The Best Grass Seed for Wisconsin Lawns

lawn in front of a house in wisconsin

Cool-season grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescues, and tall fescue, are the best grass seeds for Wisconsin lawns.

America’s Dairyland homeowners, Cheeseheads at heart, are proud of their heritage and want their lawns to reflect that pride. In this article, you’ll discover why these grass seeds work best for your Wisconsin lawn.

If you are interested in the more specific regions in Wisconsin, check out our other articles:

closeup of kentucky bluegrass in a lawn
Shutterstock

Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is the most common turfgrass in Wisconsin. This barefoot-friendly cool-season grass has a medium to fine texture and is an optimal choice for lawns with lots of foot traffic (kids and pets). Its leaves are dark green and narrow with boat-shaped tips.

Even though it germinates slower than other cool-season grasses, it has no problem establishing easily from seed and has a dense, sod-forming growth habit. KBG is often used in grass seed mixtures with perennial ryegrass and fine fescue. If you yearn to learn more about Kentucky bluegrass, read our guide: “Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It.”

Note: In order to get a lush, healthy lawn, you should dethatch and aerate before overseeding a KBG lawn. But when is the best time to do this? Homeowners can check out our articles below:

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

Perennial ryegrass: Best for fast germination

perennial ryegrass in a lawn
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program

Perennial ryegrass is the rockstar of the cool-season grasses as it is the first to germinate. This medium to dark green bunch-type grass also tolerates high foot traffic. Thankfully, it’s not prone to thatch but can benefit from aeration if the soil is compacted.

Wisconsin winters are usually so harsh that the perennial ryegrass doesn’t survive, so most lawns don’t have large quantities. So, it is often included in cool-season grass seed mixes with Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. Our perennial ryegrass guide will teach you about this rockstar grass.

Note: You want to give perennial ryegrass the chance to thrive without weeds getting in its way. The key is first to identify them. Don’t stress because our article, the most common weeds in Wisconsin, will walk you through what to look for.

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

Fine fescue: Best for low-input lawns

fine fescue grass
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program

Fine fescues are a group of cool-season grasses that are great for low-input lawns due to their slower growth (which means less mowing), drought tolerance (less need for irrigation), and low nitrogen fertilizer and pesticide requirements.

Wisconsin homeowners often turn to these grasses for areas covered in partial shade. Fine fescues have the best shade tolerance among the cool-season turfgrass species, as detailed in our guide: “Fine Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It.”

Fine fescues will grow in shade or full sun and adapt to many soil types (infertile to fertile). However, beware of compacted or wet soils, as they don’t like wet feet and thus will fail to thrive. Additionally, they can handle only low to moderate foot traffic (depending on the species), so fine fescues may suffer from the abuse of kids and dogs running around. 

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 in well-drained soil

tall fescue
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program

Tall fescue outshines the other cool-season grasses for its ability to handle heavy foot traffic, drought, and heat. It thrives in partially shaded areas and is a popular choice for low-maintenance lawns. This cool-season bunch-type turfgrass has coarse-textured leaves that are medium to dark green in color.

Tall fescue’s deep root system is one of the reasons why it is such a tough grass. Additionally, it’s tolerant of clay soils but is not tolerant of ice, so plant in areas with good drainage. To learn how to be successful with this grass, read our guide: “Tall Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It.”

Note: Sure, tall fescue is a tough contender, but why not give it an extra boost of fertilizer and, at the same time, keep those weeds at bay? Check out this article for advice:

When to Apply Weed and Feed in Wisconsin

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

FAQ about the best grass for Wisconsin

When is the best time to plant grass seed in Wisconsin?

Mid-August to mid-September is the optimal time to plant grass seed, whether renovating your existing lawn or establishing a new one. The reason? At this time of year, temperatures are still around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is less competition with unwanted weeds, which are great conditions for seed growth.

Considering putting down seed yourself? No worries. Check out our article below to help you get organized with the timing:

When does grass stop growing in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, look for your grass to go dormant and stop growing between the end of October and early November. If your grass is a little long, give your lawn some love with one last mow of the season in preparation for winter. 

If you’d like to know more about when your Wisconsin lawn goes dormant, check out our article: “When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?

Is a clover lawn better than a turfgrass lawn?

It depends on several factors, including personal preference, your goals for your lawn, and the regulations in your neighborhood. Like any choice, there are pros and cons associated with having a clover lawn. They are as follows:

Pros:

✓   Attracts pollinators like bees

✓   More drought tolerant once established (does need irrigation to get it established successfully)

✓   Can fix the nitrogen in your soil

Cons:

✓   Homeowners’ associations consider clover a weed and may impose fines on homeowners for growing it. 

✓   If walking barefoot in a clover lawn, bees may sting you.

✓   It can creep into flower beds.

Call in the pros

Are you unsure which grass would work best for your Wisconsin lawn? Let Lawn Love lawn care pros help you decide. Once the lawn grows in, they’ll keep it green and growing all season long. With all that free time, you can wear your new foam Cheesehead hat to the Packers game the next time they play at Lambeau Field.

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: Old Home In Platteville, Wisconsin | chumlee10 | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0

Harley Grandone

Harley Grandone, a writer and landscape designer, enjoys writing blogs for LawnLove. After 20+ years of being a landscape designer, she’s delighted to be able to combine her love of writing with her love of the industry. When not writing, she spends her free time on her sailboat, learning affiliate marketing, and having fun with her family in the Philadelphia suburbs.