When it comes to keeping your lawn looking green and lush, nothing beats cool-season grasses. These types of grasses are best planted in the fall or early winter, and they are able to tolerate cold weather conditions much better than warm-season grasses. In this article, we will take a look at 10 of the best cool-season grasses for your lawn. So if you live in an area that experiences cold winters, then be sure to plant one of these species!
What are Cool Season Grasses?
Cool season grasses are hardy turfgrass varieties that thrive during the crisp, comfortable fall season and re-emerge to blanket your lawn in lush springtime green.
From frigid Montana to temperate Maine, these specially designed turfgrass varietals thrive in moderate climates and create exquisitely detailed emerald mazes that bring color and life to any landscape.
While other parts of the country have to switch up their lawn care practices as temperatures shift, cool-season grasses maintain their verdant brilliance no matter how warm or cold it gets. With optimal temperature ranges between 65°F and 80°F, this is undeniably an excellent choice if you live in the northern United States.
Types of Cool Season Grasses
Now that you know what cool-season grasses are let’s take a look at some of the best varieties available.
Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue are the four most common types of cool-season grasses. These grass types are often mixed together to accommodate different requirements and conditions, such as heavy or light foot traffic or sunny or shady spots.
The mixture of these four types of grass makes a versatile seed mix that can thrive in the sun as well as in the shade, making it one of the most popular blends available today. Whatever its purpose may be, one thing is certain – cool-season grasses offer a lawn with thick, low-maintenance turf when used correctly.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is the best cool season grass for those living in colder climates. As temperatures dip, this grass type thrives under the coldest weather, and it will still stay healthy and strong. Not only is it a great choice for cold weather, but Kentucky bluegrass also stands up well to high traffic, moderate shade, sun, and even scorching heat!
You don't have to worry about bare spots in your lawn either - this grass will fill in gaps with its aggressive growth habit. If you are looking for a best-in-class cool season grass variety, look no further than Kentucky Bluegrass! It's one of the most popular types of cool season grass out there that can still make your lawn look great any time of the year.
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass is an excellent choice of grass to choose for the best cool season coverage. This type of grass is non-spreading, germinating quickly after seeding, making it a great option for high-traffic areas of the yard or for erosion control. Typically the blades of ryegrass can be identified by their whitish cast at the top from mowing. This type of grass, along with annual ryegrass, is commonly used in the southern United States due to its best results in cold weather, creating a lush and green lawn during winter months. Additionally, perennial ryegrass is an excellent choice due to its resiliency and being one of the toughest types of cool-season grass varieties available on the market today.
Fine Fescues
When it comes to the best cold weather grasses, the finest have to be the fine fescues.
Fine Fescues have become increasingly common types of cool-season grasses in modern landscaping. They are grown for their fine texture, great cold tolerance, and long-lasting color. Creeping red fescue is the most frequently used fine-leafed fescue, with its slowly spreading rhizomes offering deep root penetration into the soil for improved cold hardiness. Chewings fescue and Hard fescue provide superior bunch-type growth with attractive, vibrant color retention in cold temperatures.
These cool season grasses list fine fescues among their ranks as excellent choices for cold-weather lawns, especially if irrigated regularly and provided ample shade since they naturally prefer dryer climates. Better varieties of these cold-weather grasses provide superior disease and insect resistance, plus more efficient drought tolerance that makes them easier to manage over time.
Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a cold-weather grass that is well adapted for cooler parts of the world, thanks to its deep root system and higher heat and drought tolerance.
Plant breeders have made fantastic progress in improving tall fescue over the past decade, producing varieties with dark green coloring and closer texture to other improved cold season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.
To achieve the best results while growing tall fescue in your lawn, keep your mowing height between 1.5 and 3 inches. Although more water and fertilizer may be required for these cool season grasses, significantly less will be needed for tall fescue when compared to other varieties on the cool-season grasses list.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know a bit more about cool season grasses, which one will you choose for your lawn? If you’re unsure or would like help making a decision, the experts at CS Designer Landscaping can assist you. We can also install the turf of your choice so that you can enjoy a beautiful lawn all year round. Contact us today to get started!