Maintaining a lawn in a region with drought or low moisture conditions may look difficult. But that doesn’t mean that the ups and downs of unpredictable weather can stop you from keeping your lawn green and lush.
With drought-resistant grass, you can find a suitable option for your lawn.
Drought-tolerant grasses grow beautifully in arid zones where there is a shortage of water. They can survive even if they don’t receive water for longer periods.
Read on to learn about the best drought-tolerant grass seed for your lawn.
Learn More: The Best Tall Ornamental Grasses for Privacy in Ontario
The 9 Best Drought-Resistant Grass Seed Canada
Those who live in Canada must choose a winter hardy and drought-resistant grass seed for their lawns to avoid any possible problems.
Here are the best drought-resistant grass:
1. Bahiagrass – Best Low Maintenance Drought Resistant Grass Canada
The first candidate in our drought-resistant grass list is Bahiagrass. It is a perfect option for people who see low-maintenance options for their lawns.
Because of its deep root system and ability to withstand extremely poor soil, it can easily be the best drought-tolerant grass seed for you.
However, it may be a disappointment for those who want drought-resistant grass that will also look spectacular on the lawn.
There are two main reasons for that, one being the tall seedheads that look unattractive. The other is that it doesn’t grow uniformly, so it won’t create a dense grass carpet.
If you don’t have the time for consistent lawn care yet want to maintain a beautiful lawn, here are 14 Low-Maintenance Backyard Landscape Ideas.
2. Big Bluestem
Since the last drought-tolerant grass seed in Canada wasn’t an option for those who want an eye-pleasing lawn, let’s introduce you to the big bluestem.
This native bunchgrass is tall and thin, so it will draw beautiful pollinators without taking over the aesthetics of your lawn.
Large bluestems are great for cottage gardens, privacy hedging, and wildflower meadows because of their extended lifespan.
The root system of this drought-resistant grass may take some extra time to spread deeper into the soil. However, after you let it establish, it will be resilient to erosion.
If you have slopes on your lawn where none of the past grass seeds have grown, you can use this variety.
Its fall-blooming blossoms turn burgundy as the colder months draw in. The orange and copper-red leaves and branches create a perfect winter scenery that anyone can add to the house.
3. Tall Fescue
This type of fescue grass thrives in sunny, sheltered spots. Tall fescue is a popular cold-season grass to add to our drought-resistant grass in Canada list, as it requires less upkeep.
Again, this one has a deep root structure, which allows it to withstand prolonged periods of heat and drought. It can also survive in summer when the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius or more.
In addition to that, if your soil reaches a low temperature of 5 degrees celsius, this grass won’t die.
In a lawn, tall fescue establishes itself gradually over two weeks from seed. This drought-resistant grass is also tolerant to common turf diseases.
If you want it to thrive, fertilize it no more than thrice or four times a year and mow it to three inches during summer.
4. Red Fescue
This is another drought-resistant grass commonly planted in low-maintenance settings such as roadside verges or cool, shaded mountain slopes.
It shows a moderate tolerance to drought and is often an option for places where Kentucky bluegrass doesn’t perform well.
This grass has a high tolerance to winter and a relatively low tolerance to heat. So, this particular variety of grass does not do well in hot weather and prefers the cold.
If you want to know how to find the best grass for Ontario, take a look at this blog.
5. Buffalograss
Buffalograss is a suitable choice for regions that experience both moderate summer temperatures and tough winters.
It thrives in regions with little seasonal rainfall and heavy clay soils.
Its deep roots, low water requirements, and capacity to go dormant and subsequently emerge from dryness are its main sources of drought tolerance.
If you want drought-resistant grass seed in Canada that will grow fast, you won’t be happy with this option.
Depending on your latitude, this may be a longer dormant season, starting in early fall in locations with cooler temperatures and shorter days and lasting far into April.
6. Bermudagrass
Once established, Bermudagrass in Ontario tolerates both hot and dry temperatures well.
Bermudagrass is a finely textured, drought-resistant grass that grows best in full sun and is maintained at a height of 1-2 inches. It uses little water, and it smoothly outcompetes weed species.
It is the perfect grass for your lawn if it receives heavy traffic. If you don’t want to grow grass from seeds, it is available as sod.
Due to its rapid growth, it may need more frequent mowing than certain other drought-resistant grass types.
On the downside, it has less resistance to insects and diseases. It may not look the same in cold weather as in summer. Lastly, it has a poor shade tolerance.
