The best grass seeds for central Kentucky’s hot, muggy summers and cold, wet winters are tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues, perennial ryegrass, and Zoysiagrass.
Here we’ll focus on the best grasses for central Kentucky, from Owen to Lincoln counties. Visit our article Best Grass Seed for Kentucky to find the best grass seeds for the rest of the state.
In this article, we’ll discuss each of these grasses and the best cultivars so you can decide the best grass for your yard’s sun and environmental conditions:
Tall Fescue
Photo Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
Tall fescue is adapted to all regions of the state, meaning it’s a great choice for central Kentucky homeowners. Considered the best choice for Kentucky lawns, tall fescue works in full sun to medium shade and can be established in various soil types, from clay to sand.
Although it requires more frequent mowing, tall fescue has no thatch build-up, good traffic tolerance, and requires little to no irrigation (except in periods of drought). Learn what goes into tall fescue care in our Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Guide.
Best tall fescue cultivars for Kentucky:
- Regenerate
- Hemi
- Grade 3
- Fesnova
- Bizem
- Bullseye
- Catalyst
- Falcon IV
- Falcon V
- Firebird 2
- Terrano
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.)
Kentucky Bluegrass
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Kentucky bluegrass is another good option for central Kentucky, especially the upper counties of central Kentucky, where the summers are milder. Although Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State, Kentucky bluegrass has a hard time in the summer and is best suited to the coldest parts of the state. However, many cultivars nowadays have improved heat tolerance.
Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soils. Considered a high-maintenance grass, it does not tolerate shade whatsoever and tends to build up thatch. See our Guide to Growing Kentucky Bluegrass to learn everything you need to know to care for this turf.
Best Kentucky bluegrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Blue Note
- Nu Chicago
- Arrowhead
- Legend
- Empire
- Avid
- Keeneland
- Sudden Impact
- Rush
- Skye
- America
- Midnight
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Fine Fescues
Photo Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
A perfect fit for low-traffic areas with medium shade, fine fescue species have a finer leaf texture than Kentucky bluegrass and don’t resemble tall fescue (although the name might suggest otherwise). Although fine fescues are not heat-tolerant and may not survive when planted in full-sun areas, they are very drought-resistant and easily established in acidic soils.
Fine fescues have low-maintenance needs but are very vulnerable to summer patch and lawn grubs. To understand how to care for this grass, read our Guide to Growing Fine Fescues.
Best fine fescue cultivars for Kentucky:
- Bolster
- Radar,
- Momentum
- Compass II
- Cardinal II
- Navigator II
- Seamist
- Castle
- Marvel
- 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 best used in a seed mix (usually with Kentucky bluegrass), rather than as a primary lawn grass. When seeded alone, perennial ryegrass forms clumps and is very vulnerable to heat and common lawn diseases.
Perennial ryegrass has excellent traffic tolerance and germinates in five to seven days. It does need summer irrigation and a sharp mower to avoid leaf damage. See how to care for this turf in our Guide to Growing Perennial Ryegrass.
Best perennial ryegrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Stellar 3GL
- Pangea GLR
- Apple GL
- Allstar 3
- Evolution
- Furlong
- Silver Sport
- Wicked
- Soprano
- Homerun
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Zoysiagrass
Although not commonly used in Kentucky lawns, Zoysiagrass can adapt well throughout the state and is very persistent once established. This warm-season grass adjusts well to winters in the region and can withstand the summer heat, too. It has a great drought tolerance but has a long dormancy period that starts in October and lasts up until mid-April.
Zoysiagrass can adapt to low-fertility soils and has a moderate shade tolerance. It is susceptible to thatch build-up when fertilized in excess. Read our guide Growing Zoysiagrass: Everything You Need to Know to learn more about caring for this grass.
Best Zoysiagrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Zorro
- Zenith
- Trinity
- Meyer
- Innovation
- Shadow Turf
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zoysia Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
When to Call a Pro
Still not sure what grass would make the perfect match for your lawn? Or is the thought of seeding an entire lawn stressing you out?
The good news is that you have someone to help: Call a Kentucky lawn care pro to help you make the right call on the best grass seed for your central Kentucky lawn. We have qualified pros in Lexington and other cities in the state at your service.
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Main Image Credit: The Loudoun House, Castlewood Park, Lexington, KY / Warren LeMay / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
