In Nevada, you can choose from warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia, or cool-season grasses like tall and fine fescues, depending on where you’re located. This makes it easy to find the best grass for Nevada lawns.
In this article, we’ll explore each grass type and its characteristics, helping you select the best option for your Nevada lawn.
But, if you have decided to embrace the desert climate and ditch the traditional lawn, click here to read about some Nevada grass alternatives.
Warm-season grasses for Nevada lawns
Warm-season grasses are some of the best grasses for southern Nevada and other hot desert climates in the state. These grasses thrive during the intense heat of the summer months, but typically enter a state of dormancy in the colder months. Let’s take a look at the best warm-season grasses for Nevada:
Bermudagrass: Best grass for heavy foot traffic
If you have kids or pets running around your yard, Bermudagrass is the perfect choice for your Nevada lawn. This grass is tough and bounces back quickly from damage due to its fast growth rate. It is also one of the best grasses for Las Vegas and the surrounding areas due to its heat and drought tolerance.
However, if allergies are an issue in your household, you might want to go for hybrid Bermuda varieties, as they produce less pollen and are more allergy-friendly. For more information, read our Bermudagrass Guide.
Grass Seed Options:
– Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass (10-lb. bag)
– Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass (50-lb. bag)
Buffalograss: Best grass for water conservation
Looking for a lawn that’s practically maintenance-free? Buffalograss might be your best bet. This native grass is incredibly drought-tolerant and needs very little to no water once it’s established, making it perfect for the driest state in the U.S.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing — buffalograss doesn’t do well in sandy soils and can struggle with frequent weeds. So, if you’re not keen on pulling weeds, you might want to consider other options. Read more about this grass’s care in our guide: Buffalograss: How to Grow and Care for It.
Grass Seed Options:
– Everwilde Farms Buffalograss Seeds (1 lb. of seeds)
– Buffalograss seed (primed) (5-lb. bag)
Zoysiagrass: Best grass for cooler regions
Zoysiagrass stands out among warm-season grasses for its high cold tolerance. This makes it one of the best choices of warm-season grass for the transition zone, where central Nevada is located. Zoysia handles heat much better than cool-season grasses and can also withstand colder temperatures better than other warm-season grass types.
However, keep in mind that Zoysia will still lose its color during the winter months. And, although it has a high tolerance for foot traffic, it will recover more slowly from damage. Learn more about this turfgrass in our Zoysiagrass Guide.
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
– EZPlug Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
St. Augustinegrass: Best grass for shaded lawns
If your Nevada lawn has a fair amount of shade, St. Augustinegrass is your best bet among warm-season grasses. Experts like Dr. Dale Devitt and Bob Morris from the University of Nevada have said that St. Augustine has been used to replace Bermuda in shady locations in desert landscapes.
However, St. Augustinegrass can get damaged or even die if it gets too cold. This grass thrives best in planting zones 8 to 10, so it’s important to check your Nevada planting zone, especially if you live north of Beatty. Check out our article, St. Augustinegrass: How to Grow and Care for It, for more information.
Grass Plug Options:
– Seed Ranch St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs (2 Trays)
– Seed Ranch St Augustine Floratam Grass Plugs (2 Trays)
Seashore paspalum: Best grass for saline soils
Seashore paspalum is an excellent choice for homeowners who struggle with saline soils, such as native desert soils found in some areas of Nevada. Originally popular on golf courses, this grass is now used in home lawns as well.
Seashore paspalum is drought tolerant and can handle the arid conditions typical of Nevada. However, it does not tolerate shade, so it’s best suited for sunny areas.
Grass Seed and Sod Options:
– Seed Ranch SeaShore Paspalum Coated Grass Seed – 1 lb.
– Seed World SeaShore Paspalum Grass Seeds (various amounts)
– Other places to purchase seashore paspalum sod
Cool-season grasses for Nevada lawns
Cool-season grasses are suitable for the transition zone of central Nevada and are the best grasses for northern Nevada. They thrive during the spring and fall and enter dormancy during the hot summer months if not adequately watered. This means that they generally require more water than warm-season grasses.
