Understanding the definition of a stolon and how it differs from a rhizome is crucial when learning about how creeping grasses propagate, spread, and recover from wear damage. This knowledge might also aid in the decision about what kind of grass to select for an upcoming lawn project as well as how to best manage it.
What Are Stolons?
Stolons (Above-Ground Runners)
- Grow horizontally across the soil surface
- Produce new plants at nodes as they creep
- Enable rapid spreading and fill-in
- Common in: St. Augustine grass, Centipede grass
What Are Rhizomes?
Rhizomes (Underground Runners)
- Spread beneath the soil
- Store energy for recovery after stress
- Help turf survive drought and winter
- Common in: Zoysia, Bermudagrass
Image from Oregon State University.
How Stolons and Rhizomes Spread
Grasses with stolons or rhizomes—especially those with both—are often described as “invasive growers.” This does not mean they’re harmful, but rather that they can spread quickly beyond their intended area.
How They Spread
- Stolons creep above ground into beds, sidewalks and borders
- Rhizomes move underground, popping up where you least expect
- Grass varieties with both can spread aggressively in all directions
Why They Spread
- To fill in thin or bare areas
- To create new plants
- To recover from damage
- To outcompete weeds
Stolons and Rhizomes in Warm Season Grasses
| Stolons | Rhizomes | |
| St. Augustine Grass | ✔️ | — |
| Zoysia Grass | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Centipede Grass | ✔️ | — |
| Bermuda Grass | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Why This Matters for Homeowners
Understanding how your grass spreads affects lawn care, maintenance and control.
Here’s why stolons and rhizomes matter:
Lawn Repair & Recovery
- Stolons and rhizomes help turf fill in bare spots
- Rhizomes store energy, improving winter and drought recovery
Maintenance Requirements
- More stolons = more edging
- More rhizomes = potential for underground invasion into beds
Grass Selection
- St. Augustine and Centipede = surface spreaders
- Bermuda and Zoysia = surface + underground spreaders
Weed Control
- Wrasses with stolons can overtake mulch beds or walkways
- Grasses with rhizomes may regrow even after removal
The photos below show how zoysia grass can spread underground into landscape beds:
- A foot-long rhizome travels just beneath the soil surface
- The rhizome pops up through the pine straw, forming a new shoot
- Light digging exposes the rhizome so it can be removed by hand
- Because zoysia spreads through both stolons and rhizomes, it is more persistent and harder to contain
- Bermudagrass behaves the same way, requiring extra vigilance to prevent it from invading beds or borders
Controlling Stolon/Rhizome Spread
Keeping stolon- or rhizome-heavy grasses contained requires consistent edging and smart landscaping practices.
✔️ Mechanical Controls
- Use a half-moon edger or manual trimmer
- Install deep edging (metal, concrete, stone)
- Maintain defined borders around beds and hardscapes
✔️ Cultural Controls
- Keep the lawn properly mowed
- Avoid overfertilizing (reduces aggressive spread)
- Maintain a consistent watering schedule
✔️ Herbicide Options
(Use only when mechanical control isn’t enough)
- Spot-treat rhizome breakthrough in beds
- Apply selective herbicides to unwanted stolon growth
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