Cool-season grasses are the best grass seeds for Southern Wisconsin lawns, including fine fescues, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue.
Whether you are overseeding your lawn in Racine or renovating an existing lawn in Kenosha, choosing the proper grass seed can make all the difference in the health of your lawn.
If you’re interested in learning the best grass seeds for the entire state, check out our article: “The Best Grass Seed for Wisconsin Lawns.”
Fine fescues: Best for a low-maintenance lawn
This group of low-maintenance cool-season grasses can handle full sun or dappled shade and need less fertilizer. These grasses can either be mowed like a traditional lawn or go unmowed for a meadow-like lawn. If you like the idea of a meadow-like lawn and your city participates in a No-Mow May program, like Milwaukee and Racine, consider fine fescues.
To learn more about this group of grasses, read our fine fescue guide.
Note: If a meadow-like lawn is not your thing, but you’d like to explore other non-turfgrass options, consider a ground cover like spotted deadnettle or a clover lawn. Refer to our articles below:
- The Best Ground Cover Plants for Wisconsin
- Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?
- When to Plant Clover in Wisconsin
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.)
Perennial ryegrass: Best for overseeding
Do you gaze out the window at the yard and notice thinning grass or bare patches? Perennial ryegrass establishes quickly to cover those bare spots and has moderate shade tolerance. Perennial ryegrass is not frequently used by itself; it is typically combined with Kentucky bluegrass in grass seed mixes.
The reason perennial ryegrass is incorporated into seed mixes with Kentucky bluegrass is that perennial ryegrass germinates in 7 to 14 days, while Kentucky bluegrass takes 14 to 30 days to germinate. Perennial ryegrass rapidly fills bare areas when used together until the Kentucky bluegrass seeds establish and grow. Our perennial ryegrass guide will let you explore this grass further.
Note: Perennial ryegrass is commonly used to overseed cool-season lawns. If you’re uncertain about the optimal time to plant grass seed, take a look at this article for further guidance: “The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Wisconsin.”
Grass Seed Options:
- – Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
- – Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Kentucky bluegrass: Most commonly used
Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is a popular cool-season grass in the northern United States and one of the best grasses for Milwaukee. It is known for its ability to withstand high foot traffic, thrives in full sun, and prefers well-drained soil.
While KBG requires more maintenance than tall fescue, for example, our Kentucky bluegrass guide provides the necessary information to care effectively for this widely used grass.
Note: Did you know that KBG tends to develop thatch? To get a lush, healthy lawn, dethatch and aerate before overseeding a KBG lawn. But when is the best time to do this? Wisconsin homeowners can check out our articles below:
- The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- Month-to-Month Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar
Grass Seed Options:
- – Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
- – SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Tall fescue: Best overall performer
Tall fescue is considered the best overall performer out of all the cool-season grasses because it can handle drought, heat, and heavy traffic and requires less care than a KBG lawn. In fact, Northern homeowners often choose tall fescue over Kentucky bluegrass simply because it is a lower-maintenance grass.
For example, tall fescue needs less fertilization compared to Kentucky bluegrass. Also, if you have kids and dogs playing in the yard, tall fescue can withstand the foot traffic well, though yearly overseeding may be needed to repair damage.
To learn more, read our tall fescue guide to help you grow and take care of this best all-around grass.
Note: You want to give your tall fescue the best chance to grow and thrive without weeds getting in the way. The key to success is identifying the weeds and then knowing when to treat them. Consult our articles below for more information about Badger State weeds:
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
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin
- When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?
- The Best Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin
- The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns
Call in the pros
Does your neighbor’s barefoot-friendly, lush green lawn make you green with envy? Well, no longer. You can elevate your lawn with Lawn Love’s Wisconsin lawn care pros. They can choose the best grass seed for your lawn and take over all of your lawn care chores. Plus, they serve Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, Racine, and many other Southern Wisconsin cities.
Sources:
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Main Photo Credit: Lightburst | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
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