What grass types are best for your Asheville yard? We get the beauty of all four seasons at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but humidity and seasonal temperatures can be hard on our lawns. What this means: We will need cool-season grasses that can withstand our unique weather.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the most common types of turf grass used in Asheville and the maintenance needed to keep your lawn green and healthy:
- Perennial Ryegrass
- Tall Fescue
- Fine Fescue
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- FAQ About Best Grasses for Asheville Lawns
First, let’s look at how to choose the best grass type for your Asheville lawn. This will help as you read about each of the four best grass types.
Most Asheville lawns are in full sun with some shaded areas due to trees and structures. To choose the best grass type for your Bee City yard, take a look at your property and answer these questions:
- Do you have full sun in front but partial shade in the back or on the sides?
- Do you like to admire your lawn from the house or throw the block’s best barbecue?
- Does your lawn slope or incline?
1. Perennial Ryegrass
Whether it’s a newly established lawn from seed, fresh sod, or an existing lawn, perennial ryegrass takes root quickly and is generally drought tolerant. Its fine, glossy deep green blades are comfortable underfoot and withstand high foot traffic.
However, finding this grass seed alone may be difficult as it’s typically mixed with other grasses like fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Perennial ryegrass is best for lawns that get full sun during the hottest part of the day.
Classification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Bunch-type
Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Maintenance needs: Moderate; performs best in soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5
Recommended mowing height: 1.5-2.5 inches
Potential for disease: Low
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
2. Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a great choice for controlling erosion on sloped or rolling lawns because it roots quickly creating a mesh to stabilize topsoil. This grass also is a star when it comes to growing in partial shade or full sun and can withstand fluctuating temperatures.
Tall fescue is considered low maintenance due to its slow growth and drought tolerance.
Note: Tall fescue is not easy on bare feet and may develop brown areas with heavy foot traffic. Keep in mind that you will need to reseed each fall to keep your lawn looking lush.
Classification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Bunch-type
Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Low
Recommended mowing height: 3.5-4 inches
Potential for disease: Moderate; vulnerable to brown patch and gray leaf spot
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.)
3. Fine Fescue
Fine fescue is usually a combination of common fescue grass seeds that produce delicate, thin grass blades. As a shade-loving grass that is drought tolerant. It thrives in the shade of trees and in low-traffic areas.
Fine fescue is perfect for shader spots in your yard. It’s slow growing and grows best in drier soils.
Classification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Bunch-type
Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Low
Mowing Height: 1-3 inches
Potential for disease: High
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.)
4. Kentucky bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is easily one of Asheville’s most popular grass types. Kentucky bluegrass is a great choice if you’re looking for a dense, lush, and durable lawn. It can handle moderate traffic with little to no damage.
However, Kentucky bluegrass is fast-growing and requires more maintenance than other cool-season grasses. Keeping a good schedule for mowing, weed control, and fertilizer application will keep it healthy.
Classification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Low to moderate; prefers full sun
Drought tolerance: Moderate, but will survive by going dormant
Foot traffic tolerance: Low to moderate, but recuperates well
Maintenance needs: Moderate mowing frequency; a high-maintenance grass
Recommended mowing height: 2.5-3 inches
Potential for disease: Moderate
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
FAQ about Best Grasses for Asheville Lawns
Asheville is called “the bee city” due to its commitment to recognizing the essential role of pollinators. According to Bee City USA, the best bee friendly grass types are fine fescue, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass.
Fine fescue can handle shade and drier soils, making it a great choice for yards with trees, dark corners, and shaded side yards. Seed with fescue in the patchy shaded areas near trees.
Pro Tip: Consider mulching directly at the tree base with wood chips where grass no longer grows.
Perennial ryegrass and fescues are great for hills, slopes, and hard-to-mow areas. Fescues are fast-growing, develop root systems that prevent erosion, and grow well in shaded areas.
When to Hire a Lawn Care Pro
Choosing the right grass for your lawn can be challenging, but if you have questions, local lawn care pros have the answers to help. And if you’re too busy or just don’t want to deal with taking care of your yard, let LawnStarter’s Asheville lawn care pros take that job off your to-do list.
Main Photo Credit: Teemu008 / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
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