Which Type of Grass Is Best for My Lawn?

Grass	Tolerance to summer heat / winter cold	Shade tolerance	Texture	Mow height	Cultural needs	Uses
Kentucky bluegrass	Good / Excellent	Poor	Fine to medium	1.5–2.5”	Well drained fertile soil; pH 6.0–7.0; 1” water/week. Sow 1–2 lbs/1000 sq ft.	Lawns, athletic fields.
Red fescue	Good / Good	Good to excellent	Fine	2.0–2.5”	Well-drained to dry soil; pH 6.0–7.0; 1” water/week. Sow 4–6 lbs/1000 sq ft.	Mixed with other grasses for tolerance of shade, drought, acid soil, low fertility.
Tall fescue	Excellent / Good	Good	Coarse	2.0–3.0”	Moist fertile soil; pH 4.7–8.5; 1–1.5” water/ week. High wear resistance. Sow 7–9 lbs/1000 sq ft.	Can be weedy in bluegrass lawns. Used in transition areas, slopes, banks, near water.
Perennial ryegrass	Poor / Poor	Poor	Coarse to medium	1.5–2”	Medium to high fertility; pH 6.3–7.0; 1–1.5” water/ week. Sow 7–9 lbs/1000 sq ft.	Used in seed mixes for quick cover as “nurse crop.” Hard to mow.

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From the GardenPro Answer Book; revised and updated by Lois Berg Stack, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.