For the best grass for Long Island, look to cool-season grasses like tall fescue and fine fescues. However, it is also possible to grow Zoysia in warmer areas. Whether you’re in Montauk or Hempstead, discover the perfect grass for your yard.
However, if you want more information on the best grasses for the entire state, check out our guide: “The Best Grass Seed for New York Lawns.”
Tall fescue: Best grass for coastal areas
Turf-type tall fescue is one of the most popular grasses for Long Island due to its adaptability and resilience. This grass can thrive in various soil conditions, including the sandy soils common in Long Island’s coastal areas, but also the more clay-like soils found inland. In addition, this grass can withstand drought and heat due to its deep root structure.
While tall fescue is considered a low-maintenance grass, it does require regular mowing to keep it looking its best. You can learn more about this grass’s maintenance in our tall fescue guide.
Pro Tip: Cornell University does not recommend adding tall fescue to seed mixes, as it is not compatible with other grass types. Grow this grass as a monostand (100% tall fescue), or at least have it make up 90% of the seed mix.
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: Best grass for low-maintenance lawns
Fine fescues are one of the best grasses to plant if you’re looking for a lawn that requires minimal effort and maintenance. Varieties like sheep and hard fescue, especially, grow slowly, meaning they won’t need frequent mowing, and they require very little fertilizer.
However, fine fescues are not very resistant to foot traffic and will suffer in heavily used areas. For more pros and cons, check out our guide: “Fine Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It.”
Pro Tip: Fine fescues are also excellent for shaded lawns, making them ideal if you live in a highly urbanized area of Long Island with lots of buildings casting shade on your yard. Cornell recommends seeding a 100% fine fescue blend for shaded areas.
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.)
Perennial ryegrass: Best grass for repairing lawns
Perennial ryegrass is the best grass for overseeding and repairing bare spots in your lawn. It has a vibrant color, grows quickly (the fastest among all grasses), and has good wear tolerance. You can learn more about this grass in our perennial ryegrass guide.
However, it is not recommended to use more than 20% of this grass in seed mixes when seeding a lawn from scratch in New York, as it lacks high cold tolerance and may get damaged in winter.
On a curious note: Cornell recommends choosing perennial ryegrass varieties with endophytic fungi. These fungi produce natural chemicals that deter some insects, such as chinch bugs and sod webworms, providing an added layer of protection for your lawn.
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Kentucky bluegrass: Best grass for high-quality lawns
Kentucky bluegrass, or KBG, is the best grass to plant if you’re looking for a “high-quality” lawn. KBG can give your lawn a highly manicured, lush, dense look like no other grass. It also has the amazing ability to self-repair via its rhizomes (underground stems), ensuring your lawn stays pristine even with some wear and tear.
On the flip side, KBG needs to be planted in full sun to thrive, and achieving that high quality look means you’ll need to dedicate some time to lawn maintenance. Luckily, we have just the article for that: “Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It.”
Seed recommendation for Long Island: Look for seed mixtures containing 65% KBG, 15% perennial ryegrass, and 20% fine fescues.
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Zoysiagrass: Best grass for drought conditions
Zoysiagrass is the “odd man out” on our list, being the only warm-season grass suitable for Long Island. This grass is soft to walk on, crows out weeds, and tolerates extreme heat. It’s also drought-tolerant, though it will turn brown and go dormant during intense dry periods. You can read more about it in our Zoysiagrass guide.
Warm-season grasses like Zoysia have a different growing season than cool-season grasses, so they will go dormant when temperatures drop. In addition, while this grass can create a beautiful lawn, it can also invade flower beds and be difficult to remove if you decide to change your lawn.
Recommended variety: Meyer Zoysia is the variety most readily available in Long Island, and also the most winter-hardy one.
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)
Other New York resources
You can learn more about lawn care and landscaping in New York with the following articles:
- Long Island Growing Zones
- The Best Perennials for Long Island Landscapes
- When to Plant Grass Seed in New York
- Native Plants for New York City Metro Area Landscapes
Call a professional
If you’d rather spend your time enjoying Long Island’s wineries than choosing the best grass and caring for it, call a lawn care professional. We have pros in Suffolk and Nassau counties, Brooklyn, and Queens Village at your disposal, ready to help you achieve a beautiful lawn without the hassle.
Lawn Love participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Lawn Love may earn revenue from products promoted in this article.
Main Image Credit: Strathmore Village, Manhasset, Long Island | LINYperson615 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
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