The best grass seeds for the humid continental climate of eastern Kentucky are cool-season grasses like tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues, and perennial ryegrass. The warm-season Zoysiagrass has also adapted to this region.
Here we’ll focus on the best grasses for eastern Kentucky, between Green and Pike counties. You can find the best grasses for the rest of the state in our article Best Grass Seed for Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky has moderate to high rainfall, making it perfect for cool-season grasses (which are overall less tolerant to heat and drought) and Zoysiagrass, which can adapt to the region’s climate as well. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best grass seeds for your lawn and show you the best cultivars for each:
Tall Fescue
Photo Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
Tall fescue is one of the best grasses for Kentucky, being used in home lawns statewide. A great choice for lawns in eastern Kentucky as well, this versatile turf has deep roots that give it improved heat tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses.
If not irrigated during summer, tall fescue can enter dormancy, greening up again in the fall. Otherwise, tall fescue doesn’t need irrigation. Tall fescue has moderate maintenance needs, requiring frequent mowing due to its fast growth. Learn everything you need to know to care for tall fescue in our Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Guide.
Best tall fescue cultivars for Kentucky:
- Hemi
- Fesnova
- Bullseye
- Regenerate
- Catalyst
- Firebird 2
- Grade 3
- Bizem
- Falcon IV
- Falcon V
- Terrano
Grass Seed Options:
– Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend (5000 sq ft)
– Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed (choose your size)
– Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix (7 lb.)
Kentucky Bluegrass
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Kentucky bluegrass is a high-maintenance cool-season turf that makes a beautiful lawn. However, this grass is less heat-tolerant than tall fescue and tends to struggle in the summer heat. For this reason, it’s especially suited for the upper parts of eastern Kentucky, in counties like Manson and Elliot.
Kentucky bluegrass does not tolerate shade. It has poor traffic tolerance, but because of its aggressive rhizomes, it recovers well, being used in athletic fields throughout the state. A perfect grass for full-sun lawns in upper eastern Kentucky, there are many cultivars in the market with improved disease resistance and drought tolerance.
Kentucky bluegrass is often mixed with other cool-season grasses for better performance. See how to maintain a Kentucky bluegrass lawn in our Guide to Growing Kentucky Bluegrass.
Best Kentucky bluegrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Blue Note
- Nu Chicago
- Sudden Impact
- Midnight
- Empire
- Avid
- Keeneland
- Skye
- Legend
- America Rush
- Arrowhead
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Fine Fescues
Photo Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
Fine fescues (sheep fescue, hard fescue, chewings fescue, and creeping red fescue) are also a viable option for home lawns in eastern Kentucky. Because of their poor heat tolerance, however, they are not recommended to be used alone, but in a seed mix with Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass.
Fine fescues have poor traffic tolerance but can grow in low-fertility soils, withstand drought, and don’t need frequent mowing as tall fescue does, for example. To dive into fine fescue’s needs and care routine, visit our Guide to Growing Fine Fescues.
Best fine fescue cultivars for Kentucky:
- Cascade
- Bolster
- Radar
- Momentum
- Navigator II
- Compass II
- Cardinal II
- Marvel
- Castle
- Seamist
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Legacy Fine Fescue Grass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed (choose your size)
– Outsidepride Creeping Red Fine Fescue Grass Seed (25 lbs.)
– Outsidepride Hard Fine Fescue Grass Seed (10 lbs.)
Perennial Ryegrass
Another cool-season grass that is preferably used in a seed mix, perennial ryegrass requires minimum soil preparation and has great traffic tolerance. It mixes very well with Kentucky bluegrass due to its dark green color and fine leaf texture.
Due to its fast growth habit, it tends to dominate weeds while having no thatch problems. On the other hand, perennial ryegrass is susceptible to common lawn diseases and needs summer irrigation. Our Guide to Growing Perennial Ryegrass will tell you everything you need to care for this turf.
Best perennial ryegrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Furlong
- Homerun
- Evolution
- Silver Sport
- Wicked
- Stellar 3GL
- Allstar 3
- Apple GL
- Soprano
- Pangea GLR
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Zoysiagrass
Surprisingly enough, this warm-season grass can adapt to eastern Kentucky. Zoysiagrass is not often used as a lawn in the state, but it is highly adaptable. In eastern Kentucky, Zoysiagrass can do especially well in the southern portion, from Pike to Cumberland counties, where the winters are slightly milder than the upper regions.
Zoysiagrass is susceptible to winterkill but overall is very persistent once established and has an excellent traffic tolerance. Learn more about Zoysiagrass care in our article Growing Zoysiagrass: Everything You Need to Know.
Best Zoysiagrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Trinity
- Zorro
- Zenith
- Shadow Turf
- Innovation
- Meyer
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zoysia Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
When to Call a Pro
Caring for your lawn doesn’t have to be exhausting or expensive. Contact a Kentucky lawn care pro to help you out. We have trusted pros in Ashland and other parts of the state who have the knowledge and expertise to turn your lawn into the best one in the neighborhood.
Source:
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Main Image Credit: F.M. Stafford House in Paintsville, Kentucky / J654567 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
