If you live in an area where the grass turns brown and crispy after a couple of months, you might be interested to know that there are two types of grasses – annual grass, which will only last one year, and perennials grass, which will last multiple years.
Perennial and Annual. The difference between these two types of grass is the length of time they need to grow to maturity. Annuals will die after a year, while perennials will live longer. There are other differences as well, such as the care and maintenance they require, so be sure to read this article for more information.
Today I’m going to talk about the differences between perennial and annual grass. A perennial is a plant that lives at least three years or more, while an annual is a plant that only lives one year.
Perennial vs Annual Grass
Perennial vs Annual grass | The Main Difference Between Annual Grass And Perennial Grass
If you live in an area where the grass turns brown and crispy after a couple of months, you might be interested to know that there are two types of grasses – annuals, which will only last one year, and perennials, which will last multiple years. In this article, you’ll learn the differences between these two types of grasses and see how they can affect your lawn care routine.
Characteristics of Perennial Grasses
- Perennial grasses are different from other types of grass in that they grow from rhizomes underground.
- They are typically taller and denser than other types of grass.
- A common characteristic of them is that their stalks have nodes on them to produce rhizomes.
- Their seed heads will also stick around for a long time, like until winter or even springtime, giving you plenty of time to spread the seeds around your lawn.
- Most perennial grasses are used for lawns and are more expensive than annual grasses.
- Perennial grasses grow back from the roots after mowing and remain green year-round if properly maintained.
- Perennial Lawns should be fertilized in the spring, watered in the summer, and fertilized again before winter sets in.
- Fertilizer can be applied to your lawn using a fertilizer spreader or by hand when working outdoors with a shovel.
Charterstics of Annaul Grasses
- Annual grasses generally have a very shallow root system and are often divided into two categories: warm-season and cool-season.
- Warm-season grasses grow best in the summer months, but die off during winter. Cool-season grasses grow best in the winter months, but die off during summer.
- Outside of these characteristics, all other aspects of planting them are similar to planting perennial grasses.
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What is the difference between Perennial vs Annual grass?
Most grasses found in North America grow from seeds, so they are called annuals. This means that they will only be on your lawn for one year, and then you have to put more seeds down for the next year’s growth. Perennial grasses, however, will come back every spring on their own without any need for new planting.
Most perennial grasses will be on your lawn for many years. I always recommend purchasing the highest quality seed that you can find, but in my opinion, you cannot go wrong with either one of these grass seeds.
Actually, I said these both are good effective for you it might be right. A mixture should consist of a little bit more. A mixture also gives you more variety of color, leaf size, and a better overall look. All three of these grasses have very similar growth habits, get the same diseases, and are very low maintenance.
Perennial vs Annual Grass
The biggest difference is that fescue is not very drought tolerant like bermudagrass so if you live in an area where it doesn’t rain much during the summer then Bermuda would be a better choice for you.
Why would you choose one over the other?
Basically, perennials will come back every year, while annuals will only grow for one season. Perennials are a better choice if you like the look of grass and want to keep it looking good all year round. Annuals are more suited to an area that is not expected to have any changes in weather which won’t affect the grass.
Perennial grasses Pros and Cons
- Long-lived and require little maintenance.
- They grow in a single clump with no need to be replanted every year.
- They do not lend themselves well to mowing and cutting and can take up a lot of space in the garden.
- Turfgrass is a common choice for many homeowners because it will grow almost anywhere and needs minimal care.
- It does have its drawbacks though, turf grass doesn’t tolerate shade very well and needs attention to keep it from growing too tall
Annual grass Pros and Cons in bullets points
- Perennial grass stays green all year round
- Annual grass becomes brown in the winter
- Perennial grass is better for soil and can grow over rocks and other obstacles
- Annual grass is better for lawns where it can be mowed or cut to the desired length
What are the steps to Planting Perennial Grass?
Planting perennial grasses is easy, but there are some steps you should follow.
- First, you spray the area with herbicide to kill any unwanted weeds.
- Next, you dig up the area to a depth of 5 inches and spread compost or manure over it. You can also add cow poop, which has nitrogen in it.
- After that, you install a soil erosion control fabric to help prevent erosion on slopes.
- Finally, you install your grass seed and water it in well.
This is the process for planting grasses in established, well-drained lawns. If you are trying to establish a new lawn in an area that hasn’t had it before, you need to do more work.
You have to do some heavy raking and smoothing because the ground is rough and bumpy. You can plant grass seed directly into this rougher soil, but it’s not going to grow well until you remove all of the obstructions you find under.
What are the steps to Planting Annual Grasses?
- Prepare the site by removing any natural ground cover and horticultural weeds.
- Mix in grass seed at a rate of 1 to 3 pounds per 1000 square feet.
- Spread the seed by dragging a metal rake, roller, or soil knife over the surface of the soil.
- Use a “hose-on” type spreader to apply water evenly over the entire area at a rate of one gallon per 1000 square feet.
- Keep watered during the establishment period.
Conclusion:
Perennial vs Annual grass: Most people don’t know which grass seed they should plant on their lawn. There are two types: annual, which don’t last long on your lawn, but are used to quickly cover areas; and perennial, which grow for a long time on your lawn, but can take a few years to get established.
When the two types of grass seed are put next to each other (perennial vs. annual), one works better than the other in different situations. You should according to your yard’s current situation.
Annual start out well, but quickly fades in a single growing season while the perennials provide more benefits and grow over years to come. Perennial grass seeds hold more value to lawns because they provide year-round interest and have a longer life span. Annual grass seeds offer only one season of growth.