Growing a Lawn in St. George UT

Growing a lawn in St. George UT is not for everyone who lives here. Let’s face it, Southern Utah is not the most ideal area for a large, lush, green lawn. However, there are many homes that can be found with beautiful green lawns in St. George UT. Whether you have a small area for your grass or a larger area, I have great tips and tricks for growing a lawn in St. George UT now that spring will be here in less than two weeks.

New Lawns – Growing a Lawn in St. George UT

If you will be starting a brand new lawn, you should not start your seeding until after the last chance of frost, when the temperatures at night are 35 degrees or above, and when the soil temperatures reach 50-65 degrees.  Prepare your soil by loosening it before you spread your grass seed on it. Spread your grass seed, then rake into the soil. Lightly cover with hay to keep from over exposure to sun and heat. This will also help keep moisture in the seed.

Water daily with a light mist for approximately 15 minutes to keep soil moist. If your soil dries out the seeds will not germinate. When the seeds do germinate, water deeply. Feed fresh grass with a high phosphorous fertilizer and let your grass grow about 3 inches before its first cut.

What Type of Grass Grows Best in St. George UT – Growing a Lawn in St. George UT

There are two seeds that do well in Southern Utah, tall fescue and buffalo grass. The most commonly used in St. George is the tall fescue. This grass looks very similar to Kentucky bluegrass and is a cool-season grass. You can also find tall fescue sod suppliers if you want to go the sod route. Buffalo grass is a warm-season grass that is more blue-gray in color. When making your decision on which grass seed to choose, you should also consider how much water is required for each grass. Growing a lawn in St. George UT does require a bit of work and effort. Tall fescue requires about thirty inches of water each year and the Buffalo grass requires about eight inches of water each year.

Growing a lawn in St. George UT can be a challenge when it comes to watering your lawn if you choose a large space and you use tall fescue seed because we get very little rain in St. George. However, Buffalo grass is easily damaged with heavy traffic. So, if you have children or pets that will play on the lawn frequently, you may not want to consider the Buffalo grass. Tall fescue holds up really well to traffic and repairs itself fairly quickly.

Existing Lawns – Growing a Lawn in St. George UT

If you have an existing lawn, now is the perfect time to prepare your lawn. If you have tough soil, aerate the soil now to help loosen it before you reseed your lawn. Dethatch your lawn so the air can get to the soil easily, which will help prevent disease.

Keep your grass cut regularly to prevent weed growth. Cool-season grasses should be kept at two inches tall for optimal health and to ward off weeds. This will also help during times of drought. And, don’t forget to keep your blades sharp so you are not tearing your grass out while you are cutting.

Feed your beautiful lawn at least two times each year with fertilizer to help it grow and keep it green. Try using a light coating of slow-release organic fertilizer for optimal health.