The Best Grass for Zone 6

Warm-Season Turfgrass

• Warm-season grasses grow most vigorously during the hottest, driest months of summer. They also tend to grow better in dry, poor or low pH soils than cool-season grasses. Garden expert Jerry Baker recommends warm-season species including buffalo, bahia and zoysia for lawns that experience dry conditions. The University of Rhode Island describes zoysia as a “good hot-weather grass on poor soil” and notes that its dense, soft turf prevents weed growth, tolerates traffic and requires less water that many cool-season turfgrasses. For zone 6 lawns, try the cold-hardy Zoysia japonica cultivars Meyer or Emerald.

Cool-Season Turfgrass

• Cool-season turfgrasses grow most vigorously in the cooler temperatures of spring or fall; some even lie dormant during hot summer months. These grasses grow best the following spring when seeded in late summer or fall, between August 25 and October 10. The University of Missouri Extension and the Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension suggest Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass or fescues, such as Chewings, hard or red, for zone 6 yards. The fescues also tolerate drought well, according to Jerry Barker.

Warm-Season Ornamentals

• Unlike turfgrasses, ornamental grasses do not require mowing, as they grow to a maximum size. Warm-season grasses grow most during the hot summer months and often bloom with inflorescences in late summer or fall. The Midwest Gardner includes fountaingrass (Pennisetum alpecuroides) and Japanese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis) on its list of best perennial grasses. Fountain grass is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and grows to 4 feet tall. It has fine green foliage that turns yellow in fall and produces purple and white inflorescences in late summer. Sielberfeder Japanese silver grass is an appropriate cultivar for zone 6. This grass is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and grows up to 8 feet tall. It forms silver, white and pink plumy inflorescences in late summer and has arching, broad foliage.

Cool-Season Ornamentals

• Ornamental grasses grow in a wide range of colors, shapes and forms. They grow most in spring and fall and many species produce colorful inflorescences in early summer.
  The Midwest Gardener includes blue fescue (Festuca glauca) and blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) on its list of best perennial grasses. Blue fescue grows from 6 to 10 inches tall in mounds of thin, light-blue foliage. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Blue oat grass is also hardy in zones 4 to 9. This cool-season grass grows to 2 ½ feet tall in dense, upright clumps of silver-blue fronds. It produces inflorescences in late spring.