Grass for Clay Soil: Grow the Perfect Lawn

Clay soil can be a real challenge for gardeners, especially when choosing grass. Grass for clay soil needs to tolerate the specific challenges associated with this kind of soil. In this post, we’re going to look at some of the best types of grasses that will work well with clay soils no matter what climate you live in!

Clay soil is a challenge when it comes to growing grass. It’s usually nutrient-rich and holds water well, but compacted clay brings its own set of challenges.

The good news is there are some great options for growing grass in clay soil. Since clay soil tends to be heavy and compacted, grasses need a robust deep root system. This includes

• Zoysia
• Bermuda
• Buffalo grass
• Tall Fescue
• Perennial Ryegrass

Our guide will look at each of these grasses, so you have no trouble finding what works best for your yard!

The research for this post was tricky. There isn’t much reliable information about grass for clay soil, so I had to dig for it (no pun intended). If you are interested, I have explained my research process below.

Characteristics of Clay Soil

Clay soils are made up of tiny particles, making them heavy and difficult to work with. The USGS (The United States Geological Survey) defines clay as a material with a particle size of fewer than 2 micrometers. Clay soil can also include other materials, like sand and silt.

The clay particles and water will bond very quickly. Clay swells when it absorbs the water. This process is reversible, so the clay will expand or contract depending on the weather. Clay particles can double in size during wet weather and shrink back when they dry up.

It’s no secret that clay soils are tough to manage. When they get wet, the particles stick together, making them heavy and sticky. If the clay particles become too dry, they form a solid mass that resembles concrete. We have clay soil. When it gets hard, I literally cannot dig the smallest hole. I swear my spade hits the surface and bounces!

How to Identify Clay Soil in Your Yard

There’s a good chance you already know if you have clay in your yard. All you must do is try and dig the soil. It is horrible to work. When it’s dry and hard, you feel like you need a jackhammer just to break the surface. If it’s too wet, you will simply get bogged down in a sticky mess. There doesn’t ever seem to be a happy medium. It is either too dry or too wet. However, there are three ways to test for clay.

1. The squeeze test: The soil needs to be damp to do this test. Take a fist full of soil and try to form a ball. If the ball stays together, the earth is likely clay when you let go.
2. The ribbon test: Roll damp soil between your hands to make a ribbon. You know you have a high percentage of clay if you can form a ribbon and hold it vertically. Soil with a smaller percentage of clay will form a ribbon that doesn’t stay together if you hold it up. This usually indicates about 25 to 50 percent clay. If you can’t make a ribbon, your soil is not clay.
3. The Jar Test: This takes a little longer but is more accurate. Take a large glass jar, and fill it with soil from the wet area. Fill the jar with water, shake it well, and let the soil components settle in layers.

Clemson University has produced a fact sheet that details the jar test and calculating the soil type from the results.

How Does Clay Impact Grass Growth?

I speak from personal experience when I say that clay poses many challenges to gardeners. Still, it is not all bad news. Clay soil is usually very fertile. It contains a lot of the nutrients that the grass needs to thrive. These nutrients bind to the small particles in the clay, making them available to the plants. The clay particles are also great at storing and releasing water, and we all know how thirsty most grass is.

However, these same qualities also pose challenges for growing grass on clay soil.

• Clay is heavy, making it challenging to prepare the ground for seeding.
• It can be hard to penetrate, so roots end up stunted.
• Compacts easily, reducing the flow of oxygen to the roots.
• Tends to absorb and hold water for a long time. This leads to wet soil that can be a breeding ground for fungi, molds, and pests. It can also cause the roots to rot.
• Causes drainage problems and puddles of surface water that can kill the grass.
• When dried, clay becomes rock hard, making it hard to aerate
• Furthermore, clay soil is usually alkaline. This encourages certain kinds of weeds, inhibits the lawn grass’ ability to absorb essential nutrients, and can affect the general health of your lawn.

Finding this post helpful? Read all of my lawn care articles.

Which Grass Grows Best In Clay Soil?

The best grasses for clay soils have one thing in common. They have deep, vigorous root systems that push through the heavy soil. They also need to be hardy and able to handle extremes. Clay soil can swing from saturated to dry as bone very fast.

When it comes to choosing the best grass for clay soil, there are a few things you need to consider. The first is whether your climate suits warm or cool-season grasses. Take a quick look at the map below. Which zone are you in?

• If you live in the warm season zone, we recommend planting Bermuda or Zoysia Grass.
• If you live in the cool season zone, Tall Fescue or Perennial Rye Grass will work better for you.
• If you are in the transition zone, you can use Zoysia Grass and Tall Fescue.

Let us take a closer look at these grasses.

This posts contains affiliate links. This means we earn a commission from sales made via product links in this post. Read our full affiliate disclosure..

Best Grass Seed for Clay Soil in Warm Climates

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass originated in Asia, but it’s been in the U.S. since 1895. This is a perennial grass that comes back every year. Zoysia’s heat and cold tolerance allow it to flourish both in the warm-season and transition zones.

