The Best Grass Seed for Michigan Lawns

Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)

• Ironically, Kentucky bluegrass is not native to the U.S., but rather was brought over from Europe. However, today it is one of the more widely used cool-season grasses. Recognizable by its blue-green hue, moderately fine texture and boat-shaped blade tips, this grass prefers full sun and can grow up to 2 feet high when left unmowed, especially in the fall and spring months. Kentucky bluegrass is valued for its rich color and dense turf, but requires consistent maintenance and a fair amount of water. At least 100 different cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass have been developed, and bluegrass lawn seed is usually sold as a mixture of several cultivars.

Fine Fescues (Genus Festuca)

• Fescue grasses are advantageous for their fine texture, their ability to germinate and grow quickly, and their overall resistance to drought, which makes them relatively low-maintenance once they are established. There are several varieties of fescue, with slight differences among them; for example, red creeping fescue is a good self-spreading variety, while hard fescue must be evenly seeded to prevent bald spots. Overall, fescue grasses do best in partial sun, and are more shade-tolerant than other cool-season grasses. Due to their fine texture, they aren't recommended for high foot-traffic areas. Fescue is often sold in a mix with other grasses, like rye.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

• This cool-season grass is known for its deep green color and durability; it is optimal for high-traffic areas and lawns where children play. It also establishes itself quickly and is thus weed-resistant. The trade-off is that as a grass type, it is fairly high-maintenance and drought- and heat-sensitive. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Perennial ryegrass as a species is more suited for coastal areas where temperatures are moderate; however, for Michigan lawns, it does well as a blend of several cultivars or in a mix with other cool-season grasses. Perennial ryegrass should not be confused with annual species of ryegrass, which last only a year and are primarily used in overseeding existing lawns.