Related Blog: Grass Seed Germination: Tips & Techniques For the Best Results
7. Perennial RyeGrass
Ryegrass is more suitable for areas with lower temperatures. It is not only drought-resistant but also requires little water at cold temperatures.
Moreover, it survives in excess moisture and has outstanding wear resistance. Ryegrass is most frequently seen on playgrounds, sports fields, and other places with much foot traffic.
Ryegrass should be fertilized three to five times a year and watered often. Although it belongs to the cool-season grass family, it thrives in areas with moderate winter and summer temperatures.
In playgrounds, people combine this drought-resistant grass with Kentucky Bluegrass. It germinates quite rapidly and starts the germination process within a week.
8. Blue Oat Grass
While green is a stunning colour, consider contrasting it with other colours in your garden. The tiny blue oat grass envelops your rock garden, perennial border, or stone walks with a blast of icy blue.
It grows into neat mounds with robust, finely bladed foliage that look stunning against bigger, emerald-green plants.
Blue oat grass is an evergreen that grows to 4 feet in height and produces lovely pale blue flower plumes in midsummer in warmer regions.
Blue oat grass is a drought-resistant grass that flowers less frequently and becomes tan in the winter in colder climates.
9. Zoysia Grass
Although zoysia grows more slowly than bermudagrass, it needs less fertilizer.
Moreover, it is a drought-resistant grass that you have to mow less frequently.
Additionally, zoysia grass is more shade-tolerant than bermudagrass. When there is little rainfall, this grass species usually goes dormant and turns brown.
However, it comes back stronger because of crawling subterranean stems called rhizomes that aid in its expansion.
While all zoysia grass species and cultivars are thick and easily tolerate foot activity, they differ in terms of texture. So, you have to follow recommended mowing height and frequency, check for winter hardiness, and availability as seed or sod.
Read More: Lawn Fertilizer Numbers Meaning for Every Season in Canada
How To Take Care of the Best Drought-Tolerant Grass Seed?
After you’ve selected your decision, installation and upkeep need to be handled carefully to achieve the best outcome.
To enable easy root penetration, amend the planting area and cultivate deeply.
For a healthy start, use a starting fertilizer designed specifically for turfgrass. The best option in locations with water constraints is to get rolled-out sod, seed or plugs.
These will be patches of well-established grass that take root more quickly and will not have any open spaces where weeds could grow.
You can apply a high-nitrogen grass fertilizer next spring and adjust the mower to maintain leaf cover over the vulnerable root zone.
To prevent too much thatch from impeding the establishment of new grass, you can thatch and aerate the lawn.
Read More: Guide To Understanding & Managing Different Types of Weeds
What Distinguishes Warm-Season From Cool-Season Grass?
Warm-season grasses are more appropriate for warmer southern climates, while cool-season grasses flourish in colder northern climates. It indicates that the grass may be more vulnerable to disease and temperature stress and act more like an annual than a perennial.
Warm-season grasses go dormant in frigid winters, and cool-season grasses transition to dormancy in exceptionally hot summers.
Therefore, as temperatures drop and warm-season grass is grown in a chilly area, it should stop growing and turn brown. In a similar vein, cool-season grass grown in a warm climate should be prepared to go dormant in the summer.
FAQs
Are there any alternatives to drought-resistant grasses?
Depending on your needs, drought-resistant grass substitutes like groundcovers, decorative grasses, wildflowers, or gravel may be as beneficial as turfgrass. All these options are low-maintenance, can use less water, and can be pest-free, pollinator-friendly, or environmentally friendly.
Which is the best drought-resistant grass seed that requires minimum maintenance?
One of the common warm-season turfgrasses to maintain is buffalograss. This low-mow grass requires little watering.
Which is the best drought-tolerant grass seed for wet regions?
If you have wet soil conditions, you can use Kentucky bluegrass or the fescue varieties. In such conditions, ryegrass also performs well.
Contact Falcons Landscaping for the Best Drought-Resistant Grass Seed
From our drought-resistant grass list, you can choose the best-suited option for your lawn.
If you get the wrong varieties, your lawn will start to whither, and all your money and effort will be wasted.
Even with drought-tolerant grasses, you need to have watering guidelines to help them survive longer.
The type of grass you select depends on the overall look and feel of the lawn and the climatic conditions.
To ensure that you are not choosing the wrong option or avoid any mistakes, you can take assistance from lawn care in Mississauga.