Best Grass Seed for Ohio | Outsidepride

Ohio state flag

Best Grass Seed for Ohio

With cool winters and mild to warm summers, Ohio lawns do best with cool-season grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue. Plant these seeds in late summer or early fall when warm soil temperatures and cooler air create ideal growing conditions. Below you’ll find tips for selecting your ideal Ohio seed based on your USDA Zone, amount of sun exposure, and soil conditions.

Best Cool Season Grass Seeds for Ohio

Best Grass Seed for Northern & Southern Ohio

Where you live in Ohio makes a difference in terms of which grass seed will work best. The northern part of the state has a cooler climate thanks to its proximity to Lake Erie, while Southern Ohio has hotter summers and a longer growing season. The best grass seed for Northern Ohio residents is Kentucky bluegrass, mixed with perennial ryegrass seed. The best grass seed for Southern Ohio is a high-quality turf-type tall fescue that can stand up to high heat and drought conditions.

All Options for Ohio

Grass Seed Choice   Type Applications
Cool Season Mix - Showtime Showtime Mix Cool Season Lawns - Full Sun to Moderate Shade
Rye, Kentucky Bluegrass, Fine Fescue Mix
Fescue/Bluegrass Mix - Combat Extreme North Combat Extreme North Cool Season Lawns - Wear Tolerant
Fescue Blend - Combat Extreme Transition Combat Extreme Transition Cool Season Lawns - Wear Tolerant
Fine Fescue Blend - Legacy Legacy Fine Fescue Cool Season Lawns - Full Sun To Moderate Shade
Kentucky Bluegrass - Bluegrass Supreme Bluegrass Supreme Cool Season Lawns - Golf Courses - Full Sun
Kentucky Bluegrass - Midnight Midnight Bluegrass Cool Season Lawns - Golf Courses - Full Sun
OSP Ryegrass OSP Ryegrass Cool Season Lawns - Golf Courses
Shade Grass - Poa Supina Mix Poa Supina Mix Cool Season Lawns - Full Sun - Deep Shade - Best Shade Grass

Ohio Seeds by USDA Zone

Most of Ohio falls into Zones 6a and 6b on the USDA Plant Hardiness Map. Find the best grass seed for Ohio lawns based on where you live using the information below.

Zone 6a

This area covers most of northern and part of central Ohio, including Toledo, Akron, and inland Cleveland. If you live in this zone, you’ll get the best year-round performance from a blend of grass seeds, including turf-type tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.

Zone 6b

For homeowners in central and southern Ohio, including major cities like Columbus and Cincinnati, choose turf-type tall fescue or fine fescue for shadier areas.

Ohio Grass Seed USDA Zone Map Ohio USDA Zone Colors

Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics

Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics
Cool Season
Grasses
Leaf
Texture
Establish
Rate
Nitrogen
Use
Water
Use
Drought
Tolerance
Salinity
Tolerance
Shade
Tolerance
Bluegrass - Kentucky Moderate
to Fine
Slow Moderate
to High
Moderate
to High
Good Moderate Poor
Bluegrass - Rough Moderate
to Fine
Slow Moderate
to High
Moderate
to High
Poor Moderate Excellent
Fescue - Hard Fine Slow to
Moderate
Low to
Very Low
Moderate Excellent Low to
Moderate
Excellent
Fescue - Creeping Fine Moderate Low to
Moderate
Moderate Good Low Excellent
Fescue - Turf Type Moderate
to Coarse
Moderate Moderate
to High
Low to
Moderate
Excellent Low Good to
Excellent
Ryegrass - Perennial Fine to
Moderate
Very Fast Moderate
to High
Moderate
to High
Good Poor to
Moderate
Poor to
Moderate
Warm Season
Grasses
Leaf
Texture
Establish
Rate
Nitrogen
Use
Water
Use
Drought
Tolerance
Salinity
Tolerance
Shade
Tolerance
Blue Grama Fine
to Moderate
Slow to
Moderate
Low Low Excellent Moderate Very Poor
Buffalograss Moderate
to Coarse
Slow to
Moderate
Low Low Excellent Moderate Very Poor
Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics - Continued
Cool Season
Grasses
Fertility
Needs
Wear
Resistance
Mowing
Height
Cold
Tolerance
Acid Soil
Tolerance
Thatching
Tendency
Heat
Tolerance
Bluegrass - Kentucky Medium Medium
to High
Medium High Medium Medium Medium
Bluegrass - Rough Medium Medium Medium High Medium Medium Medium
Fescue - Hard Low Low Medium Medium
to High
Medium
to High
Low to
Medium
Low to
Medium
Fescue - Turf Type Low to
Medium
Medium
to High
Medium
to High
Medium High Low High
Ryegrass - Perennial Medium High Low to
Medium
Medium Medium Low Medium
to High
Warm Season
Grasses
Fertility
Needs
Wear
Resistance
Mowing
Height
Cold
Tolerance
Acid Soil
Tolerance
Thatching
Tendency
Heat
Tolerance
Blue Grama Low Low High High Low Low High
Buffalograss Low Low High High Low Low High