Popular Cool Season Grass Seed Varieties

The most frequently planted types of cold season grass seed include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescue. Find your ideal seed by considering your soil conditions, sun exposure, and maintenance requirements.

• Kentucky Bluegrass: Ideal for athletic fields and golf course fairways
• Perennial Ryegrass: Ideal for high-traffic lawns
• Tall Fescue: Ideal for lawn overseeding and erosion control
• Fine Fescue: Ideal for shaded, low-maintenance yards and poor soil

How to Pick a Cool-Season Lawn Seed

With so many different varieties of cold weather grass seed, it can be hard to figure out which is best for your yard. Narrow down your selection by considering how much sun your lawn receives, how quickly the soil drains, and how much foot traffic your yard gets. Knowing your soil type and pH levels can also help you pick the right seed. Often, a cool season grass seed mix or blend will give you the best performance.

What to Know About Planting Cool Climate Grass Seed

When to Plant

For best results, plant cold season grass seed in late Summer or early Fall, when temperatures are a moderate 60–75 degrees F. Early Spring is also an option, as long as air and soil temperatures are suitable.

How to Plant

• Prepare a firm, weed-free planting area and loosen the top layer of soil.
• Spread the grass seed at the recommended rate from the product packaging.
• Lightly rake or roll the seed to help ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
• Keep the soil consistently moist during germination, but avoid letting it become waterlogged.
• Follow the product label for specific planting depth and watering instructions.

Maintaining a Cool Season Lawn

Mowing

For newly seeded yards, wait until the grass reaches 3–4 inches before mowing. Set your mower blade to a height of around 2.5 to 3 inches to avoid yanking out immature root systems. For established lawns, mow the grass to between 2.5–3.5 inches in Spring and Fall. During Summer, mow to 3.5–4 inches to help keep the soil shaded and moist. Never remove more than one-third of the total grass blade height in a single mowing.

Watering

Keep newly seeded soil moist through germination and early establishment. Once the lawn is established, reduce watering frequency according to the product instructions and taking weather into account.

Fertilizing

Each type of cool season lawn seed has different fertilizing needs. A soil test can help determine your lawn’s specific nutrient requirements.

Why Choose Outsidepride for Cool Season Grass Seed?

As a small, family-owned business, we take pride in providing friendly customer service and exceptional product support. Our seed catalog includes many different varieties of cool-season grasses and mixes, so you can find the option that fits your climate and yard conditions. When you purchase from us, you can expect:

• 100% pure seed
• Premium genetics
• High purity percentages
• Low, bulk pricing
• Easy ordering
• Knowledgeable support

FAQs

How long does it take for cool season lawn seed to grow?

Cool season seed takes between 3 and 30 days to germinate, and 8 to 12 weeks to grow into a full, dense lawn.

What is a cool season grass that thrives in partial shade?

The best cool season lawn seeds for partial shade are fine fescue and turf-type tall fescue. Choose from creeping red fescue, hard fescue, Legacy Fine Fescue Mix, and more.

Can you seed grass in Winter?

Yes, grass seed can be planted in Winter. When soil temperatures reach 40 degrees F or lower, you can spread seed and wait until Spring for it to start naturally sprouting. This method of planting is called dormant seeding.

Do grass seeds freeze?

No. Dry, unsprouted, dormant grass seed does not freeze. Once seeds sprout, however, they can die from exposure to frigid temperatures.

Does cool season grass die in Summer?

No. Healthy cool-season grasses do not typically die in the summer. When temperatures reach 85–90 degrees F, these grasses go into a summer dormancy, stalling growth and turning straw brown. The grass is still alive underground, and once temperatures drop in the fall, it will resume growing and green up again.

Have additional questions about cold weather grass seed? Contact us and our expert team can assist.