Annual Vs Perennial Grass: The Biggest Difference (And Which Is Right For Your Yard)

When the terms annual and perennial appear, many people tend to think of flowers. But any type of plant can have those designations, including the grass that makes up your yard. Understanding the difference between annual and perennial grasses is essential if you want a lush, healthy lawn. It's especially important to understand how each type responds to the change in seasons to ensure that you're choosing grass seeds that will thrive in your climate. The biggest difference between annual and perennial grasses is their life cycle and how each responds to cold weather.

Perennial grasses include various turf grasses, such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum). There are also perennial ornamental grasses, like blue fescue (Festuca glauca) and zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis zebrinus). Meanwhile, some of the most common annual grasses are Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and annual bluegrass (Poa annua), though some weed grasses like crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) also fall into this category.

As with annual and perennial flowers, the main difference between annual and perennial grasses is the length of their life cycles. Annual grasses only live for one season, so they germinate, grow, flower, set seeds, and die within that period. If you want the grass to return, you'll need to replant it. Perennial grasses, on the other hand, return for multiple seasons without needing any reseeding. Because they have a shorter lifespan, annual grasses tend to grow more quickly. However, perennial grasses are generally lower maintenance, requiring just regular watering, mowing, and fertilization to stay green and healthy.

The response that these two types of grasses have to cold weather is another significant difference between them. Annual grasses usually die after the temperatures drop, reaching the end of their life cycle. For the grass to reappear, you need to reseed your lawn in the spring. Instead of dying in the winter, perennial grasses simply stop growing in the colder weather. They can lose their green color in this dormant period, but they'll perk up again come spring.

Most homeowners don't want a lawn full of nothing but annual grass. In winter, you'll likely wind up with plenty of bare spots when the grass dies. Every year, you'll need to reseed your entire yard, which can be a frustrating, time-consuming process. However, because it grows so quickly, annual grass can be an ideal solution for fixing patchy spots that crop up in your lawn.

If you are interested in establishing a permanent turf for your yard, perennial grasses are definitely the way to go.  Varieties like perennial ryegrass not only last longer without reseeding but are also more durable than annual grasses. Still, it's crucial to prepare perennial grass properly for winter if you want it to grow again in the spring. Avoid cutting it too short in your last mow of the season because scalping your grass can cause stress and weaken it. Get rid of any weeds in the lawn to keep them from overtaking the grass when spring arrives, and regularly remove debris from your lawn during the colder weather.