Our Top Selections – Although Kentucky bluegrass is an ideal choice for cool-season lawns in the north, it can be slow to establish, so consumers may want to select a seed product that contains multiple seed varieties or coated seeds. As diverse as individual gardens are, so too are growing requirements.
The following varieties of Kentucky bluegrass seed are ideal for establishing new lawns or overseeding existing ones. Photo: amazon.com This grass seed from Scotts is designed to establish healthy Kentucky bluegrass lawns. This variety produces soft, fine grass blades that thrive in direct sunlight but can tolerate light shade as well.
The seed is also naturally resistant to slight drought and heavy foot traffic. Scotts bluegrass seed mix features their 4-in-1 coating technology, which helps keep the seeds moist during germination, protects against disease, and provides young sprouts with fertilizer to accelerate their growth.
- This product contains only coated bluegrass seed—no other seed varieties are included—and a 3-pound bag can cover up to 2,000 square feet.
- Photo: amazon.com Those seeking a dark green lawn with a hint of blue need not continue their search.
- This variety of uncoated bluegrass was developed in Oregon for its deep color, soft and compact growth pattern, and resistance to heavy foot traffic.
This is a bluegrass-only seed, but it can be mixed with red fescue or perennial ryegrass seeds if additional seed variety is desired. As with all bluegrasses, Midnight thrives in cool climates but can withstand moderate heat. Its short growth habit needs minimal mowing to maintain its appearance, and it thrives in sandy, clay, and loamy soil types.
The manufacturer advises applying 3 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet each 5-pound bag. Photo: amazon.com With a superior blend of Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, and perennial rye seeds, Pennington’s seed mixture is ideal for both sunny and shaded areas of northern lawns. For vigorous, healthy development, the grass seeds are covered to assist retain moisture and supply nutrients to the sprouts as soon as they germinate.
This Pennington product is the ideal choice for gardeners who like the lush appearance and feel of bluegrass combined with the early germination and shade tolerance of fescue and ryegrass. A single 20-pound bag is sufficient for sowing up to 5,000 square feet.
Photo: amazon.com This mixture of fescue and bluegrass seeds can be used to seed lawns in places where summer temperatures average about 80 degrees. The covering of the seed absorbs and maintains moisture, preventing the seeds from drying out before to germination. In addition to providing nutrition to early sprouts, it contains antifungal chemicals to lower the likelihood of fungal illness.
Scotts provides a rich, dark green grass that can handle foot activity and is very resistant to drought for a whole-yard seed solution that requires no further treatments when sowing. A 20-pound package may sow approximately 5,000 square feet. Photo: amazon.com This 50-pound package of 100 percent bluegrass seed is sufficient for a lawn of up to 20,000 square feet.
It has been designed to withstand significant foot traffic and to resist sickness. The uncoated seeds are a mixture of low-growing bluegrass cultivars to provide the farmer with a well-balanced lawn that can withstand mild drought and light shade. The suggested application rate is only 2.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet, so a little goes a long way with this product.
When establishing a new lawn, the manufacturer recommends a seed-starting fertilizer. Photo: amazon.com It is not necessary to spend a million to cultivate a bluegrass lawn. Greenview’s inexpensive bluegrass seeds are of superior quality. The product is uncoated and comes in a 3-pound bag, making it suited for overseeding an existing grass up to 3,000 square feet or seeding a new lawn up to 1,500 square feet. 
Will Kentucky bluegrass ultimately supplant other grasses?
Would Kentucky Bluegrass Suffocate Fescue? – Because Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescues cohabit so well, it is doubtful that one will suffocate the other. The fescues will flourish in the shaded areas of your yard, while the bluegrass will fill in damaged areas of grass.
- The two grass species will cohabit.
- Entucky Bluegrass will not likely suffocate Fescue.
- Fescues are more tolerant to shade and higher temperatures than Bluegrass.
- Bluegrass fills in barren patches and grows more vigorously when temps are colder.
- Due to the fact that Fescues and Bluegrass grow in slightly different environments and seasons, it is doubtful that one would eradicate the other.
Instead, they will balance each other out, with each gaining while the other loses ground.
A 5-pound bag may cover up to 1,050 square feet when overseeding an existing grass, and 415 square feet when establishing a new lawn. We are the only large grass seed firm that works directly with a network of devoted producers, as opposed to purchasing seed from the open market.
- Our connections with seed producers and their families transcend many generations and are based on decades of trust and honesty.
- Working directly with farmers to provide you with the highest quality grass seed ensures both their and our success.
- Pennington is familiar with its seed and the farmers that cultivate it.
From the farm to the finished product, this is the Pennington method.10lb bag 20lb bag 3lb bag 40lb bag 50lb bag 5lb bag 7lb bag Seeding Rates: 
New Lawns: 12 pounds per 1,000 square feet Overseeding: 5 lbs/1,000 sq foot Plant no deeper than 1/4 inch.8 to 21 days are needed for germination Mowing Height: 3 inches Zones for Planting: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I Step 1: Prepare For Bare Areas And New Grass: Remove rubbish, then rake the top layer of dirt to loosen and smooth it.
For Overseeding/Thin Areas: Mow existing grass as short as feasible, then remove trash. Then, scrape the top layer of dirt to loosen and smooth it. Step 2: Fertilizer Application Step 3: Plant Seeds Step 4: Water Apply a beginning fertilizer at the rate advised by the manufacturer. Spread the seed uniformly using a drop, rotary, or handheld spreader using the settings indicated by the manufacturer.
To incorporate seed and fertilizer into the soil, rake lightly. Keep the soil wet by watering regularly as needed until the grass reaches a height of approximately 3 inches: Kentucky Tall Fescue Grass Seed – 31
What other grass resembles Kentucky bluegrass?
Ryan Adams, Specialist in Horticulture Turfgrass, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach As the Turfgrass Extension Specialist for the state of Iowa, I am frequently asked which species I would recommend for a new low-maintenance lawn. The basic answer is turf-type tall fescue! Tall Fescue is a cool-season grass native to Europe that was imported to North America in the early 1800s.
Tall fescue is gradually gaining popularity in Iowa. It becomes green in mid-spring and retains its color into late autumn. Tall fescue has the strongest resistance to heat, foot traffic, and drought among cool-season grasses. It is well-adapted to damp soils and slightly shady areas, and it is frequently used for low-maintenance lawns.
Tall fescue will develop a deep root system that is resistant to clay and acidic soils. Also having a modest tolerance for cold temperatures, tall fescue is suited for the bulk of Iowa winters below U.S. Highway 20. Medium to dark green in color, tall fescue has a gritty texture.
