- Kentucky bluegrass: Best in sun<\/a><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: Best for lawn repair<\/a><\/li>
- Fine fescues: Best for shade<\/a><\/li>
- Tall fescue: Best overall performer<\/a><\/li>
- More lawn care and landscaping resources for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Kentucky bluegrass: Best in sun<\/span><\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kentucky-grass-1.jpg\")
Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is not only the most-used cool-season grass in Central Wisconsin but is also popular across the entire state. This grass is versatile because it has adapted to the sub-zero temperatures of Central Wisconsin\u2019s winters, likes full sun, and is often integrated into cool-season grass seed mixes. <\/p>
However, KBG doesn\u2019t like shade and is a higher-maintenance grass than the other cool-season grasses. If you\u2019re curious to learn more, check out our guide: \u201cKentucky Bluegrass: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> Don\u2019t let crabgrass and grubs ruin your newly planted Kentucky bluegrass lawn. The key is to spot these weeds and lawn pests early and eradicate them. Our articles will help you identify the weeds and let you know when to get rid of the grubs: <\/p>
- The Most Common Weeds in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:<\/strong><\/p>
- \u2013 Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed<\/a> (3 lbs.)<\/li>
- \u2013 SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)<\/li> <\/ul>
Perennial ryegrass: Best for lawn repair<\/span><\/h2>
![\"perennial](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pyrennial-ryegrass-1-1.jpeg\")
Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. | Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Searching for a cool-season grass to fill those thinning areas and bare spots in your lawn? Well, look no further than perennial ryegrass. This grass germinates fast and establishes quickly, making it perfect for filling in areas where weeds would otherwise grow. <\/p>
Not often used on its own, perennial ryegrass is commonly included in grass seed mixes with Kentucky bluegrass. Why? Perennial ryegrass germinates in 7 to 14 days, whereas Kentucky bluegrass takes 14 to 30 days to germinate. In combination, perennial ryegrass quickly covers bare spots until Kentucky bluegrass seeds take root and start to grow.<\/p>
If you\u2019d like to learn more about using perennial ryegrass in your lawn, check out our perennial ryegrass guide<\/a>.<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> If you\u2019d like to overseed and fill in those bare patches in your lawn, wouldn\u2019t you like to know when? Our month-to-month Wisconsin lawn care calendar<\/a> explains the timing for key lawn care tasks like when to overseed and plant grass in your lawn.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:<\/strong><\/p>
- \u2013 Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)<\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/li> <\/ul>
Fine fescues: Best for shade<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/10355306005_4db57cb386_o-1.jpg\")
Peggy A. Lopipero-Langmo<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Fine fescues are an excellent choice for homeowners with low-traffic, shady lawns who are searching for a low-maintenance option. These grasses do well in partial shade and require less watering and fertilizer than the other cool-season grasses. However, ensure your soil is well aerated before putting down fine fescues because they struggle in compacted soils.<\/p>
The fine fescues are a group of five turfgrasses: Strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, hard fescue, and sheep fescue. They are commonly used in grass seed mixes with perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Read our fine fescue guide<\/a> to learn more about this group of grasses.<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> Since fine fescues struggle in compacted soil, aerating can help loosen the soil and enable water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate before seeding, but proper timing is essential. For guidance on when to aerate, check out the article below:<\/p>
- The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Grass Seed Options:<\/strong><\/p>
- \u2013 Outsidepride Legacy Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)<\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed<\/a> (choose your size) <\/li>
- \u2013 Outsidepride Creeping Red Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (25 lbs.)<\/li>
- \u2013 Outsidepride Hard Fine Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (10 lbs.)<\/li> <\/ul>
Tall fescue: Best overall performer<\/span><\/h2>
![\"tall](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tall-fescue-1.jpg\")
Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. \/ Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass with a medium to dark green color. This grass is the best overall performer among the cool-season grasses because of its high tolerance for drought, traffic, and heat. Additionally, it thrives in partial shade and is commonly chosen for low-maintenance lawns. <\/p>
Check out our article to learn more: \u201cTall Fescue: How to Grow and Care for It<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>
Note: <\/strong>Even though tall fescue can handle most environmental situations, deep shade (like that under the canopy of an older deciduous tree) is a tough condition for any grass. Consider using ground cover in these areas instead. Discover the best ground cover plants for Wisconsin<\/a> for more options.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options:<\/strong><\/p>
- \u2013 Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend<\/a> (5000 sq ft)<\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/li>
- \u2013 Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix<\/a> (7 lb.)<\/li> <\/ul>
More lawn care and landscaping resources for Wisconsin<\/span><\/h2>
- When to Apply Weed and Feed in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>
- Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>
- When to Plant Clover in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Call in the pros<\/span><\/h2>
Trying to fit lawn care into your current schedule might seem impossible, especially if it revolves around overseeding those bare patches. Don\u2019t fret because Lawn Love lawn care pros<\/a> will solve your lawn care woes. Lawn Love has pros in Appleton<\/a>, Eau Claire<\/a>, Oshkosh<\/a>, La Crosse<\/a>, Sheboygan<\/a>, and other Central Wisconsin cities near you.<\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Iowa State University: Turf-type Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- NC State Extension: Kentucky Bluegrass<\/a><\/li>
- Pennington Seed: All You Need to Know About Kentucky Bluegrass<\/a><\/li>
- University of Minnesota Extension: Planting and Maintaining a Fine Fescue Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: Growing Resilient Turf<\/a><\/li>
- Wisconsin Horticulture: Keeping Your Grass Alive…<\/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 Photo Credit: Maarten Daams<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cool-season grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescues, are the best grass seeds for Central Wisconsin lawns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":32773,"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":[177],"tags":[1031,1034,1033,1032,1035,1037,1038,1036,1039,1040],"class_list":["post-32393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wisconsin","tag-lawn-care-appleton-wi","tag-lawn-care-chippewa-falls-wi","tag-lawn-care-eau-claire-wi","tag-lawn-care-kaukauna-wi","tag-lawn-care-la-crosse-wi","tag-lawn-care-menasha-wi","tag-lawn-care-neenah-wi","tag-lawn-care-oshkosh-wi","tag-lawn-care-sheboygan-wi","tag-lawn-care-wausau-wi"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1024px-2010-09-29_Roy_Wilcox_House-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Harley Grandone","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/harley-grandone\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32393","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\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- NC State Extension: Kentucky Bluegrass<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns<\/a><\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed<\/a> (choose your size) <\/li>
- The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- \u2013 Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/li> <\/ul>
- \u2013 SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)<\/li> <\/ul>
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: Best for lawn repair<\/a><\/li>