Top Three Tips to Selecting Turfgrass

Preparing your outdoor spaces for an upgrade this spring starts with learning which types of turfgrass will thrive best at your home. Hawaiian Turfgrass, a locally owned and operated company, offers a premium selection of grass varieties picked exclusively by founder Sean Aukanai‘i Fong for Hawaii’s tropical climate. Here, Fong offers insights on choosing the right grass for your yard and working with the Hawaiian Turfgrass team on your next project.

Sunlight
The primary consideration for optimal grass selection is sun exposure, explains Fong. “Full sun” yards get at least five hours of direct sunlight per day. In areas with full sun, any of the six varieties offered by Hawaiian Turfgrass will thrive: Zeon Zoysia, El Toro Zoysia, SeaStar Seashore Paspalum, Stadium Zoysia, Tahoma 31 Bermuda and Captiva St. Augustine.

Photo: Getty Images

Yards with fewer than four hours of direct sunlight per day are considered “shade.” The shade-tolerant Captiva St. Augustine is ideal in these areas — it’s a slower, vertical grower that requires less water, mowing and maintenance.

“If you plant the wrong grass, it will fail over time,” says Fong. “If not enough sunlight is received, the grass will stretch for light and become thin, and ultimately you’ll have to switch and plant the Captiva St. Augustine.”

Photo: Getty Images

Mowing
Maintenance is also key in choosing the right grass for your home. Fong explains that it’s important to keep in mind the kind of mower you’ll be using and how often you plan to mow your grass. Reel mowers, for example, can be used on all Hawaiian Turfgrass varieties except Captiva St. Augustine. Since the shade-tolerant grass requires less-frequent mowing and maintenance, a rotary mower is preferable.

“Bermudas like to be cut at half-an-inch, Zoysias around three-quarters-of-an-inch, and the Captiva St. Augustine is anywhere between two inches to six inches, which is a big difference,” notes Fong.

Photo: Getty Images

Water
The sod selection at Hawaiian Turfgrass features improved, high-quality cultivars that are more environmentally friendly and require less water and fertilizer. To ensure the longevity of your lawn, Fong recommends investing in a custom sprinkler system.

“An irrigation system will pay off tenfold by making sure the grass is being watered and fed properly, and where drought tolerance is important,” he says. Bermuda and Zoysia varieties are drought-tolerant options for warmer, arid neighborhoods; Captiva St. Augustine favors wet, cooler conditions in areas like Kaneohe.

Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Turfgrass

Fong recommends a preliminary consultation with the Hawaiian Turfgrass team to assess your yard with expert guidance in selecting the best grass for your property. Hawaiian Turfgrass offers an online Open Measuring Map to calculate the amount of sod needed for your project, as well as tutorials to assist with the Online Order Process for Hawaiian Turfgrass and 5 Steps to Installing the Lawn of Your Dreams. After consultation, homeowners can purchase grass directly from the Hawaiian Turfgrass website for pickup at its Mililani farm or easy home delivery. Online ordering is available 24/7 for ease and accessibility.

Visit hawaiianturfgrass.com for additional information and to schedule your appointment. Be sure to mention Hawaii Home + Remodeling to receive a special discount of $600 off installation with purchase.

Learn more about the newest grass varieties and landscaping services offered by Hawaiian Turfgrass (License #C-32884) in our March 2024 print story, Grass Varieties for your ‘Home Field.’