Carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis) is a perennial turf grass with wide leaves. It’s a light green color, and also, while not considered a high-quality grass, it’s hardy and durable. A warm-season bud, it rises in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 9, and may tolerate some light shade and moist, moist growing conditions. Carpetgrass does not do well in full shade, so you might need to find an alternate turf grass.
Light and Carpetgrass
Carpetgrass can tolerate full sun as well as filtered light — partial shade. It can also grow in areas where it only gets sun for a number of the daytime. It won’t develop in a place that is in deep shade all day. Because it tolerates moist, boggy soils, it’s more tolerant of cooler conditions than more sensitive grasses, such as common Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), that rises in USDA zones 7 through 10.
Establishing Carpetgrass
Carpetgrass isn’t hard to establish, which makes it a smart option for lawns, even though it has a coarse texture and also doesn’t function well if it’s walked or played frequently. When planting carpetgrass, you do not need to fertilize the area.
Carpetgrass Care
Carpetgrass does not like cold weather and it goes into seed easily. It’s also not drought tolerant, so plant it just where the soil remains moist. Mow the carpetgrass regularly — it will tolerate a minimal height of 3/4 inch. Carpet bud will grow well without fertilizer ordinarily.
Carpetgrass Alternatives
Because carpetgrass does not grow well in full shade, it’s just moderately shade tolerant, consider other warm-weather turf grass options. Korean velvetgrass (Zoysia tenuifolia) is a zoysia species which grows well in USDA zone 8. It tolerates full shade. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphurm secundatum) is just another shade-tolerant, warm-season grass and it rises in USDA zones 8 through 10.