Grasses used in Iowa generally consist of bluegrass or bluegrass mixtures.
Cool-Season Grasses: Kentucky bluegrass - This is the most popular turfgrass of all cool-season grasses in the upper Midwest region. Its attributes are a nice medium leaf texture, dark green color, aggressive spreading growth habit, and pretty good tolerance to most environmental conditions except shade. There are hundreds of different cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass to choose from, some being selected for more shade tolerance, ability to take a lower mowing height, more disease or drought tolerance, and preferred texture or color of the leaf. It is best to blend three or four different Kentucky bluegrass cultivars together to maximize the desirable traits of each and to mask any undesirable traits.
Perennial ryegrass - This turf is a bunch-type turf that does not have the ability to spread like Kentucky bluegrass. It is also a shorter lived perennial in our climate thus it should be overseeded every few years if planted in a monostand. Its attributes are a very rapid establishment rate, nice medium leaf texture, good color, and high wear resistance. Perennial ryegrass is useful in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass to control erosion until the Kentucky bluegrass can get established.
Fine fescues - This is the most shade tolerant of the cool-season turfgrasses. Consequently fine fescues are popular in shade seed mixtures with other turfgrass, especially Kentucky bluegrass. Fine fescues also require less fertilizer and irrigation than most other cool-season turfs. However, it is less wear tolerant than most other cool-season turfs. Red fescue is the most widely used of the fine fescues since it is the only one that spreads by rhizomes although not very aggressively. The other fine fescues; sheeps, hard, and chewings are strictly bunch grasses. A blend of several of the fine fescues is sometimes marketed under such names as "No-Mow" or "Carefree." Contrary to the name this turf should be mowed every several weeks to maintain a dense stand of grass. Unmowed it will attain a height of 12 - 14 inches and thin out or die after a few years.
Tall fescue - Turf Type - This is more of a utility grass with a little wider leaf blade than other cool season turfs. Many of the new cultivars look finer and more desirable. Many varieties are non-spreading bunch-type grass that may need overseeding to keep a dense appearance. New turf type fescue are rhizomatous like bluegrass and will help maintain a dense turf. The attributes of tall fescue are it's good drought, wear and salt tolerance. It also has pretty good heat and shade tolerance.
Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass is the most Popular Blue Grass In America. The images above of Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass from customers and aroundtheyard.com illustrate how beautiful Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass is. It is a unique compact-type variety grown in the plush Willamette Valley in Oregon to be distributed across the United States. Maintains a dark green color with good drought tolerance and a dwarf growth habit.
Dark Green Color
Lawns
Cost Efficient
USDA ZONE MAP
Below is the USDA Zone Map for Iowa so you can determine which zone you reside in. Below that are our picks for your state which will do best in your area. Next on this page are tables which list various grasses and their characteristics so you can compare before you decide on your purchase. Click on the product name (ie. Midnight) for more information about that grass and to make your purchase.
USDA Zone Map For Iowa
Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics
Cool Season Grasses
Leaf Texture
Establish Rate
Nitrogen Use
Water Use
Drought Tolerance
Salinity Tolerance
Shade Tolerance
Bentgrass - Creeping
Fine
Moderate to Fast
Low to Moderate
High
Poor to Moderate
High
Poor to Moderate
Bentgrass - Colonial
Fine
Moderate to Fast
Low
Moderate
Poor to Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Bluegrass - Kentucky
Moderate to Fine
Slow
Moderate to High
Moderate to High
Good
Moderate
Poor
Bluegrass - Rough
Moderate to Fine
Slow
Moderate to High
Moderate to High
Poor
Moderate
Excellent
Fescue - Chewings
Fine
Moderate
Moderate to Low
Moderate
Good to Excellent
Low
Excellent
Fescue - Hard
Fine
Slow to Moderate
Low to Very Low
Moderate
Excellent
Low to Moderate
Excellent
Fescue - Creeping
Fine
Moderate
Low to Moderate
Moderate
Good
Low
Excellent
Fescue - Turf Type
Moderate to Coarse
Moderate
Moderate to High
Low to Moderate
Excellent
Low
Good to Excellent
Ryegrass - Perennial
Fine to Moderate
Very Fast
Moderate to High
Moderate to High
Good
Poor to Moderate
Poor to Moderate
Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics - Continued
