Northern Kentucky is the coldest part of the state. With cold winters and mild summers, Kentucky bluegrass, turf-type tall fescue, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass are the best grass seeds for the region.
Here we’ll focus on the best grasses for northern Kentucky, from Owen County to the upper parts of the state. If you’re searching for the best grasses for the rest of Kentucky, you can find them in our article Best Grass Seed for Kentucky.
In this article, we’ll dive into which grass would be the perfect choice for your lawn and why:
Kentucky Bluegrass
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Although Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State, Kentucky bluegrass struggles in the summer heat and is better suited to the cooler parts of the state. Preferring full sun and well-drained soils, this grass type is famous for its beautiful dark-green to blueish color and dense foliage.
Kentucky bluegrass has high maintenance needs. You can learn more about how to care for this grass by visiting our Guide to Growing Kentucky Bluegrass.
Best Kentucky bluegrass cultivars:
- Keeneland
- Arrowhead
- Blue Note
- Nu Chicago
- Skye
- Empire
- Sudden Impact
- America
- Legend
- Rush
- Midnight
- Avid
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Tall Fescue
Photo Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
Turf-type tall fescue is a more heat-tolerant cool-season grass and is widely used throughout Kentucky. Because it is a cool-season grass, it is especially suited for northern Kentucky lawns. It also can be established in a variety of soil types, tolerating heavy clay and sandy soils. It does require more frequent mowing than Kentucky bluegrass, as it grows rapidly.
Other than that, tall fescue has fewer maintenance needs when compared to Kentucky bluegrass, having no thatch build-up and being less susceptible to insects and weed problems. To read more about how to care for tall fescue, read our Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Guide.
Best tall fescue cultivars:
- Hemi
- Regenerate
- Bizem
- Firebird 2
- Catalyst
- Grade 3
- Fesnova
- Bullseye
- Terrano
- Falcon IV
- Falcon V
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.)
Fine Fescue
Phto Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
There are four different species of fine-leaf fescues, which have a very fine leaf blade (hence the name). Fine fescue is frequently confused with fine-textured turf-type tall fescue, but they are not the same grass species. Fine fescue is also tolerant of acidic soils, which are very common in northern Kentucky.
Fine fescue is the best option for areas with low traffic and partial shade, but because of its low heat tolerance, it may not survive when planted in full-sun areas. Dive into the details of fine fescue in our Guide to Growing Fine Fescues.
Best fine fescue cultivars:
- Compass II
- Marvel
- Radar
- Cardinal II
- Bolster
- Navigator II
- Momentum
- Seamist
- Castle
- Cascade
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
Perennial ryegrass is not recommended to be used as a turf by itself due to its inability to withstand the summer heat and vulnerability to diseases. It is preferably mixed with Kentucky bluegrass for improved performance in northern Kentucky lawns (since it won’t survive the summer in other regions).
Perennial ryegrass is also used to overseed warm-season lawns in different parts of the state and country to obtain a temporary winter lawn. Learn more about the uses of perennial ryegrass in our Guide to Growing Perennial Ryegrass.
Best perennial ryegrass cultivars:
- Silver Sport
- Homerun
- Evolution
- Furlong
- Soprano
- Allstar 3
- Stellar 3GL
- Apple GL
- Pangea GLR
- Wicked
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
FAQ About the Best Grass for Northern Kentucky
What USDA Hardiness Zone is Northern Kentucky in?
The northernmost part of Kentucky is in the 6b hardiness zone, the coldest part of the state. Cool-season grasses grow best in this region, where the summers are mild when compared to other areas of Kentucky.
The rest of the state is located within the climatic transition zone, with humid continental weather, where both cool-season and warm-season grasses can grow.
When Should I Plant Grass in Northern Kentucky?
Mid-August to late September is the best time to plant cool-season grass seeds in Northern Kentucky. Mid-February to mid-March is also a possible period to do so.
How is Northern Kentucky’s Soil?
The soil in northern Kentucky tends to be acidic. If a soil test shows that your soil is acidic, consider fine fescue or tall fescue, which are more tolerant of acidic soil than other cool-season turfgrass types.
Find a Pro Near You
Still not sure what grass would be the best for your lawn? Contact a Kentucky lawn care pro. We have qualified pros in Walton, Dayton, and other cities who have the knowledge and experience to assess your lawn and help determine which turfgrass would be the perfect choice for you. Get in touch today.
Source:
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Main Image Credit: Chipman House / Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
