While it would be satisfying if this question yielded a quick and punchy answer, the reality is that it’s a bit hard to pinpoint, mainly because there are over 12,000 species of grass, and all of them live in vastly different climates and conditions. But if you clicked on this article in dire need of a quick hit of dopamine that only an Internet fun fact can provide, then have this: if treated and maintained properly, many species of grass can live indefinitely.
But, of course, this will only happen if conditions are right. And one quick drive through any neighborhood in suburban America and you’re sure to see at least one lawn that looks as though it’s clinging on for dear life. What’s more, it’s important to think of grass not as a single living entity, but rather as a complex living network. Better said, if one blade of grass dies, you wouldn’t proclaim your whole lawn dead. Grass is incredibly resilient and regenerative and, to use a metaphor when considering its longevity, it may help to think of it not as a single person, but rather as an entire city.
Let’s take a quick look at the variation of a handful of grass lifespans:
- A grass survival test. Typical warm and cool season grasses in the US can survive roughly four to six weeks without water.
- Annual grasses. These come in both the northern and southern varieties, the most common in the US being annual ryegrass and bluegrass. As you can probably guess, these grasses have a lifespan of about a year and typically die off when either summer or fall sets in (depending on the variety). Given their lifespan, these aren’t the most popular in the home lawn care world, as they will require yearly overseeding or replanting.
- Perennial grasses. These make up the bulk of lawns in the US and Canada and they typically live between 2-6 years, depending on the type. However, it’s not uncommon for these types of lawns to live much longer, and if they do, this is a testament to their good conditions and treatment.
- The case for overseeding. An easy way to extend the lifespan of your lawn is to overseed. Overseeding is the process of spreading grass seed over your existing lawn and is often times preceded by aeration (so the grass seeds can penetrate deeply). To use our above metaphor, overseeding is a bit like building upon the preexisting city, and the result is often a more vibrant and lush-looking grass.
- A single blade of grass. It’s estimated that a single blade of perennial glass lives about 40-60 days.
- The oldest grass. Did you know the oldest grass is more than 200,000 years old?! In 2012, researchers discovered a seagrass off the coast of Spain they believe to be the oldest living thing on the planet. Blimey.
Well, there you have it. Six quick grass-lifespan-related dopamine hits for the price of one. Enjoy!
