Perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, Bermudagrass, and Zoysiagrass perform best in Middle Tennesseeโs hot summers and cold winters.
These grasses vary in their ability to withstand shade, drought, and foot traffic. Itโs important to understand this to choose the right type for your needs and preferences.
Perennial ryegrass: Establishes quickly
Perennial ryegrass isnโt as winter-hardy as other cool-season grasses, but thatโs not an issue here in Middle Tennessee because the temperatures usually stay in the 40s, even in winter. This cool-season grass germinates quickly within seven days and has fine-textured, dark green leaves but looks patchy. It grows vigorously in spring and fall.
This grass grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. It withstands high-foot traffic but canโt self-repair because itโs bunch-forming. Perennial ryegrass requires regular watering to thrive. We recommend overseeding this cool-season grass with Kentucky bluegrass at a 75:25 ratio to give your lawn a denser appearance.
Check out our guide for more on growing perennial ryegrass.
| Pros | Cons |
| โ Germinates quickly โ Handles heavy foot traffic โ Resists thatch buildup โ Feels soft underfoot โ Low mowing requirements | โ Looks patchy โ Doesnโt tolerate shade โ Poor ability to recover from damages โ Prone to diseases and insects โ Spreads slowly |
Grass Seed Options:
โ Outsidepride Perennial Ryegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
โ Eretz ProTurf Perennial Ryegrass Fine Lawn Seed (choose your size)
Kentucky bluegrass: Best for cold weather
From Nashville to Franklin to Brentwood, Kentucky bluegrass performs well throughout Middle Tennessee. This cool-season grass looks beautiful with its medium-fine textured, dark green leaves and grows vigorously in spring and fall.
This grass thrives in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes, so itโs durable and can self-repair. The weather can get hot in Middle Tennessee, so water your grass regularly to keep it green.
Check out our guide for more on growing Kentucky bluegrass.
| Pros | Cons |
| โ Looks beautiful โ Withstands foot traffic โ Excellent ability to self-repair โ Soft underfoot โ Spreads quickly | โ Requires frequent watering and fertilization โ Doesnโt tolerate shade โ Prone to thatch buildup, diseases, and pests โ Takes longer to germinate |
Grass Seed Options:
โ Jonathan Green (11970) Blue Panther Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed (3 lbs.)
โ SeedRanch Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (5 lbs.)
Fine fescue: Low-maintenance
Fine fescue is a group of five different fine-textured, medium-green grasses: Chewings fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue, slender creeping red fescue, and strong creeping red fescue. These cool-season grasses are easy to maintain and perform well in the humid subtropical climate of East Tennessee. Fine fescues look beautiful with their fine, needle-like, dark green leaves.
If you have large trees in your yard, fine fescues should be your go-to choice because they can survive with just four hours of dappled sunlight. Fine fescues, except creeping red fescue, donโt withstand high-foot traffic and canโt self-repair.
Check out our guide for more on growing fine fescue.
| Pros | Cons |
| โ Looks beautiful โ Germinates quickly โ Resists shade โ Withstands drought โ Soft underfoot โ Low fertilizer and maintenance needs | โ Poor ability to recover from damages โ Spreads slowly โ Susceptible to diseases and pests โ Not resilient to foot traffic |
Grass Seed Options:
โ Outsidepride Legacy Fine Fescue Grass Seed (5 lbs.)
โ Eretz Creeping Red Fine Fescue Seed (choose your size)
โ Outsidepride Creeping Red Fine Fescue Grass Seed (25 lbs.)
Tall fescue: Handles heat
Tall fescue handles heat better than other cool-season grasses, making it an excellent choice for Middle Tennessee, where average summer temperatures hover in the 80s. This grass looks beautiful with medium to dark green leaves but grows patchy, which you can fix by overseeding with Kentucky bluegrass at a 50:50 ratio.
This cool-season grass withstands foot traffic relatively well but canโt self-repair because itโs bunch-forming. Tall fescue grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. This grass has an extensive root system, so it resists drought exceptionally well.
Check out our guide for more about growing tall fescue.
| Pros | Cons |
| โ Germinates quickly โ Withstands foot traffic โ Resists thatch buildup โ Withstands drought โ Resists shade โ Resists diseases | โ Looks patchy โ Poor ability to recover from damages โ Requires frequent mowing โ Spreads slowly |
Grass Seed Options:
โ Triple-Play Tall Fescue Grass Seed Blend (5000 sq ft)
โ Eretz Kentucky 31 K31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed (choose your size)
โ Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix (7 lb.)
Bermudagrass: Handles heavy traffic
From Bedford to Maury to Montgomery counties, Bermudagrass is a popular choice throughout Middle Tennessee. This warm-season grass spreads by rhizomes, so it withstands heavy foot traffic exceptionally well and quickly recovers from damage. It looks beautiful with medium-green leaves and grows vigorously from late spring to summer.
Bermudagrass grows best in full sun and requires regular watering. It goes dormant during winter, but you can overseed it with annual ryegrass at a 75:25 ratio to keep your lawn green.
Check out our guide for more on growing Bermudagrass.
| Pros | Cons |
| โ Looks beautiful โ Germinates quickly โ Spreads quickly โ Withstands foot traffic โ Excellent ability to self-repair โ Resists drought โ Resists diseases | โ Loses its color during winter โ Doesnโt tolerate shade โ Susceptible to pests โ Coarse texture โ Requires frequent mowing and fertilization |
Grass Seed Options:
โ Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass (10-lb. bag)
โ Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass (50-lb. bag)
Zoysiagrass: Resists diseases well
Zoysiagrass is an excellent choice for regions in the transition zone like Middle Tennessee because it withstands cold better than other warm-season grasses. This grass resists common lawn diseases like dollar spot and brown patch. It looks beautiful with emerald-green blades and grows vigorously from late spring to summer.
If you use your lawn extensively, we recommend avoiding this grass because it takes time to recover from damage, though it spreads by rhizomes. Zoysiagrass grows best in full sun but can withstand partial shade. Be sure to water your grass regularly to keep it in good shape.
Check out our guide for more on growing Zoysiagrass.
| Pros | Cons |
| โ Looks beautiful โ Germinates quickly โ Withstands drought โ Soft underfoot โ Low fertilizer and maintenance needs โ Resists diseases and insects | โ Loses its color during winter โ Takes time to self-repair โ Spreads slowly |
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
โ Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
โ Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
โ Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
โ Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
More Lawn Care and Landscaping Resources for Middle Tennessee:
- Best Grass Types for Nashville
- When to Aerate Your Lawn in Tennessee
- When to Plant Clover in Tennessee
- When to Apply Pre-Emergent in Tennessee
- Common Weeds in Middle Tennessee
When to hire a professional
Both warm- and cool-season grasses perform well in Middle Tennesseeโs hot summers and cold winters. If you need help choosing the right grass or with anything related to lawn maintenance, get in touch with Lawn Love. Our pros can transform your yard from ordinary to extraordinary.
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Main Image Credit: Mitchell House / Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
