
Perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass are the best grasses for central Oregon. These grasses thrive in our warm summers and cold winters.
That doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Each tolerates shade, drought, and foot traffic differently. It’s important to understand this to choose the right grass for your needs and preferences.
Perennial ryegrass: Establishes fast

Perennial ryegrass germinates in 5 to 7 days and has fine-textured, dark green leaves. Winters don’t get too cold in central Oregon, so this grass performs exceptionally well throughout the region. Perennial ryegrass grows vigorously in spring and fall.
This cool-season grass thrives in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Perennial ryegrass is bunch-forming, so it can’t self-repair but can handle high-foot traffic. Summers often reach the 80s in Bend, Madras, and Prineville, so we recommend watering your grass regularly to prevent it from going dormant.
Check out our guide for more on growing perennial ryegrass.
Pros | Cons |
✓ Germinates quickly ✓ Handles heavy foot traffic ✓ Resists thatch buildup ✓ Feels soft underfoot ✓ Low mowing requirements | ✗ Looks patchy ✗ Doesn’t tolerate shade ✗ Poor ability to recover from damages ✗ Prone to diseases and insects ✗ Spreads slowly |
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Tall fescue: Handles heat

Tall fescue is an excellent choice for central Oregon because it can handle the summer heat better than other cool-season grasses. This cool-season grass looks beautiful with medium to dark green leaves and grows vigorously in spring and fall.
This grass has coarse-textured blades and thrives in full sun but can handle partial shade. It endures foot traffic relatively well but can’t self-repair because it’s bunch-forming. Tall fescue has an extensive root system and resists drought exceptionally well.
Check out our guide for more about growing tall fescue.
Pros | Cons |
✓ Germinates quickly ✓ Withstands foot traffic ✓ Resists thatch buildup ✓ Withstands drought ✓ Resists shade ✓ Resists diseases | ✗ Looks patchy ✗ Poor ability to recover from damages ✗ Requires frequent mowing ✗ Spreads slowly |
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: Good in shade

Fine fescue is a group of five different fine-textured, medium-green grasses: Chewings fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue, slender creeping red fescue, and strong creeping red fescue. These grasses perform well even in Bend, Sunriver, and Prineville, where the temperatures reach the 80s in the summer. Fine fescues can survive with just four hours of dappled sunlight.
These grasses look beautiful and are easy to care for. They grow vigorously in spring and fall. Fine fescues are the softest of all cool-season grasses, but they don’t withstand high-foot traffic and can’t self-repair. Creeping red fescue is an exception because it spreads by rhizomes.
Check out our guide for more on growing fine fescue.
Pros | Cons |
✓ Looks beautiful ✓ Germinates quickly ✓ Resists shade ✓ Withstands drought ✓ Soft underfoot ✓ Low fertilizer and maintenance needs | ✗ Poor ability to recover from damages ✗ Spreads slowly ✗ Susceptible to diseases and pests ✗ Not resilient to foot traffic |
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.)
Kentucky bluegrass: Handles cold

This grass withstands cold exceptionally well and is an excellent choice for central Oregon. Kentucky bluegrass grows dense and looks beautiful with its dark green leaves. This grass is durable and can self-repair because it spreads by rhizomes. Kentucky bluegrass has a medium-fine texture and is soft on bare feet.
This grass grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Kentucky bluegrass requires regular watering.
Check out our guide for more on growing Kentucky bluegrass.
Pros | Cons |
✓ Looks beautiful ✓ Withstands foot traffic ✓ Excellent ability to self-repair ✓ Soft underfoot ✓ Spreads quickly | ✗ Requires frequent watering and fertilization ✗ Doesn’t tolerate shade ✗ Prone to thatch buildup, diseases, and pests ✗ Takes longer to germinate |
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
For more on Oregon grasses
Check out the links below to learn about the best grass types for other regions of Oregon:
The Best Grass Seed for Oregon
The Best Grass Seed for Southern Oregon
The Best Grass Seed for Willamette Valley
The Best Grass Seed for the Oregon Coast
FAQs
What’s the best time to plant grass seed in central Oregon?
Early fall, when the soil temperature ranges from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, is the best time to plant cool-season grasses. For more information, check out our guide on when to plant grass seed in Oregon.
What planting zone is central Oregon?
Knowing your planting zone helps you identify plants that thrive in your region. Central Oregon is located in zone 6b, which means winter temperatures can get as low as -5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Check out our guide on growing zones of central Oregon.
When to hire a professional
Choosing the right grass is key to a lush and healthy lawn. If you need help with it or regular lawn maintenance, get in touch with Lawn Love. Our seasoned pros can make your yard stand out in your neighborhood without you having to break a sweat.
More Lawn Care and Landscaping Resources for Oregon:
- Central Oregon Native Plants for Landscaping
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Main Image Credit: Ian Poellet | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0