Located in the Central Valley region, Sacramento, California was established in 1848 at a pier John Sutter Sr. built in the spot where the Sacramento and American rivers converge. Sutter's son John, Jr. and Samuel Brannan, the California Gold Rush's first millionaire, are credited as the founders of Sacramento.
The Sacramento River, which forms the western border of the city, was given its name by an officer of the Spanish cavalry, Gabriel Moraga. The title refers to Santisimo Sacramento (Most Holy Sacrament), or the Roman Catholic Eucharist.
Climate in Sacramento
Residents of Sacramento enjoy a Mediterranean climate that features mild but damp winters and relatively hot and dry summers. The majority of rainfall occurs from October through April. Having measurable rain during the summer months is rare. This makes the selection of grass seed mixture critical to your lawn's survival in your Sacramento yard.
What grass will thrive?
According to the authorities at the University of California's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, there are several recommended species of turfgrass to choose from. Let's take a look at some of them:
Bermudagrass (Seeded and hybrid species):
Characteristics
Bermudagrass favors the warm season and loves full sun. It will turn brown during extended cooler weather. When planted in ideal areas, bermudagrass requires minimal water and resists pests. It tends to be very durable during the growing season but is subject to traffic damage during the winter. Seeded bermudagrass can encroach on gardens.
Appearance/maintenance
The texture is generally medium to coarse, and color is grayish green. Hybrids are finer, and the blade color ranges from deep blue to dark green. Maintenance is low for common seeded bermudagrass, as it needs only low levels of nitrogen and occasional water. Hybrids, on the other hand, require frequent mowing along with more nitrogen. Frequent edging for containment is recommended for hybrids. Bermudagrass is very drought resistant.
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis):
Characteristics
Kentucky bluegrass likes to grow in the cooler spring and fall seasons. Summer is marked by much slower growth. Kentucky bluegrass tolerates some shade but prefers full sun. By itself, summer performance in Sacramento's climate would be poor. Blending with perennial ryegrass will provide better year-round color and performance. Use of two plus varieties of each species is typical, and the mixture should include a minimum of fifteen percent perennial ryegrass.
Appearance/maintenance
Color is dark green, and coarseness of texture is medium with a stiff appearance. Kentucky bluegrass turf is self-repairing and dense. Can go dormant in summer if water is lacking. It is moderately tolerant of traffic but recovers quickly.
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne):
Characteristics
On its own, perennial ryegrass does very well in coastal areas with moderate year-round temperatures. The preference here is for full sun, but it can tolerate some shade. Of all the cool season turf, perennial ryegrass stands up to high traffic the best. It germinates quickly and is frequently used to overseed bermuda grass that has gone dormant in the winter. It has great disease and weed resistance.
Appearance/maintenance
The texture of perennial ryegrass is fine, color is vibrant green, and it has tapered blade tips. It can get clumpy in areas where it does not adapt well. Tolerance for cold temperatures is high but moderately low for drought, high temperature, and dry conditions.
Red fescue (Festuca rubra):
Characteristics
Red fescue thrives in the cooler season in areas that are shaded or mountainous. You might see it in camps, resorts, and cabins since it doesn't need a great deal of fertilization, watering, or mowing. Should not be used in hotter climates unless planted in shady and dry areas. Red fescue pairs well with Kentucky bluegrass when planted in an ideal climate, since it offers greater tolerance to shade. Germination tends to be rapid, but the establishment is slow. Wear resistance is fair to middling.
Appearance/ maintenance
Red fescue is deep green with fine blades. There are two varieties with very different growing characteristics: creeping red fescue, which tends to spread by short rhizomes slowly, and chewings fescue, which grows in a more upright and bunchy manner. One of the desirable features of red fescue is that it requires very little maintenance, as mentioned previously.
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea):
Characteristics
Tall fescue loves the cooler seasons and does well in sunny or partly shaded areas. This is the most widely used lawn grass in the state of California. It should be sown densely to produce a lawn that offers resistance to weeds and disease. Tall fescue has a good tolerance for warm summers and keeps its green color even when cool, but not cold. Check out newer types of tall fescue that offer textures that are finer and have shorter blades. These are called dwarf turf-type and turf-type tall fescues.
Appearance/maintenance
Tall fescue's color is medium to dark green, and its texture is coarse. The root system is quite extensive. Growth tends to be in bunches instead of by creeping. Therefore bare areas can show up that require reseeding. Due to its excellent heat and drought tolerance, tall fescue is considered low maintenance. It holds up well to traffic and mowing is infrequently needed. It is not recommended for high altitude, however.
Mowing that lush carpet takes time
Even though you love your luxurious blanket of rich turf, you don't need to be tied down to it when there are better things to do. After all, you live in Sacramento, and would rather be jogging in McKinley Park or checking out Crocker Art Museum. Or maybe the Kings are in town, and you want to head over to the G-1 center to take in some hoops. The last thing you need to worry about is squeezing lawn mowing into your schedule. The solution is simple – use Lawn Love's lawn services, and you will be out the door and enjoying another beautiful day in Sac-town in no time.
