- Our top picks for New Mexico<\/a>
- Bermudagrass: drought-tolerant enough for dry areas<\/a><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: durable enough for pets, kids, guests<\/a><\/li>
- Zoysiagrass: versatile for heat and cold, tolerates shade<\/a><\/li>
- Buffalograss: natural looking and low-maintenance<\/a><\/li>
- Blue grama: native to New Mexico, needs little water\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- The best of the rest<\/a>
- Fine fescue<\/a><\/li>
- Tall fescue<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Our top picks for New Mexico<\/span><\/h2>
Bermudagrass: drought-tolerant enough for dry areas<\/span><\/h3>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bermudagrass.jpg\")
Forest & Kim Starr<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Bermudagrass is the most popular grass in New Mexico because it endures high heat, can survive without a lot of water, withstands heavy foot traffic, and tolerates most soil types. However, it doesn\u2019t like shade, and its aggressive spreading habit means it needs a lot of maintenance.<\/p>
According to Bernd Leinauer, an extension turfgrass specialist from the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University, Bermudagrass is mostly used in southern New Mexico. However, certain cold-tolerant seeded and vegetative varieties withstand lower winter temperatures.<\/p>
If a Bermudagrass lawn intrigues you, read our article on how to grow and care for Bermudagrass<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass<\/a> (10-lb. bag)
\u2013 Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass<\/a> (50-lb. bag)<\/p>Perennial ryegrass: durable enough for pets, kids, guests<\/span><\/h3>
![\"pyrennial](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pyrennial-ryegrass-1-1.jpeg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Do you plan on having your pets and kids run around in the yard? Perennial ryegrass is the way to go. Best suited to northern New Mexico, this cool-season grass has a high foot traffic tolerance and produces a medium to dark green color in ideal conditions.<\/p>
However, it has a low shade and drought tolerance and even though it withstands foot traffic well, it isn\u2019t able to self-repair due to its bunch type growth habit.<\/p>
If you feel like a perennial ryegrass lawn is right for you, read our article on how to grow and care for perennial ryegrass<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)
\u2013 Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/p>Zoysiagrass: versatile for heat and cold, tolerates shade<\/span><\/h3>
![\"zoysiagrass\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/zoysiagrass.jpg\")
Forest & Kim Starr<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Zoysiagrass is one of the few shade-tolerant, warm-season grasses in New Mexico. It also survives drought conditions and stands up well to cold. Because it endures such a wide range of conditions, it works well anywhere in New Mexico.<\/p>
But Zoysiagrass\u2019s ability to survive on little water doesn\u2019t mean it thrives in drought. It goes brown as a defense mechanism when deprived of water. This grass also handles being trampled fairly well, although it recovers slowly when damaged.<\/p>
Read our article on How to Grow and Care for Zoysiagrass<\/a> if you think Zoysiagrass is the best turfgrass for your lawn.<\/p>
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
<\/a>\u2013 Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)<\/a>
\u2013 Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)<\/a>
\u2013 Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)<\/p>Buffalograss: natural looking and low-maintenance<\/span><\/h3>
![\"buffalograss\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/3139246071_47110d3ef9_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: John Tann<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> If you\u2019re one of those people who wants a lawn but doesn\u2019t want to invest hours a week taking care of it, buffalograss is a good option. It needs less water than other cool-season grasses and doesn\u2019t grow quickly, so it doesn\u2019t require frequent mowing. It also resists pests and diseases.<\/p>
One drawback: Its growth habit means weeds can be a problem. Its seeds are also more expensive than other grasses – on sale, it can cost $190 for a 5 pound bag.<\/p>
Is buffalograss the right choice for you? Read our article on how to grow and care for buffalograss<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:<\/strong>
\u2013 <\/strong>Everwilde Farms Buffalograss Seeds<\/a> (1 lb. of seeds)
\u2013 Buffalograss seed (primed)<\/a> (5-lb. bag)<\/p>Blue grama: native to New Mexico, needs little water <\/span><\/h3>
![\"a](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blue_grama-1.jpeg\")
SEWilco<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Blue grama demonstrates impressive tolerance to cold and heat extremes, as well as drought conditions, making it a great option for New Mexico. As a native species, blue grama naturally thrives with minimal intervention, requiring very little mowing and fertilizing.<\/p>
On the other hand, this native grass is not suited for high-traffic areas, and it does not perform well in shaded areas. Similarly to buffalograss, blue grama enters a dormancy period during cooler temperatures, which means it will not maintain its green color year-round.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options: <\/strong>
\u2013 Everwilde Farms Blue Grama Grass Seeds<\/a> (1 lb.)
\u2013 Nature\u2019s Seed Blue Grama Grass Seeds<\/a> (1 lb.)<\/p>The best of the rest<\/span><\/h2>
Other grasses that call New Mexico home include:<\/p>
Fine Fescue<\/span><\/h3>
![\"fine](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Fine-fescue-1.jpg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Fine fescue is one of the best choices for shady lawns in northern New Mexico. It has a moderate to high shade tolerance, letting it establish in shady areas. It also has solid drought tolerance, but it doesn\u2019t like heavy traffic and has problems with diseases.<\/p>
Interested in a fine fescue lawn? Read our article on how to grow and care for it<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Outsidepride Legacy Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)
\u2013 Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed<\/a> (choose your size)
\u2013 Outsidepride Creeping Red Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (25 lbs.)<\/p>Tall Fescue<\/span><\/h3>
![\"tall](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tall-fescue-1.jpg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Tall fescue is a cool-season grass that\u2019s both heat- and drought-tolerant due to its deep root system. As a result, it\u2019s well suited to the transition zone (where most of New Mexico resides). It also withstands foot traffic well, but it can\u2019t repair bare spots on its own and may go dormant without extra water.<\/p>
Read our article on how to grow and care for tall fescue<\/a> to learn more.<\/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>Frequently asked questions<\/span><\/h2>
When is the best time to plant grass seed in New Mexico?<\/span><\/h3>
New Mexico State University recommends planting cool-season grasses in late summer and early fall and warm-season grasses between late April and June.<\/p>
Which grasses require more water?<\/span><\/h3>
Warm-season grasses generally need more water than cool-season grasses, but experts at New Mexico State University advise against picking a grass solely by how much water it needs.<\/p>
Hiring a professional<\/span><\/h2>
Are you unsure of what the right grass is for your lawn? Get in touch with Lawn Love. Our pros<\/a> will examine your yard and ensure you pick the right one. <\/p>
Lawn Love participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Lawn Love may earn revenue from products promoted in this article.<\/em><\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Turfgrasses for New Mexico | New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future.<\/a><\/li>
- Turfgrass Establishment | New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future.<\/a><\/li>
- Turfgrass Irrigation | New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future.<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
Main Image Credit: Doug Kerr<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bermudagrass, perennial ryegrass, Zoysiagrass, and buffalograss are the best grasses for New Mexico lawns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":26865,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[195],"tags":[595],"class_list":["post-26861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-mexico","tag-lawn-care-nm"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/lawn-in-new-mexico-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Stuart Kushner","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/stuart-kushner\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Turfgrass Establishment | New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future.<\/a><\/li>
- Tall fescue<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: durable enough for pets, kids, guests<\/a><\/li>
- Bermudagrass: drought-tolerant enough for dry areas<\/a><\/li>