The 8 Best Types of Grass for Lawns in the Midwest

There are 11,500 accepted grass species, but not all of them can thrive in the Midwestern region of the U.S.

The Midwest offers a mix of cold winter months and humid summers, making lawn care a bit more challenging.

Cool-season grasses grow well in this region, but some warm-season grasses can still thrive with proper care.

The best way to get a green lawn for most of the year is to plant the right grass varieties for your area at the right time.

If you’re unsure which grass seed to plant, check out these eight types of grass suitable for the Midwest.

The Best Types of Grass for Midwest Lawns

The following recommended types of grass for the Midwest region include warm and cold-season grasses.

See which grasses suit your climate, soil conditions, and preferred level of maintenance.

Below, we’ll be talking about grass to plant in your lawn. If you want decoration, check out our guide to ornamental grasses or artificial grass instead.

Fine Fescue

Fine fescue is one of the popular types of grass in the Midwest. It shows a medium green to blue-green hue with fine texture and delicate leaves.

Fine fescue grass seeds often include a mix of five major species:

• Hard fescue
• Sheep fescue
• Chewings fescue
• Creeping red fescue
• Slender creeping red fescue

This blend of seeds sprouts well in temperate and cooler regions and gives your turf a healthy and vibrant look.

Aside from aesthetics, some of the benefits of using fine fescue on your lawn include:

• Germinates quickly
• Has good shade tolerance
• Tolerates foot traffic
• Blends well with other dominant grass varieties
• Can grow in infertile or low-nutrient soil conditions
• Has good drought tolerance
• Doesn’t require lots of lawn fertilizer
• Thrives in all seasons
• Has low maintenance requirements

However, here are some drawbacks to keep in mind when growing fine fescue:

• Low tolerance for high-traffic areas
• Can suffer when over-watered

You’ll find more pros than cons when caring for fine fescue, making it ideal for most lawns, gardens, and spaces.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Many properties in the Midwest use Kentucky bluegrass, making it an ideal choice for various residential and commercial landscaping ideas.

Kentucky bluegrass, also called KBG, is one of the cool-season grasses known for its rich blue-green color and ability to thrive in Midwestern summers and winters.

Other advantages of planting Kentucky bluegrass include:

• Can spread and recover quickly from wear and tear
• Handles harsh winters and full sunlight
• Withstands foot traffic
• Offers a beautiful appearance

Unfortunately, here are some disadvantages of growing these grass seeds:

• Has poor shade tolerance
• Offers the least drought tolerance among cool-season grasses due to its short roots
• Takes a long time to establish and grow
• Has high maintenance needs, such as lots of fertilizer and moderate mowing
• Prefers deep fertile soil

Overall, the Kentucky bluegrass may be a visually appealing grass, but it can be challenging to maintain.

If you don’t mind the maintenance, this is great for any lawn or commercial space.

Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass showcases a vibrant green color with fine texture and creates a thick turf perfect for foot traffic from humans, pets, and outdoor activities.

It’s one of the cool-season grasses used widely in the U.S. as turf grasses and pasture grasses for livestock.

Plus, it’s one of the grass types used as fillers with other grass seeds.

If you need to cover up bare spots in your lawn or garden, consider planting perennial ryegrass since it sprouts quickly and can give the area more coverage.

Other perks of using perennial ryegrass include:

• Provides high foot traffic tolerance
• Has good drought and shade tolerance
• Offers one of the most resilient grass varieties for the Midwest’s climate
• Germinates and grows quickly

On the other hand, here are some reminders before planting perennial ryegrass seeds:

• Doesn’t spread wide, resulting in sparse areas
• Doesn’t fare well in intense cold, unlike other cool-season grasses
• Best used along with other seeds, like fine fescue or Kentucky bluegrass

Consider getting the perennial ryegrass if you want a quick-growing grass resilient to your area’s cold climate.

Tall Fescue

Unlike the fine fescue’s needle-like leaves, the tall fescue features broader leaves, a dark green hue, and deep roots, making it one of the ideal cool-season lawn grasses.

Thanks to its deep roots, the tall fescue can absorb more water and nutrients, enabling it to withstand high temperatures.

As a result, it’s less prone to pests and plant diseases.

Besides these, here are other pros of planting tall fescue on your lawn:

• Germinates fast (but not as fast as perennial ryegrass)
• Has good drought and foot traffic tolerance
• Has shade tolerance than most cold-season grasses
• Adapts to various climates

On the flip side, tall fescues have their quirks. These include:

• Forms bare patches during long periods of intense heat waves
• Needs to be mixed with other cool-season grass varieties for a balanced lawn

Despite these downsides, the tall fescue is versatile, depending on your lawn goals or preferences.

