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Grasses in Texas for lawns are dependent on largely where in this large state they will be planted.  You can divide Texas into basically four climatic regions. these include the north-central plains, the south-east coastal plains, The great plains lying north and north west in Texas and the Trans-Pecos Mountain area west of the Pecos Valley.  Growing season ranges from 185 days in Northern cooler areas to over 300 days in the Southeast.  Rainfall is also a factor in lawns with a wide range from over 50+ inches in the East to less than 10 in the western areas.    Soils also vary greatly and lime is usually required in the Southeastern part of the state.

TEXAS LAWN SPECIES PLANTED:
Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses are found extensively throughout the state.  St. Augustine is limited more to warmer areas due to not surviving winter temperatures as cold as Bermuda with its Northern area of adaptation stopping around the Fort Worth area.  It is found extensively in Gulf coast areas.  It is also the best warm season grass for shade problem areas.  Zoysiagrass is also planted in Texas.  Buffalo Grass is found in the dryer areas where rainfall is limited to less than 20 inches annually.  Centipede is adapted for use in central and South Eastern areas of Texas especially on sandy, well drained soils. Tall Fescues are used extensively in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and Northern Texas, but generally will require irrigation to survive heat / drought. 

LESSER USED VARIETIES:
Bentgrass is used on golf courses for greens in some Northern & NE areas - It should NOT be used for a home lawn.  Bluegrass is limited in use to mainly panhandle areas of Texas. Ryegrasses are used in Texas for fast cover and for a overseeding dormant warm season grasses to have a green playing surface in the fall / winter months. Bahiagrass is used occasionally in the SE for lawn and pasture areas where drought tolerance is important.  For more on Texas lawns read the Extension sites below.
 
MORE INFORMATION & SEED VARIETIES:

• Bahiagrass (Used for Southeastern Area pastures)
• Bluegrass (Kentucky Bluegrass is limited to panhandle use).
• Buffalograss (Lower Rainfall areas)
• Bermudagrass (Wide range of use - good heat / drought tolerance)
• Carpetgrass (Limited to use in coastal areas)
• Centipedegrass (Southeastern & Southern Areas)
• Tall Fescue (Northern areas & Dallas / Fort Worth)
• Fescue (Fine Fescue) (Shade in Northern Areas)
• St. Augustine (South East)
• Ryegrass (Overseeding warm season lawns for Fall / winter)
• Zoysia ( Eastern Areas)

There are several good turf grass sources of information located in Texas. Several of the best are listed below (in no particular order):

(1) Texas Turfgrass Association:
http://www.texasturf.com/

Texas Turfgrass Discussion area: 
Ask questions and get help on your problems / questions:
http://www.texasturf.com/discussion/

(2) Turfgrass Management & Use - Dr. Richard Duble:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/turf.html

(3) Aggie Turf - Texas A&M University
Good information on home, athletic and commercial turf grass and lawns.  http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/

(4) Texas Cooperative Extension
Contacting Texas Extension for help:  Your extension agent can help with many questions about Texas lawns and agricultural crops.
Extension: http://texasextension.tamu.edu/
County Office list: http://county-tx.tamu.edu/ (locate your local office).

Texas A&M Management
TURF GRASS EXTENSION WEBSITE:
http://publications.tamu.edu/publications/Turfgrass/L-5339 Maintaining Bermudagrass.pdf
TURF PUBLICATIONS:
http://publications.tamu.edu/publications/Turfgrass/turftips022003.pdf

Resource Center:
http://agpublications.tamu.edu/

Cooperative Lawn Articles:
Most require that you purchase and order:
http://tcebookstore.org/index.cfm
ORDER Documents on PASTURES FOR TEXAS under "Agriculture":
http://tcebookstore.org/index.cfm
Chinch Bugs in St. Augustine:
PDF

TEXAS CLIMATE ZONES 5,8,9 & 11 Grass Zone Selection Chart

See map for zone selection.

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