The home of Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Akron, Ohio, also is home to hundreds of thousands of plush lawns of primarily four grass types.
Look up and you may see the Goodyear blimp (its home base is in nearby Suffield). Look down and you’ll likely see Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue or fine fescue.
Positioned on the northern edge of the transition zone, Akron offers many options for seeding a lawn. Akron is quite cold and snowy in the winter, and warm in the summer. This makes it important to choose a grass that can stand up to the variance in temperature and moisture.
Let’s take a closer look at the four best grass types in Akron, Ohio:
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass, one of the most common grasses in the country, is a great choice for the transition zone, though it does require a good bit of care. This favorite grass type has a deep green color that appears almost blue at times, and it grows with a dense, coarse texture.
Classification: Cool-season grass.
Spreads by: Kentucky bluegrass spreads with lateral shoots known as rhizomes, allowing for rapid reproduction.
Shade tolerance: This turf really doesn’t like shade, but some shade balanced by full sun is tolerable.
Drought tolerance: Kentucky bluegrass is not a fan of limited water, so it grows best with proper irrigation. Should water be unavailable, this turf will enter dormancy and return once conditions improve.
Foot traffic tolerance: The durability of Kentucky bluegrass partly explains its popularity. Even with heavy use, Kentucky bluegrass rebounds well due to its rapid spread.
Maintenance needs: Kentucky bluegrass is a bit finicky, requiring more maintenance than many of its counterparts. You’ll need to fertilize your lawn during the growing season and also be mindful of weed growth.
Recommended mowing height: Kentucky bluegrass, with proper light and irrigation, needs to be mowed weekly. Each trim should keep growth to a maximum height of 3½ inches.
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass is a fairly resilient turf variety, producing a pale green color and a coarse texture. With the proper sun and water management, perennial ryegrass takes root in just three weeks. This rapid germination makes it a great option for overseeding.
Classification: Cool-season grass.
Spreads by: Ryegrass is a bunch-type growth, meaning it expands via tillers from the plant’s crown.
Shade tolerance: With a preference for full sun, this turf can withstand only limited shade.
Drought tolerance: Perennial ryegrass tolerates inconsistent irrigation quite well. With an extended drought period, this grass will enter dormancy but return quickly when water becomes available.
Foot traffic tolerance: As a sturdy variety, this grass does well under foot traffic and rarely becomes stressed. Perennial ryegrass, because of its rapid germination, recovers quickly from potential damage.
Maintenance needs: Overall, perennial ryegrass is a good choice for busy homeowners. Perennial ryegrass has a natural resistance to insects and diseases, so it requires less treatment.
Recommended mowing height: With weekly cutting, perennial ryegrass should maintain a height between 1 and 2 inches.
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a low-maintenance grass choice for the transition zone. This turf produces broad leaves with a deep green color, and it rebounds quite well from spring frosts.
Classification: Cool-season grass.
Spreads by: Bunch-type.
Shade tolerance: Tall fescue does best with direct sun.
Drought tolerance: One of the most drought-tolerant turf varieties, tall fescue responds well to inconsistent or absent irrigation.
Foot traffic tolerance: Tall fescue is a great choice for pet owners as it handles urine quite well. This grass variety is also hardy enough for consistent activity. It is important to note, however, that tall fescue is slow to recover should it experience significant stress.
Maintenance needs: It is uncommon for tall fescue to develop pest problems, and it does not thatch. Both of the qualities make tall fescue a turf that is fairly easy to care for.
Recommended mowing height: The ideal height for tall fescue is between 3¼ and 4 inches. Maintaining tall fescue typically requires weekly mowing.
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
A lawn of fine fescue features clear striping because one side of the plant is smooth. Fine fescue’s green color has another visual advantage in that it stays bright throughout much of the year.
Classification: Cool-season grass.
Spreads by: Fescues have bunch-type growth which allows for rapid germination.
Shade tolerance: Fine fescue is a great option for shady yards as it prefers four or fewer hours of sunlight each day.
Drought tolerance: Consistent watering is important as fine fescue doesn’t stand up well to drought conditions. Short periods of dry weather are tolerated, but a long-term drought will cause permanent damage.
Foot traffic tolerance: Fine fescue is best suited to yards with moderate use and play as it is slow to repair itself from significant stress.
Maintenance needs: Fine fescue has an increased likelihood of developing disease and snow mold, so it’s important to keep an eye on your lawn and apply remedies as needed. Otherwise, fine fescue is a low-maintenance and forgiving grass variety.
Recommended mowing height: The ideal height for fine fescue is between 2½ and 3½ inches, which indicates weekly mowing. However, fine fescue can be left unmowed for the majority of the growing season if necessary.
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.)
With Akron recording an average of 165 sunny days each year, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fine weather, especially in spring and fall. Whether you like to sit and enjoy a glass of wine, or run around with the kids and play tag, a beautiful lawn is an important aspect of home.
A plush, green lawn that doesn’t require a lot of care is even better as that means more time to spend with friends and family.
Need help preparing your lawn? Visit our Akron lawn care page to get in touch with a professional! In addition to Akron, we provide lawn care services in other Ohio cities, including Canton and Cuyahoga Falls.
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