• Bermuda Grass is a grass native to Africa.Lawn image by Yuriy Rozanov from Fotolia.com
  
  Summer is a difficult time to grow grass across the United States. High heat combined with little rainfall can cause even drought-tolerant grass to become patchy and bare. Often during drought conditions, cities will institute bans on watering, which can further stress grass. In order to maintain a healthy lawn, you should select a warm season grass. Warm season grasses are more tolerant to heat and drought conditions.
  
  

Zoysia

• Zoysia is a grass that was introduced to the United States from Southeast Asia. The grass grows well throughout the South and into the Midwest. Zoysia plants spread over the ground on runners known as stolons and underground on roots known as rhizomes. The grass will tolerate a wide range of soils from sand to heavy clay, as well as high saline soil around the seashores though they thrive in loamy soil with good drainage. Zoysia leaves are rolled around a bud shoot. The leaves are smooth with smooth margins and tiny base hairs. Zoysia will tolerate moderate shade, but will become sparse and patchy in full shade conditions.
  
  

Bermudagrass

• Bermudagrass is a warm-season grass that will withstand foot traffic well. Because of this, Bermuda is a popular grass for sport turf for arenas in the southern parts of the United States. Bermuda initially came to the United States from Africa via the Carribbean. Bermuda will spread on stolons, rhizomes and seed. It is a highly-aggressive plant that can spread into flower beds easily. Bermuda grows best during extended periods of high temperature and prefers mild winters found in the south. In frost-free areas, Bermuda will stay green year round. In cooler areas, Bermuda goes dormant in the winter months. Bermuda has a high light requirement and will not do well in partially shady areas. The plant is characterized by thin stems, weak rhizomes and elongated, upright leaf blades. The plant will tolerate a wide range of soils including sandy, saline or clay soil.
  
  

St. Augustine

• St. Augustine is a popular grass for tropical regions including Mexico, the Carribbean the Gulf Coast and Hawaii. St. Augustine will not do well in subtropical regions, and is not a good grass for the midwest or the upper United States. St. Augustine will tolerate a wide range of soil from clay to sand and saline, but will not tolerate drought conditions. St. Augustine has stolons, but does not have rhizomes. Instead, the grass roots at the plant nodes. St. Augustine leaf sheathes are compressed and the leaf blades fold at the base. The grass will do well in sun as well as shade, although it becomes spindly and patchy in dense shade.