The best grass seeds for Southern Ohio, where summers can be toasty, are cool-season varieties, like tall fescues and Kentucky bluegrass, that can handle the heat and also the cold winters.
Whether you’re greening up your yard in Cincinnati or keeping things tidy in Chillicothe, picking the right grass is key to having a lawn that stands up to Southern Ohio’s weather swings. But, if you’re more interested in other Ohio regions, check out our guide: “Best Grass Seed for Ohio.”
Tall fescue: Best grass overall
Turf-type tall fescue is one of the best grasses for Cincinnati and the broader Southern Ohio region. It stands out as the most heat-tolerant of the cool-season grasses, making it perfect for this region’s warm summers and chilly winters. This grass can handle both extremes without suffering significant damage.
What’s even better? Tall fescue is low-maintenance, so you won’t have to spend your weekends caring for it. (You can learn more in our tall fescue maintenance guide.) It can also take some foot traffic, so it’s great for yards where kids or pets like to play.
For the best results, you can go all in with a 100% tall fescue blend, or mix in 5 to 10% Kentucky bluegrass.
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.)
Kentucky bluegrass: Best grass for sunny yards
Kentucky bluegrass, or KBG, is a popular choice not just across Southern Ohio, but throughout the entire state. It is one of the best grass types for Dayton. This grass thrives in full sun, making it perfect for wide-open spaces. However, it’s important to note that KBG doesn’t tolerate shade well.
If you’re aiming for a picture-perfect, well-manicured lawn, KBG is an excellent option. It’s known for its high-quality, dense, and fine-textured turf that gives any yard a polished look. But keep in mind, this grass comes with higher maintenance needs. (For more information, check out our guide: “Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It.”)
Here are the recommended grass blends or mixtures with KBG in Southern Ohio:
- 100% KBG blend
- 90-95% KBG and and 5-10% perennial ryegrass
- 30-50% KBG and 50-70% fine fescues
- 5-10% KBG and 90-95% tall fescue
- 45-60% KBG, 5-10% perennial ryegrass, and 30-50% fine fescues
Pro Tip: A grass blend means there are at least three distinct varieties of the same grass, whereas seed mixes refer to combining at least two grasses from different species (for example, KBG and tall fescue).
Grass Seed Options:
– Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
– SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Perennial ryegrass: Best grass for repairing lawns
Perennial ryegrass is your go-to grass when it comes to repairing lawns in Southern Ohio. Its quick establishment means that thinning lawns or bare spots will be fixed in no time, giving your yard a fresh look much faster than other grasses would.
However, perennial ryegrass does have its limitations. It’s not particularly disease-resistant or heat-tolerant, so it’s not recommended to seed an entire lawn with just this grass. Most seed mixes for Ohio use only 5 to 10% perennial ryegrass.
Tip: To increase this grass’s life, check out our perennial ryegrass guide.
Grass Seed Options:
– Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
– Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Fine fescue: Best grass for shaded lawns
If you’re aiming for a beautiful lawn but worry that Kentucky bluegrass might not thrive in your shaded yard, fine fescues are the perfect solution. Fine fescues are an excellent addition to shade mixes with Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, providing added shade resistance. They also work well on their own.
One of the best things about fine fescues is their low-maintenance nature. (Learn how to care for these grasses in our guide: “Fine Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It.”) They also tolerate a wide variety of soils, including sandy and infertile ones, making them versatile for many different yard conditions.
However, fine fescues don’t tolerate heat well, so they might struggle in the hotter Ohio planting zones, where counties like Lawrence County are located. They’re also not suited for high-traffic areas, as they can wear down quickly.
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.)
Call a professional for help
Now that you know the best grasses for Southern Ohio, it’s time to take the next step: planting them. You can dive into our guide, “When to Plant Grass Seed in Ohio,” for tips on timing.
Or, if you prefer to sit back and relax, why not call in a lawn care professional? Let the experts handle the work while you enjoy some chili and take it easy. We have pros ready to help in Cincinnati, Dayton, and other Southern Ohio cities.
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Main Image Credit: Warren LeMay | Flickr | CC0 1.0
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