Once you have determined that it is a cool-season grass that will work best in your location, there will be several types to choose from. The cool-season grasses include the bluegrasses, the fescues, the ryegrasses and the bentgrasses, along with a few other minor use species. Within each of these genera (groups), there may be several different species and within each species there will be several different cultivars.

BLUEGRASSES

The bluegrasses include several different species, including Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, rough bluegrass, bulbous bluegrass, Canada bluegrass, and several others. Kentucky bluegrass is clearly the most widely used of this group.

Kentucky bluegrass has nearly every desirable characteristic of a high-quality turfgrass. It tolerates relatively low-mowing heights, although for very low mowing heights like those used on golf greens, other grasses are better suited. It has excellent color and density. One is its best characteristics is its rhizome system. Rhizomes are underground stems that spread through the soil and allow the grass to recover from damage. While it requires a lot of water to keep this species green through the summer, it has the capability of going into summer dormancy for extended periods and then to recover when water is available. It also has one of the widest ranges of adaptation of any of the turf species. It can be found well into the transition-zone and as far north as Alaska. Its limitations include slow germination and establishment and poor shade adaptation. Where rapid germination is required, it is often mixed with faster establishing grasses, like perennial ryegrass. If the problem is shade, it is often mixed with the fine fescues that have better shade adaptation. There are hundreds of cultivars (cultivated varieties) of Kentucky bluegrass and it is important that you use the right ones for your location. For more information, see http://iaturf.blogspot.com/2013/10/kentucky-bluegrass-regrowth-from.html.

FESCUES

The fescues are a highly variable genera of grasses that include several different species. The main groups include tall fescue, which has a fairly-coarse texture and the fine fescues that have a very narrow, fine leaf texture.

Tall fescue is one of the better adapted cool-season grasses to warmer regions. It is found well into the southern part of the transition zone, such as Washington, DC, in areas further south than Kentucky bluegrass is commonly used. It is less cold tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass and can winter-kill in regions north of Iowa and Nebraska. It will generally perform better in dryer conditions than does Kentucky bluegrass. While some cultivars have short rhizomes, most are bunch-type grasses that do not spread and recover like Kentucky bluegrass. It is generally known for its coarse texture and the common types do not make very goof turf grasses. There has been a lot of work on breeding and selecting new types of tall fescue that have narrower leaves and form a higher quality turf. It is important that you use the newer finer-textured types that provide a much better turf. These turf-type tall fescues are more expensive. Buy your seed from a reliable source. Do not buy cheaper tall fescue seed. The older, coarse-textured ‘common’ types are available at discount centers. They will not provide satisfactory results. Turf-type tall fescues are often mixed with some Kentucky bluegrass to improve recovery from damage. The cultivars of each species and the ratio of Kentucky bluegrass to tall fescue is important. So again, buy the best seed you can get from a reliable source.

Fine-fescue is a general term that applies to several very fine-textured grasses, including creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, hard fescue and sheep fescue. These grasses are known for their adaptation to shade. They are often mixed with Kentucky bluegrass in “shade mixtures” for lawns with too much shade for Kentucky bluegrass alone. Kentucky bluegrass is a better choice in full sun and the fine fescues are not a substitute for Kentucky bluegrass. The fine-fescues are highly regional in their adaptation. The creeping reds are better in cooler, wetter climates like Northern New York, The hard fescues tend to do better in somewhat dryer and warmer regions like Iowa. None of them are well adapted to the warmer areas of the transition zone and they are generally used in regions north and east of Kansas City, KS and Lincoln, Nebraska. There are many cultivars of each species and these cultivars are likewise regionally adapted. Be sure to buy seed that is tailored to your location from a dealer that specializes in quality seed. There will be cheaper seed available, but it will not give you the results that you’re looking for.

RYEGRASSES

There are both annual and perennial ryegrasses. Annual ryegrass will come up quickly, but then die out in the next season. It is generally used for temporary slope stabilization, or other shot term uses. It is often used in cheap seed mixtures found in discount centers because it can be produced very inexpensively. You do not want it for your lawn. Stay away from it.

Perennial ryegrass is the best choice for high-quality seed mixtures. It germinates and establishes much more quickly than Kentucky bluegrass and is often mixed with bluegrass for more rapid establishment. It is also perennial and persists from year to year. It has good wear tolerance and is often used in sports field mixtures. It is not recommended as a stand-alone species for lawns. It lacks rhizomes and does not recover well from damage. Kentucky bluegrass is much better.

As with the other grassers, there are many cultivars available. There are older forage-type tall fescues that are not well suited for use in quality turf areas. These are less expensive and will be found in discount seed. For a lawn, you want cultivars specifically selected for turf use. These cost more, but they are worth it. The cultivars are also locally adapted, so buy your seed from a reputable source.

It can be damaged by cold temperatures in northern regions, so check with your seed dealer if that is a concern. See http://iaturf.blogspot.com/2014/04/perennial-ryegrass-winter-damage-2014.html.

 

Nick Christians, University Professor of Horticulture, Emeritus, Iowa State University

books: http://www.amazon.com/Nick-Edward-Christians/e/B001H6SB7A/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

turf blog: http://www.iaturf.blogspot.com/

Fundamentals of Turfgrass Mgt. 5^th ed http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1119204631.html

Web site: https://www.hort.iastate.edu/directory/nick-christians/

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