The Best Grass Seed for Illinois Lawns

When selecting the best grass seed for Illinois lawns, consider location, soil type, and sun exposure. Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, perennial ryegrass, and Zoysiagrass are all popular options.

Choosing the right grass seed depends on your specific location in Illinois. Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues are well-suited for Northern Illinois, which experiences cold and snowy conditions. In contrast, Southern Illinois, known for its heat and humidity, is better suited for grasses like Zoysiagrass. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn.

Types of grass seed for Illinois

Grasses are classified into warm-season and cool-season types. Cool-season grasses, which are common in Illinois, may lose color in the summer heat but regain their green color by fall and can withstand the area’s harsh winters. However, one warm-season grass,  Zoysiagrass, can thrive in the southern part of the state.

Kentucky bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass (KGB) is ideal for Illinois lawns because it can withstand cold, recover from damage, and handle moderate foot traffic. Its blue-green color and fine texture create a lush, beautiful lawn. However, Kentucky bluegrass care requires regular watering and regular maintenance to stay healthy.

• Classification: Cool-season grass
• Spreads by: Rhizomes
• Shade tolerance: Low
• Drought tolerance: Moderate
• Foot traffic tolerance: Moderate
• Maintenance needs: Moderate mowing frequency and high fertilization needs. 
• Mowing height: Set mowing height between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. 
• Potential for disease: Moderate to high; prone to several diseases, such as dollar spot, leaf spot, necrotic ring spot, summer patch, and stripe smut. 
• Soil pH: 6-7.5
• Soil type: Performs best in well-drained, heavy soils with high fertility.
• Other  KGB is super soft and one of the best grasses for dogs and kids to run around on due to its ability to recover from damage.

Pro tip: KBG is often mixed with more shade-tolerant grass types, such as fine fescues.

Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)

Perennial ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass, commonly found in Northern and Central Illinois lawns, germinates quickly and has a fine leaf texture. While it tolerates traffic well and disease to some extent, it struggles in the hot summers of Southern Illinois. It is recommended to mix perennial ryegrass with Kentucky bluegrass seed rather than cultivating it alone in Illinois.

• Classification: Cool-season grass
• Spreads by: Has a bunch-type growth habit
• Shade tolerance: Low
• Drought tolerance: Low
• Foot traffic tolerance: High
• Maintenance needs: Moderate mowing and fertilization requirements. Thatch is not significant. 
• Mowing height: Set mowing height to 1.5 to 2.5 inches
• Potential for disease: High. Common diseases include gray leaf spot, red thread, and leaf spot/melting-out. 
• Soil pH: Can grow in soils with a pH between 5 and 8 but prefers between 6 and 7. 
• Soil type: Prefers good drainage and fertility but can tolerate some poor drainage. 
• Other notes: As part of your cool-season lawn care calendar, apply 1 to 5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually. You should apply most of this from late summer to early fall and a smaller portion in the spring once the lawn is green.

Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)

Fine fescue

Fine fescue refers to a group of cool-season grasses, which includes hard fescue, sheep fescue, chewings fescue, and red fescue. Fine fescue is popular in Illinois, especially in shaded areas, due to its low maintenance and tolerance to drought and cold. However, it is not the best grass for high-traffic areas, making it less suitable for heavily used lawns.

• Classification: Cool-season grass
• Spreads by: Creeping red fescue spreads by rhizomes, while other fine fescues are bunch-type grasses, such as chewings, hard, and sheep fescues. 
• Shade tolerance: Moderate to High, depending on the species
• Drought tolerance: Moderate to High, depending on the species
• Foot traffic tolerance: Low to Moderate, depending on the species
• Maintenance needs: Low fertilizer and mowing needs  
• Mowing height: Set mowing height between 2.5 and 4 inches, depending on the species. 
• Potential for disease: Moderate. Common diseases include red thread, leaf spot, dollar spot, summer patch, and powdery mildew. 
• Soil pH: 6-6.5
• Soil type: Will not perform well in wet soil conditions. Prefers drier soils and tolerates a wide range of soil types and fertility. 
• Other notes: While hard and chewings fescues are best mixed with other varieties, creeping red fescue has a pleasant texture that makes it suitable for planting on its own.

