- What Are The Best Grasses for Your Nashville Lawn?<\/a><\/li>
- 1. Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Kentucky Bluegrass<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Perennial Ryegrass<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Bermudagrass<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Zoysiagrass\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- How to Choose the Best Grass Type for Your Nashville Lawn<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What Are The Best Grasses for Your Nashville Lawn?<\/h2>
Tennessee’s location is both a blessing and a curse as it\u2019s positioned in the transition zone<\/a>. This makes selecting the ideal grass for your lawn difficult. Warm-season grasses struggle in freezing winters, and cool-season grasses may suffer in hot summers.<\/p>
The advantage is that you have more options for what and when to plant. Opting for cool-season grass<\/a> will keep you in the green all winter long, while warm-season grasses are perfect for backyard barbecues<\/a> and Nashville nights. So, pick your season, and choose from the five most popular grass types for your Nashville lawn.<\/p>
1. Tall Fescue<\/h2>
![\"Tall](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3863142192_ab8342d487_k-1.jpg\")
Tall Fescue Grass
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>Tall fescue grass, with its deep green, thick blades, is a popular cool-season species in Nashville lawns. Because of its coarse leaves, drought tolerance, and disease resistance, tall fescue<\/a> is an excellent option for lawns. <\/p>
- Classification<\/strong>: Cool-season grass <\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: Bunch-type grass<\/li>
- Shade tolerance<\/strong>: Medium tolerance. Tall fescue grass is fairly shade-tolerant<\/a> and is resistant to damage from pet waste.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Medium tolerance. If there is a prolonged period of dry weather, tall fescue will go dormant.<\/li>
- Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> Moderate tolerance<\/li>
- Maintenance requirements<\/strong>: To avoid stressing your grass, mow once a week, though less frequently during a drought. Weeds should be treated with pre-emergent herbicide in spring and fall as a preventative. Treat pests like grubs<\/a> as needed, usually early spring and summer. Use a fertilizer<\/a> with nitrogen in the spring and fall.<\/li>
- Mowing height:<\/strong> Mow to 2 to 4 inches. Tall fescue does not require much water or mowing during the hot and dry months. When trimming your grass, always remember the one-third rule<\/a>.<\/li>
- Potential for Disease: <\/strong>Low. Tall fescue is a disease-resistant species.<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend<\/a> (5000 sq ft)
\u2013 Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)
\u2013 Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix<\/a> (7 lb.)<\/p>2. Kentucky Bluegrass<\/h2>
![\"Kentucky](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/800px-Poa_pratensis_lawn-1.jpg\")
Kentucky Bluegrass
Photo Credit: <\/a>Ethan2039<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is a medium-bladed grass that produces a beautiful, dense lawn. This higher-maintenance grass prefers full sun and has rhizomes that allow it to recover from wear. KBG exhibits a blueish-green tint and flaunts it for most of the year. Bluegrass is another cool-season species that grows best in the fall and winter months. <\/p>
Kentucky bluegrass has shallow roots compared to tall fescue. However, mixing the two can create a more heat- and drought-resistant lawn. Tall fescue to Kentucky bluegrass seed mixtures are often planted at a weight ratio of 90:10<\/a>, as KBG doesn\u2019t do well in Tennessee on its own.<\/p>
- Classification<\/strong>: Cool-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: Once established, it spreads swiftly by subterranean stems called rhizomes to form a thick, self-repairing turf.<\/li>
- Shade tolerance<\/strong>: Low to medium tolerance. Bluegrass prefers full sun but tolerates some shade.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Medium tolerance. This grass will need extra water and attention to stay green during high heat or periods of drought.<\/li>
- Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> High tolerance. Kentucky bluegrass is ideal for high-activity<\/a> areas due to its ability to self-repair.<\/li>
- Maintenance requirements<\/strong>: Compared to other cool-season lawn grasses, it requires more nitrogen fertilizer and can produce a lot of thatch<\/a>.<\/li>
- Mowing height:<\/strong> Mow to 2 to 2 1\/2 inches. Bag the clippings during the last mow of the fall and first mow each spring to prevent cold weather issues like snow mold<\/a>.<\/li>
- Potential for disease: <\/strong>Moderate to high. Several diseases that can damage Kentucky bluegrass include leaf spot, dollar spot<\/a>, stripe smut, necrotic ring spot, and summer patch.<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed<\/a> (3 lbs.)
