- Fine fescues: Best for a low-maintenance lawn<\/a><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: Best for overseeding<\/a><\/li>
- Kentucky bluegrass: Most commonly used<\/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>
Fine fescues: Best for a low-maintenance lawn<\/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> 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. <\/p>
To learn more about this group of grasses, read our fine fescue guide<\/a>. <\/p>
Note:<\/strong> If a meadow-like lawn is not your thing, but you\u2019d like to explore other non-turfgrass options, consider a ground cover like spotted deadnettle or a clover lawn. Refer to our articles below:<\/p>
- The Best Ground Cover Plants for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>
- When to Plant Clover 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>Perennial ryegrass: Best for overseeding<\/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> 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. <\/p>
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<\/a> will let you explore this grass further. <\/p>
Note:<\/strong> 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: \u201cThe Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Wisconsin<\/a>.\u201d<\/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>
Kentucky bluegrass: Most commonly used<\/span><\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kentucky-grass-1.jpg\")
Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is a popular cool-season grass in the northern United States and one of the best grasses for Milwaukee<\/a>. It is known for its ability to withstand high foot traffic, thrives in full sun, and prefers well-drained soil. <\/p>
While KBG requires more maintenance than tall fescue, for example, our Kentucky bluegrass guide<\/a> provides the necessary information to care effectively for this widely used grass.<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> 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:<\/p>
- The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- Month-to-Month Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar<\/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>
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 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. <\/p>
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. <\/p>
To learn more, read our tall fescue guide<\/a> to help you grow and take care of this best all-around grass.<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> 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:<\/p>
- The Most Common Weeds in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
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>
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Call in the pros<\/span><\/h2>
Does your neighbor\u2019s barefoot-friendly, lush green lawn make you green with envy? Well, no longer. You can elevate your lawn with Lawn Love\u2019s Wisconsin lawn care pros<\/a>. They can choose the best grass seed for your lawn and take over all of your lawn care chores. Plus, they serve Milwaukee<\/a>, Madison<\/a>, Kenosha<\/a>, Racine<\/a>, and many other Southern Wisconsin cities.<\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Turf-type Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- Pennington Seed: All You Need to Know About Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- Penn State Extension: Managing Thatch in Lawns<\/a><\/li>
- Purdue University: Fine Fescues<\/a><\/li>
- Scotts: What are Cool-Season Grasses?<\/a><\/li>
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: Growing Resilient Turf<\/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: Lightburst<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cool-season grasses, including fine fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue are the best grass seeds for Southern Wisconsin lawns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":32731,"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":[1042,1062,1051,1073,1052,1044,1053,1054,1056,1057,1058,1059,1041,1060,1043,1070,1045,1061,1063,1046,1064,1072,1065,1047,1048,1066,1067,1049,1068,1069,1071],"class_list":["post-32448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wisconsin","tag-lawn-care-beloit-wi","tag-lawn-care-berlin-wi","tag-lawn-care-brookfield-wi","tag-lawn-care-burlington-wi","tag-lawn-care-cedarburg-wi","tag-lawn-care-deforest-wi","tag-lawn-care-elm-grove-wi","tag-lawn-care-franklin-wi","tag-lawn-care-greendale-wi","tag-lawn-care-greenfield-wi","tag-lawn-care-hartford-wi","tag-lawn-care-hartland-wi","tag-lawn-care-janesville-wi","tag-lawn-care-kenosha-wi","tag-lawn-care-madison-wi","tag-lawn-care-menomonee-falls-wi","tag-lawn-care-middleton-wi","tag-lawn-care-mukwonago-wi","tag-lawn-care-oak-creek-wi","tag-lawn-care-oregon-wi","tag-lawn-care-pewaukee-wi","tag-lawn-care-racine-wi","tag-lawn-care-shorewood-wi","tag-lawn-care-stoughton-wi","tag-lawn-care-sun-prairie-wi","tag-lawn-care-sussex-wi","tag-lawn-care-waukesha-wi","tag-lawn-care-waunakee-wi","tag-lawn-care-wauwatosa-wi","tag-lawn-care-west-allis-wi","tag-lawn-care-west-bend-wi"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1024px-Jessie_and_John_F._Kern_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\/32448","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=32448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Pennington Seed: All You Need to Know About Tall Fescue<\/a><\/li>
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/li>
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- \u2013 SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed<\/a> (5 lbs.)<\/li> <\/ul>
- The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>
- \u2013 Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed<\/a> (choose your size)<\/li> <\/ul>
- \u2013 Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed<\/a> (choose your size) <\/li>
- Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>
- Perennial ryegrass: Best for overseeding<\/a><\/li>