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.)

Tall fescue

Tall fescue is a great choice for Southern Illinois because of its deep root system, which helps it resist heat and drought. This cool-season grass is favored for its low maintenance and medium to deep green hue. Tall fescue greens up in mid-spring and can retain its color late into the fall, making it a popular choice for home lawns

• Classification: Cool-season grass
• Spreads by: Produces short rhizomes but has a bunch-type growth habit
• Shade tolerance: Moderate
• Drought tolerance: Moderate to High
• Foot traffic tolerance: Moderate
• Maintenance needs: Frequent mowing. Does not produce significant thatch. 
• Mowing height: Set mowing height to 2 inches when the grass reaches 3 inches tall.  
• Potential for disease: Tolerant of most diseases when properly maintained. 
• Soil pH: 5.5-6.5
• Soil type: Adapted to a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers fertile soils with good drainage. 
• Other notes: Tall fescue grows rapidly and needs regular mowing.  Ensure you mow your lawn the right way and only remove 1/3 of the blade with each mow, keeping the height between 2-4 inches. Allow it to grow slightly longer in areas with partial shade or during hot weather.

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.)

Zoysiagrass

The only warm-season grass to make our list, Zoysia is an option if you live in the transition zone of Southern Illinois according to Southern Illinois University turf expert Kenneth L. Diesburg. This grass type requires less watering and maintenance than others and can withstand high foot traffic. However, Zoysiagrass does turn brown in winter and takes a while to regain its green color in the spring.

• Classification: Warm-season grass
• Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
• Shade tolerance: Moderate
• Drought tolerance: Moderate to High
• Foot traffic tolerance: High, but recovers slowly from damage
• Maintenance needs: Low nitrogen fertilization requirements, although it’s prone to thatch build-up. 
• Mowing height: Set mowing height between 1 and 2 inches.
• Potential for disease: Good disease tolerance overall
• Soil pH: 6-6.5
• Soil type: Well-draining, some cultivars are more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others.
• Other notes: Zoysiagrass is one of the best grasses to walk on barefoot.

Pro tip: While Bermudagrass will grow in Southern Illinois, it struggles in the colder winters and is considered a weed by some. It also has lower resistance to pests, poor shade tolerance, and a tendency to produce thatch.

Grass Plug and Seed Options:
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)

Best grass seed in Illinois by region

In Illinois, successful lawn care requires understanding the state’s varied climate and selecting appropriate grass seed. Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues are suitable for Northern Illinois’s cold winters, while warm-season grasses like Zoysiagrass thrive in Southern Illinois’s hot, humid summers.

Best grass seed for Northern Illinois

Cities in Northern Illinois frequently endure cold and snowy weather.  This climate can be a challenge for many plants and grasses. Nonetheless, certain types of grass can not only survive but also thrive under these harsh conditions.

The best grass types for Chicago, Rockford, Naperville, and surrounding areas include:

• Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass blend
• Fine fescues

Best grass seed for Central Illinois

Cities in Central Illinois, such as Springfield, Peoria, and Bloomington, have a climate that combines elements of both Northern Illinois’s harsh, wintry weather and Southern Illinois’s heat and humidity. Popular grass types in Central Illinois include:

• Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass blend
• Fine fescue

Best grass seed for Southern Illinois

The transition zone that runs across  Southern Illinois encompasses cities like Carbondale, Marion, and Belleville. This is where cool-season grasses start to falter, and warm-season grasses begin to flourish, making it somewhat challenging. Warm-season grasses can better endure the region’s hot, humid summers compared to most cool-season grasses.

• Tall fescue (good heat tolerance)
• Zoysiagrass

Other factors to consider

Choosing the right grass for your Illinois lawn involves considering several factors. These include the type of soil in your yard, the amount of shade it gets throughout the day, and the maintenance required. Each of these aspects can significantly influence the health and appearance of your lawn.

