Best Grass Types for Lawns in Spokane, WA

Spokane’s, WA has a long harsh winter and a fairly short season makes is challenging for most grass types to grow here. Here are 5 grass types - all cool season grasses - that are ideal for planting in Spokane.

Bentgrass

This fast growing cool-season grass is perfect for the cool and arid climate of Spokane. Having one of the fastest germination rates available from cool-season grasses, Bentgrass species will germinate within 7 to 15 days. However, this is in fact a high maintenance turf.

It is recommended to not only cut this turf shorter than most, but also frequently aerate the soil and fertilize more than ordinary turf grasses. If you are willing to put in the work, Bentgrass can create a beautiful, light green turf for your yard, but without proper fungicide applications, the grasses may succumb to certain diseases.

Mowing Height: 1 to 1.5 inches

Kentucky Bluegrass

As one of the most cold resistant grasses out there, Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the best options available for eastern Washington lawns. This dark green grass species can easily be planted alone or blended in with either perennial ryegrass or fine fescues. This grass grows best when fully exposed to the sun because your lawn receives 6 to 8 hours of daily direct sunlight before planting.

This grass will require a moderate to high amount of watering. In order to ensure this, try watering your lawn early in the morning to avoid evaporation loss due to the heat of the sun. Try using a grass blend of 75% Kentucky Bluegrass and 25% Tall Fescue. Kentucky Bluegrass is not recommended for western Washington.

Mowing Height: 1.5 to 2.5 inches

Tall Fescue

For homeowners who don’t have time to water their lawn several times a week at peak growing rates, Tall Fescues may be the best option. These grasses are resistant to most forms of foot traffic. They are also very shade tolerant, which makes them the perfect option for lawns receiving less than 6 to 8 hours of direct daily sunlight.

Mowing Height: 2 to 3 inches

Fine Fescue

Fine Fescue grasses are some of the most drought and shade tolerant grasses available in Spokane. Even if a drought was intense enough to cause dormancy in Fine Fescues, these grasses would recover almost entirely after only a week of watering.

Although Fine Fescues are shade tolerant, they’re capable of surviving in the full sun as well. However, if you plan on using Fine Fescues for your lawn, mix another cool-season grass. This is because Fine Fescues grow back very slowly. One important thing to keep in mind is Fine Fescues can be more vulnerable to herbicides than other grasses, so when applying an herbicide, check the label to avoid any damage to your lawn.

Mowing Height: 1.5 to 2.5 inches

Need help preparing your lawn? Visit our Spokane lawn care page to get in touch with a professional! In addition to Spokane, we provide lawn care services to Washington cities, including Seattle.