- Tall fescue: Best cool-season option<\/a><\/li>
- Zoysiagrass: Best cold-tolerance<\/a><\/li>
- Centipedegrass: Best for low-maintenance<\/a><\/li>
- Bermudagrass: Best traffic-tolerance<\/a><\/li>
- More on South Carolina<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Tall fescue: Best cool-season option<\/span><\/h2>
![\"tall](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tall-fescue-1.jpg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> One of the best grass types for Greenville<\/a> and the upper Piedmont and Mountain parts of the state, tall fescue is the best cool-season turfgrass for South Carolina. It is easy to establish by seed, the most budget-friendly method, and can grow in various soil types, including clay soils (although it prefers fertile, well-drained soils, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5).<\/p>
Tall fescue grows quickly, which has its pros and cons: It is fast to establish but requires frequent mowing. Additionally, because of its bunch-type growth habit, it is less competitive against weeds and needs a spring application of pre-emergent herbicides. (For more information on herbicide application, read our article: \u201cWhen to Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control in South Carolina<\/a>.\u201d)<\/p>
For more in-depth information on how to grow tall fescue, visit our guide: \u201cTall Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.\u201d<\/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>Zoysiagrass: Best cold-tolerance<\/span><\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/zoysiagrass.jpg\")
Forest & Kim Starr<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> With the best cold tolerance of the warm-season grasses, Zoysiagrass produces an eye-catching turf that grows best in the warm months of spring, summer, and early fall. At the first frost, however, it turns brown and remains dormant all winter. Zoysia is considered a high-maintenance grass, with a high tendency to produce thatch.<\/p>
It is preferable to establish Zoysiagrass from sod, which gives you an instant lawn. Zoysia can be seeded, but due to its slow growth rate, establishment is difficult and may take a long time and produce poor results. Learn more about this grass in our guide: \u201cZoysiagrass: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.\u201d<\/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>Centipedegrass: Best for low-maintenance<\/span><\/h2>
![\"centipedegrass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/centipedegrass.jpg\")
Michael Rivera<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Centipedegrass is adapted to the lower regions of Upstate South Carolina and is a low-maintenance option for homeowners seeking a practical turfgrass. <\/p>
Centipedegrass grows best when cultivated in little shade or on southwestern or south-facing slopes. Otherwise, it is subjected to winterkill due to low temperatures (although there are improved cultivars on the market with better cold tolerance).<\/p>
Centipedegrass prefers infertile, acidic soils. With a coarse leaf texture and light green color, it is easily established by seed. Centipedegrass has poor wear resistance, so if you have kids or pets that like to run around the yard, this might not be the right grass. Learn more about centipedegrass in our guide: \u201cCentipedegrass: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 <\/strong>Gulf Kist Coated Centipedegrass Seeds<\/a> (1 lb.)
\u2013 Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Centipedegrass<\/a> (3.75 lbs.)
\u2013 TifBlair Centipedegrass<\/a> (5-lb. bag)<\/p>Bermudagrass: Best traffic-tolerance<\/span><\/h2>
![\"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> An excellent choice for high-traffic areas, Bermudagrass is a full-sun turfgrass, and along with Zoysia, produces one of the finest leaf textures among warm-season grasses. Bermudagrass is a high-maintenance turfgrass, however. It requires a high mowing frequency, with a minimum of twice a week during peak growth. <\/p>
It can grow in various soil conditions, grows rapidly, and is competitive against weeds. Overseeding<\/a> bermudagrass with perennial or annual ryegrass in the fall is a common practice to maintain its green color year-round. Learn how to maintain a Bermudagrass lawn in our article: \u201cBermudagrass: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>
Grass Seed Options: <\/strong>
<\/strong>\u2013 Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass<\/a> (10-lb. bag)
\u2013 Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass<\/a> (50-lb. bag)<\/p>More on South Carolina<\/span><\/h2>
If you\u2019re searching for more resources on lawn care and landscaping in South Carolina, check out our other articles:<\/p>
- When to Plant Grass Seed in South Carolina<\/a><\/li>
- Native Ornamental Grasses for South Carolina Landscapes<\/a><\/li>
- The Most Common Weeds in South Carolina<\/a><\/li>
- Upstate South Carolina Native Plants for Landscaping<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
When to call a pro<\/span><\/h2>
You don\u2019t have to care for your lawn all on your own. If you ever need a hand, you can count on one of our experienced lawn care pros. We have qualified experts in Greenville<\/a>, Spartanburg<\/a>, and throughout South Carolina. Get in touch with our lawn care pros<\/a> today.<\/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:<\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Clemson HGIC<\/a><\/li>
- Clemson HGIC – Bermudagrass<\/a><\/li>
- Clemson HGIC – Centipedegrass<\/a><\/li>
- Clemson HGIC – Selecting a Lawn Grass<\/a><\/li>
- Clemson HGIC – Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- Clemson HGIC – Zoysiagrass<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
Main Image Credit: Lanneau-Norwood-Funderburk House | Sharon Wilson<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The best grasses for Upstate South Carolina include tall fescue, Zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, and Bermudagrass. Read to find the perfect match for your lawn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":29814,"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":[186],"tags":[747,762,749,752,753,765,763,758,759,757,764,748,760,755,750,756,761,751,447],"class_list":["post-29755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-south-carolina","tag-lawn-care-anderson-sc","tag-lawn-care-boiling-springs-sc","tag-lawn-care-clemson-sc","tag-lawn-care-easley-sc","tag-lawn-care-fountain-inn-sc","tag-lawn-care-gaffney-sc","tag-lawn-care-greenwood-sc","tag-lawn-care-greer-sc","tag-lawn-care-laurens-sc","tag-lawn-care-pelzer-sc","tag-lawn-care-pickens-sc","tag-lawn-care-piedmont-sc","tag-lawn-care-seneca-sc","tag-lawn-care-simpsonville-sc","tag-lawn-care-spartanburg-sc","tag-lawn-care-taylors-sc","tag-lawn-care-travelers-rest-sc","tag-lawn-care-williamston-sc","tag-lawn-care-greenville-sc"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/house-in-greenville-sc-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Teresa Joaquim","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/teresa-joaquim\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29755","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\/99"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29755\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Clemson HGIC – Bermudagrass<\/a><\/li>
- Native Ornamental Grasses for South Carolina Landscapes<\/a><\/li>
- Zoysiagrass: Best cold-tolerance<\/a><\/li>