Soil type

The type of soil in your yard will influence which grass type will grow well. Some grasses flourish in well-drained, fertile soil while others can handle heavier or wetter soils. Conduct a soil test to determine the type, pH levels, and if any soil amendments are needed. 

You should test your soil before seeding your lawn. The best time to plant grass seed in Illinois is in the fall for cool-season grasses and spring for warm-season ones. 

• Kentucky bluegrass flourish in heavy, fertile soils with good drainage and a pH between 6 and 7.5.
• Perennial ryegrass thrives in well-drained, fertile soil but can handle poor drainage. It grows best in soils with a pH between 6 and 7 but can tolerate a pH range from 5 to 8.
• Fine fescue prefers drier soils and tolerates a wide range of soil types and fertility levels. The ideal soil pH is between 6 and 6.5.
• Tall fescue adapts well to various soil conditions, but it prefers fertile soils with good drainage. The optimal soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5.  
• Zoysiagrass also prefers well-drained, fertile soils but with a pH between 6 to 6.5.

Shade tolerance

Have a look at your yard. Is it fully exposed to the sun, or are there shady areas? If your lawn is heavily shaded, you’ll need shade-tolerant grass. All grasses require sunlight to grow properly, but some are more shade-tolerant than others.

• High to moderate shade tolerance: Fine fescue, tall fescue, and Zoysia
• Low shade tolerance: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass

Pro tip: There are Illinois native plants, like kinnikinnick or wild ginger, that are good choices for a ground cover if the shaded area is too shady for grass  to grow.

Maintenance needs

When planning your lawn, you should evaluate the time and resources you’re willing to invest. Some types of grass require more care than others. It’s important to choose a grass variety that aligns with your maintenance preferences and lawn care schedule in Illinois.

These grass species are arranged from most to least demanding on upkeep:

1. Kentucky bluegrass
2. Perennial ryegrass
3. Tall fescue
4. Zoysiagrass
5. Fine fescue

Foot traffic

Choosing a durable type of grass is important for lawns that get a lot of use. Grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and Zoysiagrass can handle lots of activity and bounce back quickly if they get damaged. These grasses are great if you have kids or pets who play a lot on your lawn, making them ideal choices for high-traffic areas.

High-traffic tolerant: Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, Zoysiagrass

Moderate-traffic tolerant: Tall fescue

Low-traffic tolerant:  Fine fescue

FAQ: Grass in Illinois

When should you plant grass seed in Illinois?

Early fall, from mid-August to mid-September, is the best time to plant grass seed in Illinois. During this period, the soil is warm and there is enough sunlight and rain to help grass seeds germinate before the winter. Spring planting, from late April to early June, is the second-best time. However, keep in mind that spring-planted lawns require more watering and care over the summer.

How do you control lawn weeds in Illinois?

A healthy, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against weeds. Managing common weeds in Illinois lawns, such as dandelions and bull thistle, requires regular mowing, hand weeding, healthy soil maintenance, using pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides, and potentially hiring a professional lawn care pro for severe weed issues. 

What are some low-maintenance landscaping ideas for Illinois?

There are various low-maintenance landscaping ideas suitable for Illinois. One popular option is to create a wildflower garden. This not only adds beauty to your property but also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Choose native Illinois wildflowers like purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, or butterfly weed, which require minimal care once established.

Low-maintenance lawn alternatives in Illinois include setting up a rock garden, creating a mulched area with native shrubs like the red osier dogwood or serviceberry, and installing a rain garden that takes advantage of rainfall and runoff.

When to Call a Pro

Choosing the right grass seed for your new lawn depends on a variety of factors, including aesthetics, shade, and foot traffic tolerance, plus the level of care and effort it will need to thrive. If you’re unsure which grass type will work best for you and need some help, we’ve got you covered. Lawn Love will connect you with the top Illinois lawn care pros in your area.

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