\u2013 SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)
\u2013 Jacklin Seed – Biltmore Blue Blend – 100% Kentucky Bluegrass<\/a> (5 lbs.) <\/p>3. Perennial Ryegrass<\/h2>
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/26820162412_ef1f5cdbdb_h-1.jpg\")
Perennial Ryegrass
Photo Credit: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>Perennial ryegrass, another cool-season species, is in use at Neyland Stadium’s<\/a> field. It\u2019s planted everywhere \u2014 athletic fields, golf courses, parks, you name it. Ryegrass is a popular species because it has the highest wear tolerance of any of the cool-season species. Therefore, it can handle a lot of foot traffic and will still look great. <\/p>
Fast-growing perennial ryegrass has tough blades, a robust root structure, and loves full sun. Ryegrass is usually used for overseeding<\/a> in the winter months. Because of its ability to grow beautifully through cold temperatures, it\u2019s used to keep your lawn vibrant and green throughout the cold season.<\/p>
- Classification<\/strong>: Cool-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: A bunch-type grass that is fast-growing and establishes quickly. <\/li>
- Shade tolerance<\/strong>: Low tolerance. Perennial ryegrass thrives in full sun.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Low tolerance. It may go dormant in high heat and drought.<\/li>
- Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> High tolerance. However, ryegrass does not self-repair and should be overseeded in the fall.<\/li>
- Maintenance requirements<\/strong>: The waxy coating on the ryegrass leaves make it an excellent candidate for lawn striping<\/a>. Perennial ryegrass has moderate fertilization needs, and it works well when overseeded<\/a> on dormant bermudagrass.<\/li>
- Mowing height:<\/strong> Mow to 2 to 3 inches. Bag your last mow in the fall and first mow each spring to prevent cold weather issues like snow mold. Most often mixed with Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue in a cool-season mix.<\/li>
- Potential for disease: <\/strong>High. Leaf spot or melting out<\/a> are primary concerns.<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)
\u2013 Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed<\/a> (choose your size) <\/p>4. Bermudagrass<\/h2>
![\"green](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_pexels-rovenimagescom-949584.jpg\")
Bermudagrass
Photo Credit: Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>Bermudagrass is a beautiful species of warm-season grass<\/a>. Although it\u2019s often used for football fields and golf courses, many homeowners decide to plant it for their lawns as well. Bermudagrass<\/a> requires lots of sunshine and grows best on lawns that get little shade. <\/p>
If you plant Bermudagrass, be prepared for a rigorous maintenance schedule. This type of grass will require monthly fertilization, mowing more<\/a> than once per week, and frequent irrigation. If you\u2019re willing to take the plunge, late spring is the best time to plant this fast-establishing grass type.<\/p>
- Classification<\/strong>: Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: It reproduces using both stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems).<\/li>
- Shade tolerance<\/strong>: Low tolerance. Bermudagrass must have full sun to grow.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> High tolerance. It may go dormant in high heat and drought but recovers quickly with regular irrigation.<\/li>
- Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> High tolerance. Compared to most grasses, it heals far more quickly from damage.<\/li>
- Maintenance requirements<\/strong>: Bermudagrass does require more regular maintenance than other grass species. During the summer, you should fertilize<\/a> once a month, mow more than once a week, and irrigate regularly.<\/li>
- Mowing height:<\/strong> Mow to 1 to 2 inches. Bag the last mow of the fall and first mow of the spring to help avoid fungal illness. <\/li>
- Potential for Disease<\/strong>: High. One to watch out for is take-all root rot<\/a> that spreads in the cooler seasons.<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:
\u2013 <\/strong>Pennington Bermudagrass Bare Spot<\/a> (5 lb. bag)
\u2013 Pennington Smart Seed Bermudagrass Mix<\/a> (8.75-lb. bag)
\u2013 Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass<\/a> (10-lb. bag)
\u2013 Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass<\/a> (50-lb. bag)<\/p>5. Zoysiagrass <\/h2>
![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_1280px-starr-070906-8519-zoysia_sp-turf-kula_ace_hardware_and_nursery-maui_24264641643.jpg\")
Zoysiagrass
Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY 3.0 US<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>Zoysia is a warm-season species that grows best in moderate to full sunlight. So, if your lawn gets a nice mix of sunlight and shade, Zoysia<\/a> may be a good option for you. This grass type is slow to grow, which means that you won\u2019t be mowing your lawn as often. <\/p>
However, growing slowly also means that recovering from damage will take a long time. Zoysia is also drought tolerant,<\/a> very durable, and resistant to many diseases and wear. Zoysia is a tricky one to maintain, but if you\u2019re a diligent homeowner, you\u2019ll certainly have the best-looking lawn in town.<\/p>
- Classification<\/strong>: Warm-season grass<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: Spreads by stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (underground stems)<\/li>
- Shade tolerance<\/strong>: Medium tolerance. Zoysia will grow in partial shade but may be thinner in these areas.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> High tolerance once established. Some cultivars are more tolerant than others.<\/li>
- Foot traffic tolerance:<\/strong> High tolerance. Zoysiagrass can take a beating but doesn\u2019t heal quickly.<\/li>
- Maintenance requirements<\/strong>: Zoysia is a great option for the transition zone and, once established, doesn’t need as much attention<\/a>; however, when done right, your lawn will be greener than your neighbor\u2019s envy.<\/li>
- Mowing height:<\/strong> Mow to 1 to 2 inches. Its slow growth doesn\u2019t require much mowing.<\/li>
- Potential for Disease:<\/strong> Low to moderate. Zoysia is prone to rust, large patch, and dollar spot.<\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(50 Large Grass Plugs)
\u2013 Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
\u2013 Zoysia Plugs <\/a>(100 Plugs)
\u2013 Zoysia Emerald Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)
\u2013 Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)<\/p>How to Choose the Best Grass Type for Your Nashville Lawn<\/h2>
When making your choice for the perfect Nashville turf, keep a few things in mind:<\/p>
How Much Sunlight Does Your Yard Get? <\/h3>
- Low shade tolerance:<\/strong> Perennial ryegrass, Bermudagrass
<\/li>- Medium shade tolerance:<\/strong> Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
How Much Time Do You Want to Spend Working on Your Lawn?<\/h3>
- Low maintenance: <\/strong>Tall fescue
<\/li>- Medium to high maintenance: <\/strong>Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
When to Hire a Pro<\/h2>
If the notion of having someone else mow the lawn makes your heart sing like the Grand Ole Opry, then get in touch with a Nashville lawn care specialist today. Visit our Nashville page<\/a> and let us help you with the lawn of your dreams.<\/p>
Additional source: Pennington<\/a><\/p>
- Medium to high maintenance: <\/strong>Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
- Medium shade tolerance:<\/strong> Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: Spreads by stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (underground stems)<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: It reproduces using both stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems).<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: A bunch-type grass that is fast-growing and establishes quickly. <\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: Once established, it spreads swiftly by subterranean stems called rhizomes to form a thick, self-repairing turf.<\/li>
- Spreads by<\/strong>: Bunch-type grass<\/li>
- 1. Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>