wherever it invades!
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: E
• Sod grass: No, but possible
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: N
• Brought into S. Calif. in the early
1900’s for canal bank erosion
control and has taken over since!
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

28. Kikuyugrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Medium
• Optimum Cutting Height: 3/4”
• Special Use Cutting Heights: 1/2” for
fairways or athletic fields
• Nitrogen requirements*: .5 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium
• Thatch removal: 2 times per year
• Establishment methods: Seed (by
accident), stolons
• Seeding rates: No seed available
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: rare
• Diseases: pythium, Kikuyu yellows
Varieties:
• Kenda – bred to be sterile and not
spread by seed, finer and more
protrate
• Improved – finer texture and deeper
green.

29. Kikuyugrass
Key Features
• A noxious weed in California.
• Requires a permit to plant it
legally.
• Invades lawns by seed, stolons,
and rhizomes.
• Likes cooler, coastal areas.

30. Kikuyugrass
Key Features
• Often mistaken for bermuda and
St. Augustinegrass.
• Has hairs on leaves and stems.
• Once in a lawn it takes over
rapidly.
• Good park and high usage
turfgrass.
• Small white hair‐like seed heads
help to distinguish it.

31. Seashore Paspalum
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Rolled
• Leaf tip: Acute
• Leaf Color: Slight blue‐green
• Leaf Blade: Smooth to slightly hairy
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Short, membranous, hairy, may be pointed
• Collar: White, continuous
• Sheath: Split with overlap
• Stems: Round, moderately sized
• Inflorescence: Greenish, small spikes
• Growth habit: Stolons and rhizomes
Paspalum
vaginatum

32. Seashore Paspalum
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Warm, humid
• Adapted Climates: Transition zones
• Soil pH preference: 7‐8, does well in
salty soil areas.
• Native to: Australia
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: G
• Drought recovery: G
• Flood tolerance: G
• Smog tolerance: Unknown
• Low temperature tolerance: P
• Shade tolerance: P
• Wear tolerance: G
• Salt tolerance: E
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

33. Seashore Paspalum
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: N
• Cemeteries: N
• Airfields: N
• Roadsides: N
• Others: Best grass for salty soils
or for areas being irrigated with
reclaimed water.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: G
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: N
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

34. Seashore Paspalum
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Medium
• Optimum Cutting Height: 3/4”
• Special Use Cutting Heights: ¼‐1/2”
for fairways or greens.
• Nitrogen requirements*: 1.0 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium
• Thatch removal: 1‐2 times per year
• Establishment methods: Sod, stolons
• Seeding rates: No seed available
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: Sod webworms, billbugs
• Diseases: Dollarspot
Varieties:
• Excaliber (Adalayd or Futurf) –
original variety introduced into the
US. Actually has more disease
problems the purer the water used.
• SeaDwarf – Dwarfer and good for
putting greens and is even more salt
tolerant.

35. Seashore Paspalum
Key Features
• New grass used in high salt and
poor drainage areas.
• Will grow in areas where
bermudagrass fails due to salinity.
• Often found on golf courses on or
near the ocean.
• Spreads by stolons and rhizomes.

36. Seashore Paspalum
Key Features
• Can get thatchy.
• Looks best with twice per week
mowing.
• Will choke out most other
grasses.
• Tends to have a blue‐green color

37. Buffalograss
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Rolled
• Leaf tip: Acuminate
• Leaf Color: Gray‐green,
• Leaf Blade: Curled, pointed
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Fringe of hairs
• Collar: ?
• Sheath: Split with overlap
• Stems: Thin, upright
• Inflorescence: Spike
• Growth habit: Stolons
Buchloe
dactyloides

38. Buffalograss
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Warm, dry
• Adapted Climates: Can tolerate
wetter conditions but tends to thin
out in those conditions.
• Soil pH preference: 6.5‐7.5, prefers
drier soils.
• Native to: Central plains of North
America
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: VG
• Drought recovery: VG
• Flood tolerance: P
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: G
• Shade tolerance: P
• Wear tolerance: P
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

39. Buffalograss
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: N
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: Y
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: A good utility turf and ok
lawn for people that want
minimal care and water use. Can
have a long winter dormancy.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: G
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: Y
• Mixtures with other grasses: Y
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

40. Buffalograss
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Low
• Optimum Cutting Height: 2”
• Special Use Cutting Heights: 1” for
fairways.
• Nitrogen requirements*: .5 lbs
• Water requirements: Low
• Thatch removal: Rarely
• Establishment methods: Seed, sod,
plugs, stolons.
• Seeding rates: 4‐6 lbs.
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: Sod webworms, billbugs
• Diseases: Dollarspot
Varieties:
• Excaliber (Adalayd or Futurf) – original
variety introduced into the US.
Actually has more disease problems
the purer the water used.
• SeaDwarf – Dwarfer and good for
putting greens and is even more salt
tolerant.

41. Buffalograss
Key Features
• Native to Great Plains from
Mexico to Montana.
• Established by seed or sod.
• Drought tolerant and tolerant to
extremes in temperature.
• Spreads by stolons and seeds.

42. Buffalograss
Key Features
• Actually favors clay soils.
• Needs full sun, does not like
shade.
• Best in low use areas.
• Mow at 1” for fairways and up to
2” for lawns.