{"id":10071,"date":"2022-06-12T15:23:42","date_gmt":"2022-06-12T15:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=10071"},"modified":"2025-03-18T17:31:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T17:31:29","slug":"best-grass-types-wichita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-grass-types-wichita\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Best Grass Types for Wichita"},"content":{"rendered":"

It can be tough to keep your lawn healthy with Wichita\u2019s hot summers and cold winters, but choosing the best grass type for your backyard will get you started on the right foot. <\/p>

Kansas is in the transition zone, meaning it\u2019s between the cut-off for warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. There are a few turf types that can handle Wichita\u2019s temperature extremes and will suit your unique backyard conditions.<\/p>

The four best grass types for Wichita are:<\/p>

  1. Tall fescue<\/a><\/li>
  2. Bermudagrass<\/a><\/li>
  3. Buffalograss<\/a><\/li>
  4. Zoysiagrass<\/a><\/li> <\/ol>

    1. Tall fescue<\/span><\/h2>
    \"Tall
    Tall Fescue
    Matt Lavin<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>

    Turf-type tall fescue<\/a> is a popular transition zone turfgrass because it is fairly low maintenance. Because it puts down deep roots that hold nutrients, it has higher heat tolerance and can keep its medium to deep green color longer into the summer as long as it\u2019s kept watered.<\/p>

    Its deep roots also mean this grass is drought tolerant. Although it has good foot traffic tolerance, once it\u2019s injured, it has a tough time recovering. Plan to reseed every few years to fill in bare spots or thin patches.<\/p>

    Tall fescue can grow in almost any soil condition. It can tolerate infertile, acidic, alkaline, and compact soil. It also resists disease and requires very little fertilizer.<\/p>

    Classification: <\/strong>Cool-season grass
    Spreads by:<\/strong> Bunch-type grass
    Shade tolerance: <\/strong>Moderate
    Drought resistance: <\/strong>Moderate
    Foot traffic tolerance: <\/strong>Moderate, but low ability to recuperate from wear
    Maintenance needs: <\/strong>Moderate, but needs regular mowing 
    Mowing height: <\/strong>2-4 inches 
    Potential for disease: <\/strong>Low to moderate with good care
    Soil pH: <\/strong>5.5-6.5
    Soil type: <\/strong>Fertile, good drainage, but will tolerate a wider range of soil conditions
    Other notes: <\/strong>Pick a \u201cturf-type\u201d tall fescue (TTTF) for best results<\/p>

    Grass Seed Options:
    <\/strong>\u2013     Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend<\/a> (5000 sq ft)
    \u2013     Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)
    \u2013     Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix<\/a> (7 lb.)<\/p>

    2. Bermudagrass<\/span><\/h2>
    \"Well
    Bermudagrass
    Gilba Solutions Pty Ltd<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>

    Bermudagrass<\/a> is one of the most popular warm-season lawns in the U.S. Newer varieties have developed better cold tolerance, meaning it\u2019s appropriate for transition zones. Like tall fescue, this grass has deep roots that make it drought tolerant. However, it needs full sun, so skip this one if you have a lot of big trees in your yard. <\/p>

    Bermudagrass is sometimes used as sports turf, which tells you it can hold up well to plenty of foot traffic. It\u2019s thick, aggressive growth means it crowds out weeds. That dense growth also means you\u2019ll need to be diligent about dethatching<\/a>.<\/p>

    Classification: <\/strong>Warm-season grass
    Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons and rhizomes
    Shade tolerance:<\/strong> Low \u2013 prefers full sun
    Drought resistance:<\/strong> High 
    Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> High
    Maintenance needs:<\/strong> Moderate; needs regular dethatching and mowing
    Mowing height:<\/strong> 1-2 inches
    Potential for disease:<\/strong> Moderate
    Soil pH: <\/strong>6-6.5
    Soil type:<\/strong> Tolerates most soil types
    Other notes:<\/strong> Can spread aggressively into neighboring areas like flower beds<\/p>