Bentgrass

Bentgrass is a cool-season grass with a soft, fine, and carpet-like texture and durability against close mowing.

Because of these characteristics, it’s often used in golf courses and other sports fields.

Some homeowners and commercial spaces prefer using bentgrass for the following reasons:

• Offers great wear and cold tolerance for home lawns and commercial landscapes
• Decent shade tolerance
• Lush look and carpet-like feel

However, despite its pleasing aesthetics, bentgrass has the following cons:

• Demands high maintenance, such as frequent watering, fertilization, and mowing
• Susceptible to lawn diseases, pests, and weeds
• Can turn brown quickly during dry seasons
• Requires a nitrogen-rich fertilizer

Although the cons seem to outweigh the pros, bentgrass is an ideal plant for commercial lawns that must be soft and aesthetically pleasing, if you don’t mind the maintenance.

Buffalograss

You can see buffalograss on the Great Plains of Nebraska, Kansas, and the Dakotas since this plant is native to the region.

Although it’s a warm-season grass, it’s still suitable for the Midwest’s varying climates.

It features a fine texture and a blue-green hue and forms dense clumps.

Its major perk is that it’s a low-maintenance grass, requiring little watering and mowing.

In addition, some of its advantages include:

• Being drought-tolerant
• Tolerates heat and the full sun
• Soft on bare feet
• Offers a naturally aesthetic look

On the other hand, some of the downsides of using buffalograss as lawn grasses include:

• Forms clumps, resulting in an uneven lawn
• Has poor shade tolerance
• May not look good during cold months
• Withstands only moderate foot traffic

Establishing buffalograss in your garden may seem like a lot of work, but you will eventually have a low-maintenance lawn.

Bermuda Grass

The Bermuda grass is a perennial warm-season grass commonly used in residential lawns, parks, golf courses, and other sports fields.

It’s more sensitive to cold seasons than warm-season grasses like Zoysia grass, but it can thrive in some parts of the Midwest. Bermuda grass can thrive if there’s full direct sunlight and good drainage.

Some perks of using Bermuda grass on your lawn include:

• Offers good drought tolerance
• Has fair foot traffic tolerance
• Withstands wear and tear
• Grows quickly

Meanwhile, some downsides you may want to consider include:

• Becomes intolerant to cold weather
• Becomes dormant in winter and may turn brown
• Offers poor shade tolerance
• Needs high maintenance

If you don’t mind a dormant or brown lawn during winter, consider planting the Bermuda grass for your front lawn or backyard.

Zoysia Grass

The Zoysia grass is known for thriving in various conditions, making it ideal for the Midwest’s climate.

In an optimal environment, this warm-season grass delivers a dense and beautiful lawn, while being easy to maintain.

Some reasons homes and commercial spaces plant Zoysia grass include:

• Withstands heavy foot traffic
• Thrives in cold and warm conditions
• Has low maintenance requirements
• Resists wear and tear
• Has good shade tolerance

On the other hand, some downsides to note include:

• Challenging to establish
• May not tolerate extreme cold conditions

Although the Zoysia grass is versatile, consider your lawn goals and needs first before choosing to plant this warm-season grass.

What Is the Best Grass for Midwest Lawns?

Fescues, ryegrass, and the Kentucky bluegrass are the best types of grass for the Midwest.

Generally, cold-season grasses are better than warm-season grass types for this region.

However, warm-season grasses like the Bermuda and Zoysia may thrive in Kansas and other Midwest states with proper care.

How to Choose the Right Grass Types for Your Lawn

If you’re unsure which grass types to plant on your lawn, consider the following methods and factors before choosing a variant.

1. Determine Your Purpose: What is the lawn’s function? If it’s for high traffic, get a durable grass variety. If it’s for aesthetics, consider fine-textured grasses.
2. Know Your Climate: Get grass that can thrive in the Midwest’s cold winters and warm summers. Since climates vary in the Midwest, know your city or area’s condition.
3. Identify Your Soil Type: Test the soil and pH level before choosing a grass variant. Different grasses thrive in various soil types.
4. Consider the Sunlight Level: Will the grasses be under the shade or sun? Fine fescues grow well in shaded areas, while perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass thrive in sunny areas.
5. Maintenance Requirements: Choose if you prefer low-maintenance grass or if you can handle a high-maintenance variety.

Keep Your Lawn in Top Shape with SunCo!

Maintaining green lawn grasses can be challenging, whether it’s a residential or commercial lawn.

If you need help fertilizing and removing weeds in the grass, consider seeking professional help.

SunCo offers various lawn care services for homes and commercial establishments in the Midwest.

These services range from plant health care to sprinkler installation.

If you have concerns with your lawn or questions about our services, our team is ready to help you.

Contact our experts today!