Warm Season Vs. Cool Season Grass: Which is Right for My Northeast OH Property

Your lawn is a key part of your property. It’s like the frame around a great photo. It enhances your curb appeal and provides a lovely place to relax and play outdoors. 

Your goal is to keep your Northeast Ohio lawn growing healthy and thick, perfect for parties, hanging out, or just lounging in the sunshine. And it should also be great for throwing the ball around with your kids or playing fetch with your dog. 

While you’re looking at your grass and maybe filling in some bare spots, you might be wondering what type of grass you actually have. And you might be asking yourself, “What is the best grass for Northeast Ohio?” 

Even if you don’t have the answers yet, asking the question is important. Understanding what type of grass you should have and the differences between cool- and warm-season grasses can help you better care for your lawn and troubleshoot problems. 

Let’s look at cool-season grasses vs. warm-season grasses, so you can find out what works best for your lawn. 

Cool-Season Grasses Vs. Warm-Season Grasses: Key Differences 

Across the United States, different grass species grow in different regions based on the local climates and growing conditions that suit them best. Growing a certain grass species in a region that doesn’t suit it will make it much harder to keep that lawn healthy and looking good. 

There are two key types of grass types, as well as a transitional zone grass: cool- and warm-season grasses. 

Cool-Season Grasses

Cool-season grasses grow well in northern states or, more specifically, the upper two-thirds of the U.S. These areas include New England, the Upper Midwest, High Plains, Northern California, and the Pacific Northwest. 

Cool-season vs. warm-season grasses push top growth as temperatures warm up in March through June, and then they grow roots as the weather starts to cool again from September through October. Once the soil freezes, cool-season grasses go dormant. 

Some cool-season grasses you may have heard of include Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue. 

Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses, on the other hand, like the weather conditions in the southern states where the air is salty and the soil is sandier. These areas are the Gulf states, Southern Atlantic coastline, and Southern California. These lawns thrive in temperatures between 75 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The difference between cool-season vs. warm-season grasses is that warm-season lawns work better in sandier soils and have better drought tolerance. They can also handle traffic pretty well. But these grasses do not like the cold. This means if temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, these lawns turn brown. 

Some species of warm-season grasses include St. Augustine grass, Bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass, and bahiagrass.  

Transition Zone Grasses

The transition zone is the middle-third of the country. Like the middle seat on an airplane, this zone usually presents more challenges when it comes to grass.

The transition zone is where the difference between cool season vs. warm season grasses matters a little less because they overlap. These areas are neither perfect for all cool-season grasses or all warm-season grasses because summers get too hot and winters get too cold. 

In these regions, you have to work with grasses that are on the fringes of the cool-season vs. warm-season grasses, making it a little more difficult to find the perfect match.

Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season Grasses in Northeast Ohio 

What is the best grass for Northeast Ohio? You guessed it: cool-season grasses. 

When it comes to cool and warm-season grasses, you want to opt for a mix of cool-season grasses in this area. 

We at Turf Pride suggest a mix of 80% turf-type tall fescue, 10% Kentucky bluegrass, and 10% perennial ryegrass. 

Turf-type tall fescue is very wear-resistant, as well as heat-, drought-, and shade-tolerant. It doesn’t require super high amounts of maintenance compared to other grasses that may brown more quickly in summer. This grass is deep green in color and thickens up fairly quickly, taking approximately 10 to 14 days to germinate. 

Kentucky bluegrass is a fine-textured, high-quality grass that grows great in full sun, as well as in a bit of shade. It can fill in bare spots, but takes about 10 to 21 days or more to thicken up. This grass can also stand up to Ohio’s freezing temperatures. 

Perennial ryegrass has a fine texture and can germinate in as little as 3 to 5 days, making it a good pairing with turf-type tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass since it will bring some instant green to your home lawn. It’s also cold-, heat-, and drought-tolerant. 

Timing of Seeding With Cool-Season Grasses

When it comes to cool-season vs. warm-season grasses, when you seed your lawn is important, too. 

While you can seed a lawn in spring and fall, fall seeding usually has the edge in Northeast Ohio. This cooler time of year is perfect because the weather conditions are not too cold or too hot, giving new grass seed the best chance to germinate. Once established, grass can then gain strength in spring before summer arrives. 

Cool-Season Vs. Warm-Season Grasses: The Grass Seed You Choose Matters in Northeast Ohio 

Since Northeast Ohio is a cool-season grasses vs. warm-season grasses area, you must choose cool-season grasses to have an optimum lawn. 

As you inspect your lawn and notice some issues like maybe minimal drought tolerance or more wear-and-tear than normal, maybe you find yourself confused at what grass you have and why it’s not performing well.

Let Turf Pride help. You don’t want to find patchy grass or bare spots or issues because you have the wrong grass for your area. You have enough stress on your plate. We can help you understand what grass type you have, what you can do to make your lawn look better, and even help you repair and renovate your lawn so you won’t even recognize it in a short time because you’ll be so impressed with its lovely green color and thickness. 

Our experts are waiting to help you get that lawn of your dreams – one you love spending time in. 

Are the wrong grass varieties keeping you from having a yard you can be proud of in Northeast Ohio? Turf Pride can help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive lawn on the block.