Let’s learn more about each one of these cool-season grasses:
Tall fescue: Best grass for hot temperatures
Tall fescue is the most heat-tolerant of all cool-season grasses, making it a great choice for Nevada’s transition zone and cool-season zone, which still experience hot summers. It’s also cold-tolerant, like all cool-season grasses, which means it can survive both the hot summer temperatures and the cold winter lows.
Tall fescue is also well-suited for various poor soil conditions, including the desert soils common in Nevada. Check out our guide, Tall Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It, for more information.
Grass Seed Options:
– Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend (5000 sq ft)
– Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed (choose your size)
– Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix (7 lb.)
Perennial ryegrass: Best grass for overseeding
Perennial ryegrass is renowned for its quick sprouting and establishment, making it the perfect grass type for overseeding thinning lawns or bare patches. If you have a Bermudagrass lawn, overseeding with perennial ryegrass around October can keep your lawn somewhat green throughout the winter months.
However, perennial ryegrass is not very heat-resistant and may struggle or die during the summer. To get the best results, consider varieties like Palmer and Prelude. Read more about this grass in our Perennial Ryegrass Guide.
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Kentucky bluegrass: Best grass for extreme cold temperatures
Kentucky bluegrass, or KBG, has the most cold hardiness of all grass types, making it the top choice for northern Nevada lawns. However, KBG will go dormant during droughts, leading to higher water consumption if you want to keep it green throughout the year.
Additionally, this grass thrives in full sun and does not tolerate shade, so it’s best suited if you have a sunny yard. In Nevada, this grass is usually used in mixtures with other turfgrasses. Learn more about KBG in our guide: Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It.
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Fine fescue: Best grass for low-maintenance lawns
Fine fescues are incredibly easy to care for, requiring very little mowing and watering once established. This makes them the best choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance and low-water lawn. Read more about how to care for this grass in our Fine Fescue Guide.
Additionally, fine fescues tolerate shade well, and they are recommended by the University of Nevada, Reno for controlling erosion in areas near Lake Tahoe. They can be used in a mix with Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass or seeded alone to help stabilize the soil and prevent sediment from reaching the lake.
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Legacy Fine Fescue Grass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed (choose your size)
– Outsidepride Creeping Red Fine Fescue Grass Seed (25 lbs.)
Grass alternatives for Nevada
In an effort to conserve water, Nevada has passed a law prohibiting the use of non-functional turf in commercial, government, and multi-family properties in Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
While this doesn’t affect single-family homes, and you can keep your existing lawn, some homeowners might still choose to replace their lawns to save on water consumption, even if they don’t live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
But that doesn’t mean you have to have an ugly yard. Here’s what you can do:
- Install artificial grass: Modern artificial grass can mimic natural grass, offering a soft touch without the upkeep. It is a popular choice in Nevada for its realistic appearance and low maintenance.
- Plant ground cover plants: Opt for native or drought-tolerant ground cover plants, such as dwarf yarrow, silver carpet, gray ice plant, and Angelina stonecrop.
- Consider xeriscaping: Xeriscaping is a drought-friendly landscaping method that combines Nevada native plants, hardscapes, rocks, and mulch to create a beautiful and sustainable landscape. It minimizes water usage and enhances the natural beauty of the desert landscape.
- Make a cacti or succulent garden: Succulents and cacti need very little water and can give your yard a vibrant, green look that you’d otherwise miss without grass.
- Plant native ornamental grasses: These plants are already adapted to the climate and usually require very little water and maintenance. They don’t need mowing or fertilizing like traditional turfgrasses. Examples include Indian grass, blue grama, and desert needlegrass. For more drought-tolerant grasses, check out this article: Best Drought-Tolerant Ornamental Grasses.
Call a professional
Taking care of a lawn in Nevada can be challenging. With water conservation policies, difficult soil conditions, and tough weather, maintaining a healthy lawn requires a lot of effort and expertise. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. You can call a lawn care professional near you to help create and maintain a beautiful, thriving lawn in the Silver State.
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Main Image Credit: Ken Lund | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0
