Know Your Lawn Grass
Primary Lawn Grass Species for Northern Illinois
Kentucky bluegrass is the major lawn species of northern Illinois and prefers full sun.
Kentucky bluegrass is by far the most popular species used in home lawns in northern Illinois, due to high quality appearance, hardiness, and recovery ability. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes. Most cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass require moderate to high levels of maintenance (such as fertilizing and watering) to maintain high quality. Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun, although a few cultivars have tolerance to light shade. Kentucky bluegrass is slow to establish by seed, and is also readily available as sod.
Fine fescues require less maintenance and many adapt to shade. The fine fescues include red and chewings fescues, sheep fescue, and hard fescue. Leaf width is narrow, and most are bunch-type grasses (red fescues have weak rhizomes). Wear tolerance (such as foot traffic) and recovery ability of the fine fescues is fair. Maintenance levels are generally low, especially fertilizer needs, and fine fescues may decline in full sun when mowed frequently. Fine fescues are seeded.
Perennial ryegrass offers quick establishment and good wear tolerance. Perennial ryegrass is a bunch-type grass with quality very similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Maintenance needs are moderate to high. Perennial ryegrass is not suggested to be used alone as a lawn grass; but as part of a lawn seed mixture instead.
These lawn species are cool-season grasses, growing most actively in spring and fall.
