Western Kentucky is the warmest part of the state, where warm-season grasses adapt well. The best grass seeds for the hot, humid summers and mild winters of western Kentucky are tall fescue, Zoysiagrass, and Bermudagrass.
Here we’ll focus on the best grasses for western Kentucky, from LaRue County to the far west parts of the state. To find the best grasses for other parts of the state, read our article Best Grass Seed for Kentucky.
In this article, we’ll dive into each of these grasses, and why they are a good choice for your lawn’s conditions:
Tall Fescue
Photo Credit: Aaron J. Patton, Ph.D. / Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University
Commonly used in home lawns, tall fescue is the go-to cool-season turf in Kentucky. With good heat tolerance, tall fescue adapts to all parts of Kentucky, including western Kentucky (where other cool-season grasses may struggle).
A dense stand of tall fescue is very competitive with weeds due to this grass’s fast growth. On the other hand, tall fescue is susceptible to brown patch during hot and wet summers. It has moderate maintenance needs and requires frequent mowing. Learn what goes into the care of this turf in our Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Guide.
Best tall fescue cultivars for Kentucky:
- Grade 3
- Firebird 2
- Hemi
- Bizem
- Catalyst
- Regenerate
- Falcon IV
- Falcon V
- Fesnova
- Bullseye
- Terrano
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.)
Zoysiagrass
Western Kentucky is the warmest part of the state, where warm-season grasses can thrive. Although Zoysiagrass is not a popular choice, it can adapt very well in western Kentucky. Once established, Zoysia is very persistent. It withstands the summer heat, droughts, foot traffic, and some shade (and is competitive against common lawn weeds).
Zoysiagrass, however, has a long dormancy period in Kentucky, from October up until April. This can be an advantage or a downside depending on your preference: While you won’t have to mow during this period, it gets a straw-brown color that might be unappealing.
See how to care for your Zoysia lawn in our article Growing Zoysiagrass: Everything You Need to Know.
Best Zoysiagrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Zorro
- Innovation
- Meyer
- Zenith
- Shadow Turf
- Trinity
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zoysia Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
Bermudagrass
Common Bermudagrass grows naturally in Kentucky, acting as an invasive weed in many home lawns. However, due to its hardiness and low maintenance needs, it becomes a great option for homeowners searching for practical and drought-resistant turf.
Bermudagrass is best suited in full sun areas, being sensitive to cold temperatures and winterkill. Like Zoysiagrass, it remains dormant from October through April. Learn how to care for Bermudagrass in our Bermudagrass Guide: Types, Traits, and Care.
Best Bermudagrass cultivars for Kentucky:
- Tahoma 31 (sod, sprigs, or plugs)
- Latitude 36 (sod, sprigs, or plugs)
- Northbridge (sod, sprigs, or plugs)
- Monaco (seed)
- Arden 15 (seed)
- Rio (seed)
- Yukon (seed)
Grass Seed Options:
– Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass (10-lb. bag)
– Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass (50-lb. bag)
When to Call a Pro
Are you tired of handling lawn care on your own? Are lawn care tasks draining and boring to you? If this is the case, know that you can contact a Kentucky lawn care pro. We have qualified pros in Hopkinsville and throughout the state. A trusted pro can deal with the boring part while you get only the good one: enjoying your beautiful, lush lawn.
Source:
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Main Image Credit: E.H. Higgins House / Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
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