The Best Nevada Grass Seed for Your Lawn

If you're looking to grow grass on your Nevada property, you must know that the city is known for its full sun, dry air, and desert-like conditions that make the days extremely hot and the nights incredibly cold.

Planting grass seed without understanding these unique conditions is a recipe for disaster and it could cost you your lawn’s health, as well as the care and costs of upkeep you invested.

To ensure that your lawn starts off on the right foot, and thrives through Nevada’s geography and climate, you must know the right type of seeds for the region. You also need to determine the best grass seeds to grow during a particular season.

We will be discussing exactly that in this post, starting with where Nevada is located in the map to help you understand how it affects you choice of grass seeds for your lawn.

 

What is Nevada’s Planting Zone?

Nevada is part of the "transition zone." This means the cool seasons are too cold while the warm seasons are too hot.

When it comes to growing grass, there’s more to the process than simply choosing between warm or cool-season grasses. 

The climate also impacts geological conditions like soil, moisture, and sunlight. In transition zones like Nevada, determining how much warm-season versus cool-season grass seeds you’ll need gets tricky because these factors change. Your grass types will need to be able to withstand and respond to these changes. 

 

Source: Agricultural Research Service

Above is the state’s plant hardiness zone map. There are 13 zones in Nevada ranging from 4a (-30 to -25°F) to 10a (30 to 35°F) being their lowest temperatures. From here, identify your location and the corresponding zone from the map.

For example, if you’re in Lincoln, expect to be in zones 5b (-15 to -10°F) to 9b (25 to 30°F). With this information, you should be able to find grass seeds that can withstand these temperatures to keep your lawn’s appearance in correspondence with the weather.

That said, below are the two types of season grasses and the best ones available in the state.

 

Warm Season Grasses

As the name suggests, heat-tolerant grasses thrive in humid climates like Southern Nevada with temperatures above 50 degrees F.

Warm-season grasses are also known for their high drought tolerance, especially when compared with other types of plants that only require watering during periods of extreme heat. This makes warm-season varieties a great option if you live in Nevada, where water resources are limited due to desert conditions.

Pro tip: If you live in Las Vegas, reseed your lawn when the turf is damaged or when you notice bare patches. You can reseed your lawn at any time between late spring and fall, or during the warm seasons.

Here are the different types of grasses to choose from if you live in a zone with warm temperatures nearly all year-long. Alternatively, you can also use our Seed Selector, which can give you specific options for your location:

 

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass is a hearty warm-season grass that works well in transition zones. It features a high amount of drought tolerance and exhibits low to moderate water requirements. Zoysia grass is also tolerant of consistent foot traffic, making it the perfect grass for playing fields and parks during the summer.

When the cool season kicks in, Zoysia grass changes color from light-medium green to a straw-like brown hue. It endures winter much longer than other grasses of the warm season variety, and eventually regains its color back during the spring.

 

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass referred to as a common name for the species (Cynodon dactylon). It establishes quickly on your lawn and you can recognize it by its finely textured blades.

Bermuda grass ideally grows well in full sun and is tolerant to drought conditions, making it a popular choice among residents in Southern Nevada.

Finally, Bermuda grass is also low maintenance as it requires 40% less water than your typical cool-season grass.

 

Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass is another warm-season grass that can withstand the arid conditions in Nevada.

Unlike other grasses, this type of grass can grow a bell-shaped head from the stalks, which gives the grass a decorative feature.

It doesn't require lots of fertilization and mowing to keep up its appearance. However, it needs a lot of sunlight for this grass to grow properly.

 

Centipede Grass

Among the different warm-season grasses, centipede grass is one of the most popular varieties for Nevada lawns.

Despite its slow growth, this grass type requires low maintenance, counters weed growth on your lawn or yard, and can grow under poor soil conditions. It can also endure more shade compared to other warm-season grasses.

Centipede grass seed should be planted on soil temperatures above 55 degrees.

 

Cool Season Grasses

Cool-season grasses grow under less sunny conditions or in areas with moderate summers, but that's not a bad thing at all.

In fact, these grasses are often more drought tolerant because they don't need as much water to survive. At the same time, their ability to stay green during the cool season or under the shade allows your lawn to look vibrant despite the lack of sunlight.

Cool-season grasses best for Nevada include the following varieties:

 

Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is the type of grass used in golf courses, athletic fields, and parks. It spreads quickly on damaged or thin turf. Due to its fast growth, perennial ryegrass is not mixed with other turfgrasses other than its other cool-season counterparts.

 

Tall Fescue

Tall fescues are highly recognized to be the best grass seed in Nevada for both warm and cold seasons. They have a dark green color that is nice during summer, but they will turn brown when winter arrives. 

However, this bunch-type grass is categorized as cool-season grass because its deep root system provides natural drought and shade tolerance.

 

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass is an excellent choice if you are looking for a cold-tolerant variety that thrives during the winter season.

One of this variety’s grass enduring qualities is its ability for self-repair. As long as you prevent growing it in shady areas, Kentucky bluegrass can grow properly and repair itself on its own.

 

Fine Fescue

Unlike tall fescues, fine fescues are much more tolerant to shade and cold, making them ideal grasses to grow in coastal regions and in parts of Nevada where winter is longer. They also have a deep dark green appearance for those for this color on their lawn. Due to their low tolerance for wear and tear, fine fescues are not ideal grasses for golf courses and playing fields.

 

Find Nevada Grass Seed That Will Grow In Your Yard

Any of the listed grass seeds will work in the right planting zone in Nevada. However, the clear winners are tall fescues among cool-season grasses and zoysia grass as your warm-season grass of choice. Their ability to adapt with the seasons without losing much color or robustness will help you achieve a stunning, uniform lawn.

Remember that you’re not confined to a singular type of grass seed either. Based on the moisture and shade factors on your property, you can opt for different blends that will grow well on your lawn.

For example, you can plant a blend of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue so you can get the best of both cool-season grass species on your lawn!

To get a complete list of blends to choose from and the qualities of each, contact Nature's Seed today. With our custom, expert guidance you can choose the grass seed mixtures sure to survive and thrive through the many seasons and conditions in Nevada.