The Zoysia grass takes a while to establish, but it grows a very dense grass carpet underfoot that can withstand a lot of traffic. It has a deep root system to handle the heavy soil clay.

These deep roots also allow Zoysia to conserve moisture during low rainfall. The grass stays green during short droughts. If the drought and heat continue for any length, the Zoysia will go dormant, but once it’s watered again, it’s back to normal. Zoysia flourishes in full sun, but it can handle a little shade.

Zoysia grass is versatile and grows in It has a medium blade texture.

You can find more information about growing Zoysia Grass here. It includes a detailed lawn care calendar.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass does well in a wide range of soils, including heavy clay. It also tolerates the alkaline soil conditions often present in clay soils.

Bermuda grass thrives in full, direct sun. The root system is strong, deep, and fibrous. Bermuda’s roots usually penetrate about 6 inches below the surface, but they can reach depths of up to six feet! Astonishing!

This extensive root system allows Bermuda to grow in clay soils. It can penetrate the heavy soil with ease. It also makes this grass more resistant to environmental stresses.

Bermudagrass has a fast growth rate. This can make it challenging to contain, but it can withstand high traffic.

Bermudagrass doesn’t do well in poorly drained soil. Irrigation needs to be closely controlled to avoid saturated conditions on heavy clay soils,

Want more information about growing a thick Bermuda lawn? Check out our post here.

Best Grass Seed for Clay Soil in Cool Climates

Tall Fescue

Originally from Europe, tall fescue is a popular U.S. lawn grass. It requires moist conditions to thrive but is drought resistant and can survive dry periods dormant. Tall fescue grows well on many soil types but prefers clay soils high in organic matter. It’s also well suited to the “transition zone” of the United States.

The Tall Fescue remains a popular choice for homeowners looking for low-maintenance, heat- and drought-tolerant lawns.

As with other clay-tolerant grasses, Tall Fescue is a cool-season perennial grass. This plant produces a lot of growth during spring and fall, and its extensive roots enable it to survive droughts. Tall fescue can develop sources up to 2-3 feet deep. Keep in mind that dwarf-type tall fescues are not as deeply rooted as the standard varieties and may not do well on clay soils.

You can find more information about growing Tall Fescue here. It includes a detailed lawn care calendar.

Perennial Ryegrass

The Perennial Ryegrass is widely used throughout the United States. Perennial Ryegrass originated in Europe and Asia (like many types of grass). It thrives in areas with moderate summers and cool winters and can tolerate light shade.

Perennial Ryegrass tends to have relatively shallow roots, which have means they cannot tolerate heat and drought as much as tall Fescues. However, researchers have developed improved ryegrass varieties resistant to heat and drought. Roots grow to a depth of 12 inches in the soil and are evenly distributed.

I wasn’t sure if I should include Perennial Ryegrass on this list as the roots were not as vigorous as other varieties. However, reviewers on Amazon reported that Perennial Ryegrass grows well in their heavy clay soils.

Unlike other turfgrasses, Ryegrass cannot tolerate drought conditions. Water it more frequently during hot, dry periods to ensure its survival. It will be one of the first grasses to begin showing signs of drought stress.

Grass For Clay Soil And Shade

It is not easy to find varieties of grass that can handle both clay and shade.

Cool-season and transition zones: The best grass is Tall fescue as it can tolerate partial shade.

Warm Season Zone: The Zoysia grasses grow well in moderately shaded locations.

What do you do if you have deep shade? There are no grasses that can thrive in the deep shade. It would be a waste of your time and money. You could consider installing a ground cover that thrives in those conditions. You can find a list of plants here.

A No-Fail Method for Choosing the Right Grass For Your Lawn

You have read through our list of suggestions, and you are still unsure which grass to choose? Here is an alternative no-fail method.

Go for a walk in your neighborhood. You can be confident that your neighbors are dealing with the same kind of soil and climate as you. Find the houses with fabulous lawns and talk to the homeowners. Ask them what type of grass they are growing. Most gardeners love to talk about their gardens and will probably be chuffed that you asked. You can also ask them what fertilizers and watering schedule they are using.

Note: This won’t be helpful if the homeowner removed the clay soil and replaced it with good quality topsoil, so do check that isn’t the case.

How I Researched For This Post

I work in an academic library, so I have access to many scientific journals and books. When I write a post, I look at the scientific literature and use that information. I could not find any specific studies about the best grass for clay soils. So, I poured over dozens of information sheets from horticultural faculties of various universities to see which grass types could tolerate clay. I also looked for 5-star reviews on Amazon that mentioned clay soil. This post is the result of about 10 hours of research.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for grass that can grow in your clay soil, we have the answer! We’ve identified the best grass for clay soils and told you a little about each variety. Whether you live in warm or cool climates, everyone has an option. Please consider sharing this post on social media if you have found this post helpful. We would really appreciate the boost.