The climate in South Carolina is one of the most indulgent ones throughout the States. That makes it perfect for growing all kinds of plants, especially grass. After all, what can be better than just sit in the outdoors and contemplate, look at the world around you, and your beautiful lawn? 

And you know what will make it more beautiful? No, not only the proper care (while it is important) but also having good grass. However, choosing the right kind is a lot more challenging than it may appear at first. After all, if you impregnate the soil with the wrong kind of seed, it will not only be pointless but could also ruin the overall health of your green corner. That is why it’s so important to make sure that the grass you plant matches the climate you live in. 

And today, we’ll be taking a look at what is the best grass for South Carolina that you can easily add to your lawn.

Best Grass to Grow in South Carolina

There are two varieties of South Carolina grass, namely warm weather grass and cool seasoned grass. So for example grasses like Bermuda and Centipede are considered warm-weather grasses, while Ryegrass and Tall Fescue are perfect for a colder climate. 

Now, with that said, what IS the best grass for upstate SC? Well, let’s take a look at them by types:

Cool Season Grasses

As the name suggests, this type of grass is best suited for colder climates, usually in the 65-75 degrees range. Anything above that will be detrimental to the grass.

Some of the most popular cold-season types of grass in South Carolina:

• Tall Fescue Grass: Tall Fescue is one of the best grass for South Carolina. It is hardy and has exceptional shade tolerance. The mowing height is up to 3 to 4 inches and requires frequent reseeding. 
• Kentucky Bluegrass: These are great for golf courses and lawns but need to be maintained well for a clean look. They do not have a very high shade tolerance and require full sun. 
• Ryegrass: Tennis courts and lawns often use Ryegrass, since it looks lush and green. They grow at a very fast rate, and thus maintenance is of utmost importance. This grass also has good drought tolerance but doesn’t like shade. All and all, it is the best grass seed for South Carolina and an excellent choice if you trim your lawn regularly.

Warm Season Grasses

As opposed to their counterpart, this South Carolina grass type is more suitable for warmer regions. They grow perfectly at the temperature of  59 °F and are very heat-resistant.

• Zoysia grass: They grow well throughout the year and attain a dark green color in summer and pale blue in winter. The growth rate is very slow. Although a warm-season grass, it has a high tolerance to cold. Just remember that mowing Zoysia grass is very important since they recover very slowly. Bermuda grass: Since Bermuda grass cultivates very rapidly, it is considered the best grass seed for SC warm climates. They are tolerant to drought and salinity. You can also grow at any sunny location with minimum effort. However, Bermuda grass is not very cold-resistant. So if you live in an area with a moderate climate, we suggest skipping this type. 
• Centipede grass: Most vouch for this one being the best grass for South Carolina for its low maintenance and versatility. It can tolerate some shade along with high heat. Minimal fertilizing and mowing does a great job. You can also use homemade fertilizer.
• St. Augustine grass: They have an excellent tolerance for salinity and shade and thus best for sandy soil. It has flat stems and broad leaves that grow rapidly. However, it is not cold tolerant at all.

Grass for South Carolina: Comparison Table

	Tall Fescue grass	Zoysia grass	Bermuda grass	Centipede grass	St. Augustine grass
Establishment method	Seeds, sod	Seeds, sod, sprigs, plugs	Sod, sprigs, plugs, seeds	Sod seeds. Sprigs, plugs	Sod, sprigs, plugs
Maintenance level	Moderate	High	High	Low	Moderate
Mowing height	2 and half to 3	Quarter to 2	Quarter to 1 and half	1 and half to 2	2 and half to 4
Mowing frequency	High	Moderate	Very low	Low	Moderate
Soil condition	Wide range	Wide range	Wide range	Acid	Wide range
Color and texture	Medium dark and medium to coarse texture	Medium dark and medium fine texture	Medium dark and fine texture	Light and medium texture	Medium dark and coarse medium texture
Disease tendency	Moderate	Moderate	Low	Moderate	Moderate
Cold tolerance	Good	Very good	Good	Fair	Poor
Wear tolerance	Fair	Very good	Excellent	Poor	Fair

Tips To Choose the Best Soil For South Carolina 

• Decide if you want your lawn to just look good or you plan to use it for various activities. 
• Decide how much time and money you are willing to pay for the maintenance of your lawn. 
• Find out the soil type, average climate, and PH level of your area.
• Study the geographical area (climate, temperature, humidity etc.).

Final Word

Finding the best grass for South Carolina is not that difficult, as you can see. All you need to do is keep in mind all the considerations and of course since weeds in South Carolina can harm your grass, you need to take proper care of it. So make sure you mow, dethatch, and aerate your lawn, and you can take pride in its beauty and health!

So good luck, and feel free to let us know if you have any experience with some of these grasses? Perhaps you also have some recommendations and advice that you wish to share? We would be happy to learn from you too!