Before you can rely on your Denver sprinkler system to do its job well, you need to make sure you have the right grass for your property and your home’s aesthetic. Believe it or not, there are many different types of grasses that work perfectly for most homeowners, but finding the best option for your property with so many choices available can be challenging at best. Here are some of the most popular and easy-to-grow grass types that work great in the Denver climate and benefit most from high-quality sprinkler systems.

Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is what most people think of when they imagine having a lush and beautifully green lawn. It grows quickly and doesn’t require a lot of care and attention to keep the blades looking great. It’s one of the hardiest varieties out there meaning it grows well during the full growing season, often starting to show color early in the spring and lasting well into the late fall. 

The grass goes dormant during the winter, but typically comes back just as strongly once the weather starts to warm up. Since it grows quickly, it’s easy to repair any bare patches throughout the year. However, it’s not without its maintenance needs. You’ll want to aerate your Kentucky bluegrass lawn at least once a year and may need to remove the thatch buildup throughout the growing season. 

It also needs regular mowing as it will grow quickly with regular watering sessions. This could leave you spending more time maintaining your lawn during the summer than you may like. That said, the payoff is a lawn that can easily withstand drought conditions without suffering extensive damage.

Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass is incredibly durable and comfortable making it a great option for homeowners that use their lawn to keep the kids entertained and active. The grass doesn’t crush easily underfoot and can stand up to frequent wear and tear common with lawn games and activities. The blades are particularly robust and won’t turn brown if kids and animals spend more time on the lawn than they do inside. 

Though it’s incredibly durable under heavy foot traffic, it’s not the most ideal for homes with pest problems or lawns in areas with frequent plant disease outbreaks. The blades can and will get damaged by mold, mildew, and insects but as long as you stay on top of regular maintenance and contact a landscaping professional as soon as you see early signs of damage, the grass will thrive.

The grass isn’t incredibly fast growing, so you shouldn’t have to spend too much time mowing it over the weekends. Since you’re not mowing it all the time, you won’t have the same amount of thatch buildup that you would with Kentucky bluegrass, saving you time on regular maintenance tasks.

Fine Fescue
If you’re lucky enough to have tall shade trees in your yard, you know that certain varieties of grass just won’t grow well beneath the trees. This doesn’t mean you have to settle for bare patches in your lawn. You just need to choose the right type of grass. Fine fescue is the best choice.

It naturally thrives in high shade environments and doesn’t need carefully prepared soil to take root. Most homeowners with sandy yards or otherwise poor soil conditions find fine fescue grass easy to grow and maintain. 

Keep in mind that fine fescue will need some regular maintenance. You’ll want to be mindful of underperforming areas and establish a consistent watering schedule to make sure it grows properly. However, since it does well in shade, it’s not very fast-growing, meaning you won’t have to mow as frequently. 

Tall Fescue
Like fine fescue, tall fescue does well in yards with partial or even full shade. Once the grass is established, the roots spread up to four feet deep in the soil, helping retrieve nutrients from the dirt without forcing you to fertilize or treat the lawn. Even better, the long roots help hold the soil in place, making tall fescue ideal for homes and landscapes that struggle to manage erosion. With the roots in place, you won’t have to worry about losing half your landscaping after a heavy rainstorm. 

Like fine fescue, this grass does well in different soil conditions and can grow properly for years without intense maintenance. Even better, it will continue to grow well during the spring and late fall months, giving your yard more color and personality for longer. 

However, the soil does need to have proper drainage. If it stays too damp or wet for too long, it will cause the roots to mold, leaving you with an underperforming lawn. To keep tall fescue in good condition, you will need to monitor the lawn for patchy spots and spread more seed to fill those areas in.

Buffalo Grass
Buffalo grass isn’t ideal for every home in the Denver area. This is because it typically does better in lower elevation areas. If your home is below 6,500 feet in elevation, which most of the metro area is, buffalo grass can do incredibly well. Its thick blades give a beautiful texture and color to any home, but they’re not ideal for high-traffic areas. Too much activity will crush the blades and leave you with an underperforming lawn.

If you’re considering planting buffalo grass on your property, try to incorporate it into a side yard or a part of your landscape design that doesn’t see much use. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the color it provides without having to constantly maintain it or repair damage.

The Right Grass Needs the Right Sprinkler System
Once you find the right type of grass for your home’s lawn, you’ll need a way to keep it properly hydrated throughout the year. Save yourself the headache of hauling heavy hoses or watering the lawn by hand. Contact our team to schedule an estimate and see for yourself just how easy maintaining a yard with an automatic sprinkler system can be. We’ll help you find the right system for your home and your budget.