From the time that we are kids, most of us appreciate a nice grassy yard. As kids, it was a nice place to play by day or lay and look at the stars at night. I discovered, to the distress of my father, that with a shovel you could dig up big squares of Bermuda grass and make walls for forts. On the other hand, there were many Saturdays that would have been better spent playing with friends than mowing that yard that seemed as big as a football field. As adults, our thoughts change about our yards. A nicely kept yard is still our place of relaxation and order in a world of chaos. Only now it is our responsibility to keep it orderly. Whether you are planting a new yard or keeping up an older yard, here are some descriptions of the different grasses and tips for success.

· Bermudagrass- Drought resistant grass that grows in full sun. Runners make it invasive and easy to spread although some of the hybrids are less prone to invade your flowerbeds. Grows in full sun only. It comes as seed or on a pallet. A tough grass with few problems.

· Buffalo grass- Very drought tolerant. Tends to turn brown in mid-summer into fall without supplemental irrigation. This is the only turf grass native to Texas. The original has been hybridized into forms that are more desirable. Look for Prairie (the native) or "609" Buffalo grass hybrids. Requires full sun. Does not require much mowing. Seed or sod is available for the native variety. Sod only for the improved varieties.

· Centipede grass- This grass needs sandy, acidic soils. It grows well in East Texas and should do well in the parts of Bastrop County where our soils mimic those of the east. Has good drought tolerance though it does not wear well in heavy traffic. Hard to find on a pallet but you can plant from seed.

· Turf-type tall Fescue- A cool-loving Kentucky bluegrass, there are blends that claim to make it here in our Texas heat. Best planted in a little shade for this reason. Some hybridized forms will grow in as little as two to four hours of filtered sun. Recent hybrids will also stay green most of the year, though you may see some browning in our summers. Green all winter. Drought resistant and doesn't creep. You will probably need to overseed once or twice to get full coverage, as it is one seed, one blade. Be sure you get the tall type and not the fine type Fescue. Is not available on pallets.

· Zoysia grass- Grows in full sun although some of the new hybrids claim to grow in up to 50% shade. Drought tolerant. Turns brown in the winter. You can find it on pallets and sometimes in plugs. The year 2001 saw the first year Zoysia was available from seed. To get it to grow from seed, you really have to be on top of the planting instructions and the follow-up care.

· St. Augustine grass- Popular grass that is overused. Problems include white grubs, chinch bugs, brown patch, and Take-All Root Rot. The main problem comes from our hot summers. St. Augustine is a big water user, and as we attempt to keep it watered in the summer we sometimes over-water. You will find problems occurring in low-lying areas where the water will stand. Does grow in sun or shade. You can find it in plugs or on a pallet.

Follow your planting instructions when carrying for newly planted seed or sod. Be sure to keep both watered well for two weeks. Unless you have absolutely no soil, you do not need to add any additional topsoil. It is always good to work in some good compost into the top two or three inches of your soil before you plant either.

If planting from seed, you will need to roughen up the surface of the soil to aid the seeds ability to contact the soil. Sow the seed and water in well. Be careful not to puddle the water or you will not get full coverage. You can seed now and then overseed in a month or so and again in the fall. You will find better germination if you use a soil activator such as Medina® or Liquid Seaweed.

Remember to feed the soil and let the soil take care of the grass. Do not fertilize until you have made your first cutting on your new lawn. We have a handout that will tell you what you need to do to set up an organic lawn-fertilizing schedule for your new or existing lawn. Pick one up at Kimas Tejas Nursery anytime. If you false feed with synthetic fertilizers you will be upsetting the balance of the soil life and setting yourself up for problems.