What grass do you have?

[typea2009]

Hi all you lawn lovers out there!

We've been looking into fake or real grass to create an approximate 800 sq ft. area for the kids to play in and decided that the fake stuff is too expensive, among other particulars. In researching real grass options, we see there is a newer product out there specific to California conditions called UC Verde Buffalo Grass, and want to know if anyone has had success growing/maintaining it up here in Wrightwood? If not specifically the UC Verde, what type of grass are you using? We are leaning towards he UC Verde or possibly Shadow Turf from Turffalo because of the drought tolerance/little water usage that they can sustain.

[TimG]

I have a patch about that size that I planted for the same purpose last spring.  I don't remember what kind of seed, but it was just whatever the hardware store recommended -- I figured they'd have the right stuff for this town.  They recommended the full sun variety even though I have partial shade.  It grew fine watering daily for a month or two, then easing back, but I will say the difference between the shady half and the sunny half is dramatic.  The sun is so intense up here.  In the shade it loves to grow, in the sun it's a bit of a struggle. I ended up soaking that half every time it started to brown, maybe once a week.