Grasses used in Nebraska consist of cool-season grasses (Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Fine Fescues,) are the norm throughout Nebraska with the exception of the southern parts of the state where Bermuda, zoysia and some native grasses such as Buffalo grass are common. Buffalo grass would be the best grass for a lawn in areas of 15 inches or less rainfall a year.
Cool-Season Grasses: Kentucky bluegrass - The use of Kentucky bluegrass should be limited to the cooler parts of Nebraska. Unlike perennial ryegrass, which is a bunch type turfgrass, Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes and withstands moderate traffic. Because of the rhizomes, Kentucky bluegrass recuperates well from wear injury. On athletic fields, it can be used in mixtures with perennial ryegrass and/or tall fescue.
Fine fescues - Fine Fescue is a shade tolerant turf grass with a medium to dark green color. Adapted to the Pacific Northwest, Fine Fescue grows best in cool humid regions, coastal regions and in high elevations. All varieties require little maintenance and like to be mowed at 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. They have the finest leaves, the most shade tolerance and the lowest fertilizer, mowing and moisture requirements of all the cool season turf grasses. Chewings Fescue, Red Fescue, Creeping Red Fescue, Sheep Fescue and Hard Fescue are popular varieties of Fine Fescue. These varieties can be found on lawns, in parks, along road sides and other turf grass areas and extensively used in grass seed blends and mixes for both sunny and shady areas. Fine Fescues are not recommended for sports fields and golf tees because they have a low wear tolerance. Most of these varieties have all the same characteristics. Chewings Fescue has a noncreeping, bunch-type growth habit unlike Red Fescue. All varieties germinate rapidly and are well adapted to poor, dry, sandy soils.
Tall fescue - Turf Type - Due to its heat and drought tolerance, it is a good general purpose turfgrass for Nebraska. Tall fescue is a tall-growing, coarse- to medium-textured, bunch-type turfgrass that can be established by seed or sod. Tall fescue resists heavy wear and high temperatures. When adequately irrigated, it can be grown successfully in all parts of Nebraska.
Perennial ryegrass - Improved and newly released varieties of perennial ryegrass are well adapted to most of Nebraska and thus their use has increased greatly. These varieties establish quickly and provide, good cold tolerance and winter color, but only adequate heat tolerance. Even when irrigated heavily, summers in southern Nebraska can be too hot for perennial ryegrass to survive.
Warm-Season Grasses: Bermuda Grass - Bermudagrass is the species most adapted to and most frequently used in the lower elevations of southern Nebraska. Many new and improved seeded varieties have been developed and released during the last 10 years. Users now have a choice of varieties that are denser and finer textured than the almost extinct seed of common bermudagrass. Bermudagrass spreads aggressively by stolons (aboveground runners) and rhizomes (below ground runners) and can become a nuisance when it invades flower beds and gardens. Bermuda grass can be grown successfully in some cities south of the Platte.
Buffalograss - This species is more drought tolerant and can be sustained on moderately less water compared with bermudagrass. Improved seeded buffalograsses are now available. They are denser and of higher quality (more attractive) than the older, dual-purpose forage varieties yet not as dense as traditional lawn grasses. Special care must be taken during establishment, especially in weed control.
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.
This Buffalo grass blend is comprised of two leading Buffalo grass cultivars on the market today and is designed to create a better turf density. Buffalo grass seed can be used for natural looking golf course roughs, roadside plantings, airport landscaping, parkland, and of course home lawn where low maintenance is desired. Supreme Buffalo grass seed is a great choice for creating a natural turf that requires few inputs and is easy-to-maintain.
6 inches tall
Lawns
Low maintainence
USDA ZONE MAP
Below is the USDA Zone Map for Nebraska 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 Nebraska
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 - 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
Warm Season Grasses
Leaf Texture
Establish Rate
Nitrogen Use
Water Use
Drought Tolerance
Salinity Tolerance
Shade Tolerance
Bermudagrass
Fine to Moderate
Moderate to Fast
Moderate
Moderate to High
Excellent
Very Good
Poor
Buffalograss
Moderate to Coarse
Slow to Moderate
Low
Low
Excellent
Moderate
Very Poor
Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics - Continued
