- Kentucky bluegrass: Best grass overall<\/a><\/li>
- Tall fescue: Best for difficult soils<\/a><\/li>
- Fine fescue: Best for shaded areas<\/a><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: Best for repairing lawns<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ about grass seeds in Northern Michigan<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Kentucky bluegrass: Best grass overall<\/span><\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kentucky-grass-1.jpg\")
Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Kentucky bluegrass is the best grass for Northern Michigan overall. It is the most cold-tolerant of all the cool-season grasses, allowing it to withstand this region\u2019s freezing winters with ease. It also has moderate drought resistance.<\/p>
However, Kentucky bluegrass thrives only in full sun, so it\u2019s not suitable if you have lots of trees casting shade in your yard. For the best results, ensure your lawn receives plenty of direct sunlight. For more information, check out our guide: Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed<\/a> (3 lbs.)
\u2013 SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)<\/p>Tall fescue: Best for difficult soils<\/span><\/h2>
![\"tall](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tall-fescue-1.jpg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Tall fescue is the best grass for difficult soil conditions, including acidic or alkaline soils, and clay or sandy soils. So, if you have Kalkaska soil in your yard, Michigan\u2019s state soil, this might be the grass for you. Just make sure you topdress before seeding. While Kalkaska sand supports many native trees, growing a lawn on it can be challenging.<\/p>
Tall fescue\u2019s deep roots also make it highly adaptable to various conditions, including heat, drought, and moderate foot traffic. It is a low-maintenance grass, but you will need to mow it often to keep it looking its best. You can check out our guide: Tall Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend<\/a> (5000 sq ft)
\u2013 Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)
\u2013 Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix<\/a> (7 lb.)<\/p>Fine fescue: Best for shaded areas<\/span><\/h2>
![\"fine](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Fine-fescue-1.jpg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Fine fescue is the perfect grass seed for adding to a seed mix with Kentucky bluegrass if your yard is in a shaded area. In Michigan, this grass is not usually seeded alone but is often included in mixes to enhance shade tolerance.<\/p>
Fine fescue is also easy to care for, with low fertilizer and watering needs, making it a low-maintenance option. However, it does not handle heavy foot traffic well, and it requires well-drained, slightly dry soils, according to Dr. Suleiman Bughara, a professor from the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences at Michigan State University<\/a>.<\/p>
To learn more about fine fescue, read our guide: Fine Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Outsidepride Legacy Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)
\u2013 Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed<\/a> (choose your size)
\u2013 Outsidepride Creeping Red Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (25 lbs.)<\/p>Perennial ryegrass: Best for repairing lawns<\/span><\/h2>
![\"perennial](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pyrennial-ryegrass-1-1.jpeg\")
Aaron Patton | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Perennial ryegrass grows and establishes quickly, making it a great option if you have thinning or bare areas in your yard that need repairing. Its rapid growth ensures your lawn looks full and lush in no time. This grass is often used in seed mixes with Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues in Michigan.<\/p>
One thing to note is that perennial ryegrass has poor tolerance to excessive cold, meaning it will likely die off when the harsh winters Up North hit. But don\u2019t worry, you can seed it again in early August to help your lawn recover. Learn more about how to care for this grass in our article on Perennial Ryegrass: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:
<\/strong>\u2013 Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)
\u2013 Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/p>FAQ about grass seeds in Northern Michigan<\/span><\/h2>
What planting zone is Northern Michigan?<\/span><\/h3>
Northern Michigan is mainly in USDA hardiness zone 5a<\/a>, with average extreme minimum temperatures ranging from -20 to -15 F. However, it also has areas in zones 4b, 5b, 6a (like Traverse City), and 6b. This means that the Northern Lower Peninsula experiences much colder temperatures compared to other areas of Michigan, which are mostly in zone 6a.<\/p>
Tip: <\/strong>This also means that warm-season grasses like Zoysiagrass and buffalograss will not adapt here.<\/p>
How is Northern Michigan\u2019s soil?<\/span><\/h3>
Sandy soils are the most common in Northern Michigan, including Kalkaska soil, Michigan\u2019s state soil. Kalkaska soil is described as \u201cdeep, somewhat excessively drained soil formed in sandy deposits\u201d by the Soil Science Society of America<\/a>. It is acidic and has low fertility, making it a challenging environment for growing many plants and grasses.<\/p>
Tip: <\/strong>Check out our guide Native Plants of Northern Michigan<\/a> to see the best plants to grow in this difficult environment.<\/p>
When should I plant grass in Northern Michigan?<\/span><\/h3>
The best time to plant grass seeds in Northern Michigan is late summer to early fall, allowing the grass to establish before the colder temperatures arrive. The second-best time is in spring or early summer, but no later than June 15. Check out our guide, When to Plant Grass Seed in Michigan<\/a>, for more information.<\/p>
Call a professional<\/span><\/h2>
There\u2019s no one better to know the best grass for your area than a local pro. Call a local lawn care expert<\/a> to help you select and plant the right grass for your Northern Michigan lawn while you relax and enjoy a Packers game (or Lions, we don\u2019t judge). We have pros in Traverse City<\/a> and other Northern Michigan cities just a call away.<\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSource:<\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Bulletin E2910 – Michigan State University<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
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.<\/em><\/p>
Main Image Credit: Andrew Jameson<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass are the best grass seeds for Northern Michigan. Learn which is the best fit for your yard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":25559,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[203],"tags":[578],"class_list":["post-25515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan","tag-lawn-care-mi"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/house-in-Traverse-City-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Maria Isabela Reis","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/maria-isabela-reis\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Tall fescue: Best for difficult soils<\/a><\/li>