Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season Grass: Why It Changes Everything

The single most important thing to know about your lawn before doing anything else.

Cool-season grasses thrive in cold winters

Fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass stay green through winter and grow most actively in spring and fall — common in northern and transition-zone states.

Warm-season grasses thrive in heat

Bermuda, zoysia, and St. Augustine grow most actively in summer heat and typically go dormant (brown, not dead) during winter — common in southern states.

Their care calendars are almost opposite

Feeding a warm-season lawn on a cool-season schedule (or vice versa) wastes money and can actually stress the grass at the wrong time of year.

Transition zones can have either — or a mix

If you're in a transition zone, it's worth confirming what's actually growing in your yard before committing to a care program.

Not sure which you have?

Use the calendar tool above — selecting your climate zone alone gets you a reasonable starting schedule even if you're unsure of the exact grass type.