
Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass are the best choices for southern Oregon. They are all versatile, able to handle the heat near the southern coast and the cold in the higher elevations to the east.
They have another important thing in common. These grasses form beautiful lawns, but they vary in their ability to withstand shade, foot traffic and other stresses. It’s important to understand these differences when choosing a grass..
Kentucky bluegrass: Best for cold weather

Kentucky bluegrass performs exceptionally well in the cold winters of Medford, Grants Pass, and Ashland. This cool-season grass looks beautiful with its dark green leaves and has a medium-fine texture that’s soft on bare feet. Kentucky bluegrass withstands high-foot traffic and can self-repair because it spreads by rhizomes.
This grass grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Water Kentucky bluegrass regularly in the summer to prevent it from going dormant.
Check out our guide for more on growing Kentucky bluegrass.
Pros | Cons |
✓ Looks beautiful ✓ Withstands foot traffic ✓ Excellent ability to self-repair ✓ Soft underfootSpreads 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.)
Fine fescue: Best low-maintenance

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 look beautiful and thrive in the Mediterranean climate of southern Oregon. Fine fescues are easy to care for and can survive with just four hours of dappled sunlight.
These grasses grow vigorously in spring and fall. Fine fescues are the softest of all cool-season grasses, but they don’t withstand heavy 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.)
Tall fescue: Best for hot areas

Tall fescue withstands heat better than other cool-season grasses and is an excellent choice for Klamath Falls, Gold Hill, or Central Point, where summer temperatures reach the 80s. This cool-season grass grows vigorously in spring and fall. Tall fescue looks beautiful with medium to dark green leaves but isn’t as dense as Kentucky bluegrass.
This grass grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Tall fescue has coarse-textured grass blades that withstands foot traffic relatively well but can’t self-repair because it’s bunch-forming. It resists drought exceptionally well because of its extensive root system.
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.)
Perennial ryegrass: Best for quick establishment

Perennial ryegrass isn’t as winter-hardy as other cool-season grasses, but it performs well in southern Oregon because it doesn’t get too cold here. This grass germinates quickly within 5 to 7 days and grows vigorously during spring and fall. It has fine-textured, dark green leaves but looks patchy, which you can fix by overseeding.
This cool-season grass thrives in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Perennial ryegrass can handle high-foot traffic but can’t self-repair because it’s bunch-forming. Water your grass regularly, especially if you live in Grants Pass or Roseburg, where summers get really hot.
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)
For more on Oregon grasses
Check out the links below to see guides about the best grasses for other regions of Oregon:
The Best Grass Seed for Oregon
The Best Grass Seed for Central 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 southern Oregon?
The best time to plant cool-season grasses is in early fall when soil temperatures range from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Check out our guide on when to plant grass seed in Oregon for more information.
What planting zone is southern Oregon?
Understanding your planting zone helps you identify plants that thrive in your region. Southern Oregon is located in zones 8a and 8b, which means winter temperatures can get as low as 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. For more information, check out our guide on growing zones of Oregon.
When to hire a professional
Grass can make or break your lawn. If you need help choosing the right grass or with regular lawn maintenance, get in touch with Lawn Love. Our local lawn care pros can turn your yard from ordinary to extraordinary
More Lawn Care and Landscaping Resources for Oregon:
- Oregon Native Plants for Landscaping
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Main Image Credit: Ian Poellet | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0