    Grass Seed Options:
    <\/strong>\u2013 <\/strong>    Pennington Bermudagrass Bare Spot<\/a> (5 lb. bag)
    \u2013     Pennington Smart Seed Bermudagrass Mix<\/a> (8.75-lb. bag)
    \u2013     Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass<\/a> (10-lb. bag)
    \u2013     Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass<\/a> (50-lb. bag)<\/p>

    3. Buffalograss<\/span><\/h2>
    \"Buffalograss\"
    Buffalograss
    John Tann<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>

    Buffalograss is one of the original American grasses. Left long, this grass covers the Great Plains prairies and was a favorite snack for bison. If you\u2019re looking for a lower maintenance<\/a> lawn, this is a great choice. Like other native plants, it requires less water to thrive and is less susceptible to disease and insects. <\/p>

    The downside to buffalograss is that it has an \u201copen growth habit,\u201d which essentially means it doesn\u2019t produce a dense turf. The problem with that is it leaves room for weeds to grow. You can establish a strict weed control routine or embrace them (they do increase your yard\u2019s ecological diversity after all). Weeds won\u2019t be as much of a problem once buffalograss is established.<\/p>

    Classification:<\/strong> Warm-season grass
    Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons
    Shade tolerance:<\/strong> Low \u2013 prefers direct sunlight
    Drought resistance:<\/strong> High
    Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> Low
    Maintenance needs:<\/strong> Low \u2013 doesn\u2019t need frequent mowing
    Mowing height:<\/strong> 2-4 inches or leave unmowed
    Potential for disease:<\/strong> Low
    Soil pH:<\/strong> 6.5-7.5
    Soil type:<\/strong> Not sandy soils
    Other notes:<\/strong> Has a soft texture suitable for bare feet<\/p>

    Grass Seed Options:<\/strong>
    \u2013 <\/strong>    Everwilde Farms Buffalograss Seeds<\/a> (1 lb. of seeds)
    \u2013     Scotts Pursue Buffalograss with Natural Seed<\/a> (1 lb. of seeds)
    \u2013     Outsidepride Perennial Buffalo Grass Seed<\/a> (2 lb. of seeds)<\/p>

    4. Zoysiagrass<\/span><\/h2>
    \"House
    Zoysiagrass
    Bill Wilson<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>

    Zoysiagrass<\/a> is a beautiful turfgrass that\u2019s been cultivated to survive in transition zones. With this type, the cultivar you choose matters, so check with the Wichita County Extension Office<\/a> for recommendations for your area. Generally, Zoysia japonica<\/em> has the best cold tolerance. <\/p>

    A dense grass, Zoysia holds up well to heavy foot traffic and can bounce back from injury. A thick turf also means less need for weed management. It will go dormant during a drought, but it usually won\u2019t die, and it can survive light shade. <\/p>

    Classification: <\/strong>Warm-season grass
    Spreads by:<\/strong> Stolons and rhizomes
    Shade tolerance:<\/strong> Moderate \u2013 can survive light to partial shade
    Drought resistance:<\/strong> High
    Foot traffic tolerance: <\/strong>High
    Maintenance needs:<\/strong> Moderate 
    Mowing height:<\/strong> 1-2.5 inches
    Potential for disease:<\/strong> Low \u2013 not prone to disease and insects
    Soil pH:<\/strong> 6-6.5
    Soil type: <\/strong>Well-draining
    Other notes:<\/strong> Keep your     mower blade sharp<\/a> if you have a Zoysia lawn or you risk tearing the leaf blade<\/p>

    Grass Plug and Seed Options:
    <\/strong>\u2013     Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(50 Large Grass Plugs)
    \u2013     Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
    \u2013     Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(100 Plugs)
    \u2013     Zoysia Emerald Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)
    \u2013     Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds <\/a>(1\/8 lb. of seeds)<\/p>

    How to choose the best grass type for your Wichita lawn<\/h2>

    It\u2019s important to know your lawn before you decide what to plant. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:<\/p>