The 5 Best Grass Seeds for Tennessee
Whether you just bought a new home, are trying to establish new turf, or you’re just trying to beef up your grass to make it more resistant to pests and disease, it’s important to know which types of grass grow best in our area. There are five common types of grass that are the best grass to grow in Tennessee.
The best types of grass seed for Tennessee are:
Cool-Season vs Warm-Season Grasses
When choosing the best grass seed for your Tennesse lawn, it is important to first understand the difference between cool- and warm-season grasses:
- Cool-season grasses do better in cooler weather and are better suited to withstand longer, harsher winter.
- Warm-season grasses thrive in areas that have a hot summer, but milder winter.
While some states cultivate either cool- or warm-season grasses, Tennesse is actually part of the transitional zone, meaning that summers are too hot for many cool-season grasses, while winters are too cold for many warm-season grasses. Because of this, we actually recommend mixing two different types of seed to help your turf thrive throughout the year.
Fescue
The most common cool-season grass in the state is fescue. It’s well suited for growing in cool, humid regions and not very tolerant to hot summer temperatures. Fescue is a good choice to mix in with warm-season grasses, as it is very tolerant of drought conditions, disease, and traffic from walking and playing.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season grass that’s best adapted for the fall and winter months. It’s favored by homeowners as turfgrass because it retains its beautiful green color for the majority of the year. This grass prefers full sun, so it’s ideal for yards that receive a lot of direct sunlight. Bluegrass is a moderately demanding grass, requiring regular watering. If summers are too hot bluegrass will go dormant, so it’s best to mix in heat-tolerant grasses.
Ryegrass
Ryegrass is the grass of choice for golf courses, parks, and other recreational areas because of its high tolerance to wear and tear. Of all cool-season grasses, this is the toughest but requires more attention than other grasses and is very sensitive to drought. Mix ryegrass into your yard to keep your yard looking green through the cooler months and bolster its strength. Ryegrass is usually overseeded in the winter months for best results.
Bermudagrass
Bermuda grass does the best in full sun as it requires a lot of sunshine to perform at its best. This grass is usually reserved for football fields and golf courses but it has found a place in many Tennessee lawns. It’s great for establishing lawns quickly but can become a nuisance as it tends to overcrowd other grass types. Bermuda grass requires monthly fertilization, frequent irrigation, and due to its fast growth, usually needs to be mowed at least twice per week.
Zoysiagrass
Zoysiagrass is a warm-season grass that does well in moderate light making it perfect for properties with a nice amount of shade from trees. If you don’t like to mow very often then this is the grass type for you. This disease-resistant grass is also durable and can handle quite a bit of traffic. But because it is a slow grower it is also slow to recover.
Get Help From the Professionals
Deciding on a grass type for your lawn is a hard choice, especially if you aren’t sure which type of yard you have. The lawn care experts at 4-EverGreen can help. With our overseeding service, we can get you the yard you’ve always dreamed of. What’s more, we can work with you to create a customized lawn care program that protects your lawn from common lawn pests, diseases, and weeds. Contact us today to learn more!