Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescues are the best grass seeds for Central Wisconsin. These cool-season grasses have adapted to the frigid winters and hot summers to provide functional, beautiful lawns in America’s Dairyland.
Whether overseeding your lawn in Sheboygan or renovating a tired old lawn in Oshkosh, this article will guide you to the best choice for your lawn’s specific needs. If you’re curious about the best grass seeds across Wisconsin, check out our statewide guide: “The Best Grass Seed for Wisconsin Lawns.”
Kentucky bluegrass: Best in sun
Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is not only the most-used cool-season grass in Central Wisconsin but is also popular across the entire state. This grass is versatile because it has adapted to the sub-zero temperatures of Central Wisconsin’s winters, likes full sun, and is often integrated into cool-season grass seed mixes.
However, KBG doesn’t like shade and is a higher-maintenance grass than the other cool-season grasses. If you’re curious to learn more, check out our guide: “Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It.”
Note: Don’t let crabgrass and grubs ruin your newly planted Kentucky bluegrass lawn. The key is to spot these weeds and lawn pests early and eradicate them. Our articles will help you identify the weeds and let you know when to get rid of the grubs:
- The Most Common Weeds in Wisconsin
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin
Grass Seed Options:
- – Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
- – SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Perennial ryegrass: Best for lawn repair
Searching for a cool-season grass to fill those thinning areas and bare spots in your lawn? Well, look no further than perennial ryegrass. This grass germinates fast and establishes quickly, making it perfect for filling in areas where weeds would otherwise grow.
Not often used on its own, perennial ryegrass is commonly included in grass seed mixes with Kentucky bluegrass. Why? Perennial ryegrass germinates in 7 to 14 days, whereas Kentucky bluegrass takes 14 to 30 days to germinate. In combination, perennial ryegrass quickly covers bare spots until Kentucky bluegrass seeds take root and start to grow.
If you’d like to learn more about using perennial ryegrass in your lawn, check out our perennial ryegrass guide.
Note: If you’d like to overseed and fill in those bare patches in your lawn, wouldn’t you like to know when? Our month-to-month Wisconsin lawn care calendar explains the timing for key lawn care tasks like when to overseed and plant grass in your lawn.
Grass Seed Options:
- – Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
- – Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Fine fescues: Best for shade
Fine fescues are an excellent choice for homeowners with low-traffic, shady lawns who are searching for a low-maintenance option. These grasses do well in partial shade and require less watering and fertilizer than the other cool-season grasses. However, ensure your soil is well aerated before putting down fine fescues because they struggle in compacted soils.
The fine fescues are a group of five turfgrasses: Strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, hard fescue, and sheep fescue. They are commonly used in grass seed mixes with perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Read our fine fescue guide to learn more about this group of grasses.
Note: Since fine fescues struggle in compacted soil, aerating can help loosen the soil and enable water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate before seeding, but proper timing is essential. For guidance on when to aerate, check out the article below:
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.)
Tall fescue: Best overall performer
Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass with a medium to dark green color. This grass is the best overall performer among the cool-season grasses because of its high tolerance for drought, traffic, and heat. Additionally, it thrives in partial shade and is commonly chosen for low-maintenance lawns.
Check out our article to learn more: “Tall Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It.”
Note: Even though tall fescue can handle most environmental situations, deep shade (like that under the canopy of an older deciduous tree) is a tough condition for any grass. Consider using ground cover in these areas instead. Discover the best ground cover plants for Wisconsin for more options.
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.)
More lawn care and landscaping resources for Wisconsin
- When to Apply Weed and Feed in Wisconsin
- The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns
- The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?
- Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?
- When to Plant Clover in Wisconsin
- The Best Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin
Call in the pros
Trying to fit lawn care into your current schedule might seem impossible, especially if it revolves around overseeding those bare patches. Don’t fret because Lawn Love lawn care pros will solve your lawn care woes. Lawn Love has pros in Appleton, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, La Crosse, Sheboygan, and other Central Wisconsin cities near you.
Sources:
- Iowa State University: Turf-type Tall Fescue
- NC State Extension: Kentucky Bluegrass
- Pennington Seed: All You Need to Know About Kentucky Bluegrass
- University of Minnesota Extension: Planting and Maintaining a Fine Fescue Lawn
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: Growing Resilient Turf
- Wisconsin Horticulture: Keeping Your Grass Alive…
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Main Photo Credit: Maarten Daams | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0
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