Grasses used in New Mexico consist of cool-season and warm-season grasses. Bermuda grass is probably the most common choice at low elevations in the southern parts of the state where temperatures are hotter. With a deep root system this grass is considered very good when it comes to drought tolerance. In the cooler climates of New Mexico Kentucky bluegrass does quite well as well as fescues and ryegrass. Native grasses such as Buffalo grass may also be used in areas where water is scarce.

Cool-Season Grasses:
Kentucky bluegrass - The use of Kentucky bluegrass should be limited to the cooler parts of New Mexico. Unlike perennial ryegrass, which is a bunch type turfgrass, Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes and withstands moderate traffic. Because of the rhizomes, Kentucky bluegrass recuperates well from wear injury. On athletic fields, it can be used in mixtures with perennial ryegrass and/or tall fescue.

Perennial ryegrass - Improved and newly released varieties of perennial ryegrass are well adapted to most of New Mexico and thus their use has increased greatly. These varieties establish quickly and provide, good cold tolerance and winter color, but only adequate heat tolerance. Even when irrigated heavily, summers in southern New Mexico can be too hot for perennial ryegrass to survive.

Fine fescues - Fine Fescue is a shade tolerant turf grass with a medium to dark green color. Adapted to the Pacific Northwest, Fine Fescue grows best in cool humid regions, coastal regions and in high elevations. All varieties require little maintenance and like to be mowed at 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. They have the finest leaves, the most shade tolerance and the lowest fertilizer, mowing and moisture requirements of all the cool season turf grasses. Chewings Fescue, Red Fescue, Creeping Red Fescue, Sheep Fescue and Hard Fescue are popular varieties of Fine Fescue. These varieties can be found on lawns, in parks, along road sides and other turf grass areas and extensively used in grass seed blends and mixes for both sunny and shady areas. Fine Fescues are not recommended for sports fields and golf tees because they have a low wear tolerance. Most of these varieties have all the same characteristics. Chewings Fescue has a noncreeping, bunch-type growth habit unlike Red Fescue. All varieties germinate rapidly and are well adapted to poor, dry, sandy soils.

Tall fescue - Turf Type - Due to its heat and drought tolerance, it is a good general purpose turfgrass for New Mexico. Tall fescue is a tall-growing, coarse- to medium-textured, bunch-type turfgrass that can be established by seed or sod. Tall fescue resists heavy wear and high temperatures. When adequately irrigated, it can be grown successfully in all parts of New Mexico. In warmer areas in the south, a tall fescue stand can be weakened and can deteriorate through the invasion of bermudagrass.

Warm-Season Grasses:
Buffalograss - This species is more drought tolerant and can be sustained on moderately less water compared with bermudagrass. Improved seeded buffalograsses are now available. They are denser and of higher quality (more attractive) than the older, dual-purpose forage varieties yet not as dense as traditional lawn grasses. Special care must be taken during establishment, especially in weed control.

Bermuda Grass - Bermudagrass is the species most adapted to and most frequently used New Mexico. Many new and improved seeded varieties have been developed and released during the last 10 years. Users now have a choice of varieties that are denser and finer textured than the almost extinct seed of common bermudagrass. Bermudagrass spreads aggressively by stolons (aboveground runners) and rhizomes (belowground runners) and can become a nuisance when it invades flower beds and gardens. Also, cold-tolerant seeded and vegetative varieties are available that withstand lower winter temperatures.

Click Name To View Grass Seed Choice		Type	Applications
Bermuda Grass - Oasis		Warm Season	Lawns - Full Sun - Fast Growing
Bermuda Grass - Blackjack		Warm Season	Lawns - Full Sun - Fast Growing
Bermuda Grass - Yukon		Warm Season	Lawns - Golf Course - Fast Growing Full Sun - High End - Best Cold Tolerance
Bermuda Grass - Arden 15		Warm Season	Lawns - Golf Course - Fast Growing Full Sun - High End
Buffalo Grass - Buffalo Supreme		Warm Season	Lawns - High Drought Tolerance - Full Sun
Fescue/Bluegrass Mix - Combat Extreme South		Cool Season	Lawns - Wear Tolerant - Extra Heat Tolerance
Fescue Blend - Combat Extreme Transition		Cool Season	Lawns - Wear Tolerant
Fine Fescue Blend - Legacy		Cool Season	Lawns - Moderate To Heavy Shade
Kentucky Bluegrass - Bluegrass Supreme		Cool Season	Lawns - Golf Gourses - Full Sun Used In Cool Zones in New Mexico
Kentucky Bluegrass - Midnight		Cool Season	Lawns - Golf Courses - Full Sun Used In Cool Zones in New Mexico
OSP Ryegrass		Cool Season	Lawns - Golf Courses - Southern Winter Overseed

Combat Extreme Southern

Extra Heat Tolerance

 

Combat Southern is a 3-way mixture of turf type fescue and Hybrid Bluegrass which is heat and drought tolerant enough to be used in USDA Zones 8 - 10 (partial shade recommend for USDA Zone 9 and 10). This mixture is approximately 90% turf type fescue grass seed and 10% hybrid bluegrass seed by weight. By seed count, this makes almost a 50/50 blend of fescue and hybrid drought tolerant bluegrass.

• Wear Tolerant
• Cost Efficient
• Lawns

Arden 15 Bermuda Grass

Popular Bermudagrass

 

Arden 15 bermuda grass seed can be used on golf course fairways and tees - manicured home lawns - well maintained sports turf and parks. It has several advantages over traditional Bermuda grasses: Arden 15, just has a higher overall turf quality than all commercial seeded varieties in U.S. and international tests. This bermuda grass variety has a beautiful dark green color, medium fine leaf texture. Just as its predecessor Princess 77 had, Arden 15 has a high leaf density as well as a moderate spring greenup and fall color retention, and it is easily established from grass seed.

• Golf Courses
• Lawns
• High End

Below is the USDA Zone Map for New Mexico so you can determine which zone you reside in. Below that are our picks for your state which will do best in your area. Next on this page are tables which list various grasses and their characteristics so you can compare before you decide on your purchase. Click on the product name (ie. Midnight) for more information about that grass and to make your purchase.

USDA Zone Map For New Mexico