To grow a fine-looking lawn from grass seed in Houston, homeowners must battle heat, humidity, drought, heavy rainfall, pests, poor drainage, and weed infestations.
With lawns used by all the family, including pets, the high foot traffic makes it even tougher to establish and grow a healthy lawn—and the clay-heavy or salty soils don’t help!
It does help to know what to expect from your grass type, what’s the best grass seed for Houston yards, and how to get the most out of your lawn by following a few planting and growing tips.
Let’s get straight into it…
What is the Best Grass for Houston, Texas?
The best grass seed for Houston, Texas must be able to handle the hot, humid climate and the potential for drought, heavy rainfall, pests, poor drainage, poor soils, and weed infestations. Depending on usage, it may also need to stand up to heavy foot traffic. Typically, this means Bermuda Grass, Zoysia, Centipede Grass, Seashore Paspalum or Carpet Grass.
We go into this deeper soon but first, a grass alternative to consider…
How to Install a Lawn That Needs No Maintenance
Artificial grass is the lowest-maintenance grass available in Houston—and it looks just like the real thing!
With advances in artificial grass manufacturing methods, it can be difficult to tell the synthetic variety from natural grass in high-quality installations.
Homeowners and businesses in the Houston area are increasingly turning to artificial turf to beautify their backyard lawns, play areas, swimming pool areas, and dog runs.
This shouldn’t be too surprising, given the Houston Texans have been enjoying the benefits of artificial grass at the NRG Stadium since 2015. The Dallas Cowboys also play on turf while college football stadiums in Texas like the UT Stadium also use artificial grass.
Why this trend? It’s largely due to the challenges and expense of establishing and maintaining real grass in our climate. The water-saving benefits and low maintenance requirements of synthetic grass make the synthetic alternative hard to ignore.
We’ve helped thousands of homeowners and businesses in Texas make the switch in the past decade.
SAVE TIME, MONEY & WATER WITH ARTIFICIAL GRASS
The experienced team at Artificial Grass Pros will provide a free estimate and help you make the switch. Contact us here.
Main Challenges with Planting Grass Seed in Houston
Growing a lawn from Houston grass seed can be more difficult than using grass sod—and the challenges of the local climate and soil conditions mean that homeowners should follow planting and growing tips for the best chance of success (see below).
The main difficulties are:
Heat and Humidity
Lawns love water and sunlight but heat can stress some grass seed types. Houston has long, hot summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F.
This and the excessive humidity can encourage fungal diseases, such as brown patch and dollar spot.
Heavy Rain and Poor Drainage
Houston’s heavy summer rainfall and higher-than-average precipitation totals year round may not be a problem for an established lawn if the drainage in your yard is adequate—but storms can wash away seeds before they germinate: another challenge when considering the best grass seed for Houston.
Drought
The Texas Water Development Board reports that landscape irrigation represents a significant portion of municipal water usage in Texas cities – underlining the need for drought-tolerant grass varieties.
Frequent watering is needed for seed germination in months of lower rainfall but, once established, the lawn must also withstand periodic droughts.
Water restrictions in Houston come and go, depending on whether there is sustained rainfall, but if restrictions are introduced when you try to grow a lawn from seed, this may limit how often you can irrigate—which will impact the establishment of a new lawn.
Soil Quality
Many areas of Houston have clay-heavy soil, which drains poorly and can lead to waterlogged conditions.
The alkaline nature of the soils also makes it challenging for grass roots to establish and if the soil becomes compacted, good seed-to-soil contact and root growth can be difficult.
Weeds and Pests
Weeds like crabgrass and nutsedge thrive in Houston’s climate, competing with new grass. Common Texan lawn pests like chinch bugs, sod webworms, and armyworms can also damage young grass.
Top Houston Grass Seed Varieties
When selecting the best grass seed variety for your Houston lawn, you’ll need a warm-season grass variety rather than cool-season grass like Kentucky bluegrass, which won’t survive the heat.
One of the best warm-season grasses in Texas is St. Augustine—but it is only available from Houston sod farms—so that’s not an option, either.
Ultimately, Houston lawns work best with:
Whether you’re starting anew or overseeding your Houston lawn, the following five grass types are all good seed options to consider…
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda Grass is one of the most popular warm-season grass seeds across the southern states, producing a fine, thick lawn for homeowners and gracing many golf courses, athletic fields, and sports stadiums in Texas.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Busy, high foot traffic lawns in full sun.
Zoysia
Zoysia is the best grass seed for Houston, Texas if your lawn faces a lack of sun and plenty of shade. Many grass types struggle without full sun—not Zoysia. With most varieties, you should be able to establish an attractive, thick lawn.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Shaded lawns with moderate foot traffic.
Centipede Grass
Centipede Grass is one of the best grass seeds for Houston lawns if you’re looking for a low-maintenance option that still looks great most of the time.
Sometimes called “Lazy Man’s Grass’, this coarse-leafed grass type requires infrequent mowing because of its slow growth and minimal fertilizer.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Low-maintenance lawns with light foot traffic.
Seashore Paspalum
Seashore Paspalum may be a good choice of grass seed for Houston lawns in coastal areas, with high salt exposure from soils or irrigation systems. A fine-textured grass, it is also found on sports fields and golf course fairways in Houston.
The poor cold-tolerance of Seashore Paspalum means it is generally only suitable for the southern third of the state—and mainly in coastal areas where other options are unavailable.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Coastal lawns with high foot traffic.
Carpet Grass
Carpet Grass, the final one on our list of the best grass seed for Houston, TX, may be an option if you don’t fancy any of the above choices.
This type of grass is generally not seen in Houston as often as the other types mentioned here but Carpet Grass does have its fans, especially if the lawn is sloped and/or in poor-quality or eroded soil.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Low-traffic lawns in poor-quality soil or on a slope.
How to Grow the Best Lawn From Seed in Houston, Texas
Planting grass seed is not a “spray and pray” deal. It requires careful ground preparation and consistent watering after planting—and it helps to follow a few tips from lawn professionals.
Before You Plant Seed…
When Planting Grass Seed in Houston…
After You Plant Grass Seed…
Get a Low-Maintenance Grass in Houston, Texas
Houston landscaping needn’t involve any real grass at all.
Believe it or not, the above image is from one of our artificial grass installations right here in Texas.
Homeowners looking for the aesthetic benefits of natural grass without the water or work involved in maintaining turfgrass can switch to low-maintenance artificial grass landscaping ideas, xeriscaping, and hardscaping to reduce labor, water usage, and upkeep costs.
The best artificial grass looks equally at home in front or back yards and should last 15-20 years.
FAQs
Considering the Switch to Artificial Grass?
If you’re considering landscaping your Houston yard with turf, discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.