Southern Illinois is known for its rich soil and humid climate. This combination makes it ideal for growing grass. However, there are some varieties of grass that are best suited for the southern part of the state and they will thrive without much effort from you. I will tell you about these grasses and how to plant them so that you can have a beautiful lawn.
Best Grass Seed for Southern Illinois
Here are the 5 best grass seeds for Southern Illinois:
1. Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is a cool season grass that grows well in areas with cold winters and hot summers. It has medium-fine texture and it is very shade tolerant. It also does not require much water to grow well. However, it tends to be very susceptible to weeds, especially dandelions. To prevent weeds from taking over your yard, you should plant a dense turf of Kentucky bluegrass. You can also use an herbicide to kill the weeds before planting Kentucky bluegrass or apply a pre-emergent herbicide after planting.
2. Centipede Grass Seed
Centipede grass is an excellent choice for Southern Illinois because it tolerates drought conditions well and requires little maintenance once established. This type of grass has a coarse texture and a dark green color that will help keep your lawn looking lush all year long. It also has good shade tolerance, but it will not tolerate heavy shade so you should consider using other types of grasses if your yard suffers from heavy shade.
3. Perennial Rye Grass Seed
Perennial rye grass is another excellent choice for Southern Illinois because it requires very little maintenance once established and it grows well in areas with poor drainage or soils that are prone to erosion due to their sandy nature or heavy clay content. One drawback of perennial rye grass is that it does not do well in high temperatures so you should avoid planting this type of seed in areas where the temperature gets above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months unless you plan on watering it regularly during those times when the temperature gets too high for its liking.
4. Fescue Grass Seed
Fescue grass is another great choice for Southern Illinois because this type of grass thrives in areas with hot summers and cold winters like those found in Southern Illinois, especially fescue varieties such as creeping red fescue and hard fescue (also known as chewings fescue). Fescues have fine textures and they tend to form clumps rather than spreading out like some other types of lawns do which makes them ideal for small yards where space might be limited but having a large lawn area is still desired by the homeowner who lives there. Fescues are also low-maintenance once established but they will require mowing at least twice per month during the summer months since they grow quite tall (up to 3 inches) when temperatures get really hot during the summertime months in Southern Illinois (and everywhere else). Also note that fescues are susceptible to diseases such as leaf spot disease so make sure you take proper precautions when growing this type of grass seed by using fungicides on your lawn once every few weeks during these disease-prone months if needed (noted above).
5. Zoysia Grass Seed
Zoysia grass is another great choice for Southern Illinois because this type of turf grows well in hot climates where temperatures can get up into the 90s during the summer months without being watered regularly (or even at all). Zoysia grass needs plenty of sunlight exposure though so if your yard suffers from heavy shade then zoysia would not be a good choice since it cannot grow under these conditions due to its need for full sun exposure and lack of shade tolerance (which means that zoysia will die quickly under these conditions). Other than its need for full sun exposure, zoysia is quite easy to grow though since it does not require much water or fertilizer once established which makes caring for your new zoysia lawn quick and easy!
Southern Illinois’s Climate & Soil Conditions for Growing Grass
Here are 3 tips (explained in detail) you should know about Southern Illinois’s climate and soil conditions if you’re interested in growing a lawn:
1. Southern Illinois’s climate is hot and humid.
This means that the soil is usually moist enough to grow a lawn without watering it. In addition, you should also know that the soil in Southern Illinois has a high clay content and is very hard to dig up. This makes it difficult to plant grass seeds because they will have difficulty growing through the hard ground.
2. The best time of year to plant grass seeds in Southern Illinois is from October to February.
This is when the weather conditions are ideal for grass seed growth and when there are not too many weeds already growing in your yard. You can also plant grass seeds during the summer months but they will have difficulty growing because of the heat and lack of water in the soil.
3 . Grass Seed Characteristics That Are Suited for Southern Illinois
A good grass seed for Southern Illinois should be able to handle a wide range of growing conditions. It should be able to handle shade, partial shade, full sun and drought. This means that it will grow in most of Southern Illinois’s natural habitats. It should also be able to handle the heat and humidity of Southern Illinois summers as well as the cold winters. This makes it a good all-around grass seed for Southern Illinois lawns . The best grass seed for Southern Illinois will also have resistance to pests . Some common pests in Southern Illinois are chinch bugs, mole crickets, grubs and nematodes .
Tips for Growing Grass in Southern Illinois
Here are tips explained in detail for growing grass in Southern Illinois:
Planting for the season
Southern Illinois has two main seasons: summer, where the weather is usually in triple digits and your lawn will need plenty of water to survive, and winter, when temperatures cool down and many plants go dormant. Specific grass seeds thrive in each season.
Spring: Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue is a great choice for spring planting. This seed can tolerate heat and cold temperatures well and is known for its ability to withstand drought conditions. It also grows quickly so you’ll see results soon after planting.
Summer: Buffalo Turfgrass is recommended for summer planting because it can tolerate heat well and grows slowly, meaning that it doesn’t require much maintenance even after it’s established. Buffalo Turfgrass grows best in sandy soil with low fertility levels.
Fall: Perennial Ryegrass should be planted in fall because it tolerates cold weather well. This seed can also grow on both fertile and infertile soil but it does not do well in hot weather or dry conditions.
When to Plant Grass Seed in Southern Illinois
The best time to plant grass is in the fall. Fall is the best time because grass can establish itself and develop a strong root system before winter. The soil temperature should be between 55-60 degrees F for optimal germination.
If you are unable to plant your grass seed in the fall, spring is the next best time. Spring planting will give your new lawn a head start over other types of grasses that were planted in the summer or during an early fall planting. Spring rains will help to establish your new lawn quickly so it can compete with weeds and other grasses that have already established themselves.
Early summer planting is also possible, but it may be necessary to reseed if warm weather causes your grass seeds to germinate prematurely and then die due to lack of moisture later in the season.
FAQs
When should I plant grass seed in southern Illinois?
In southern Illinois, you can plant grass seed anytime from October through April. In the spring and summer months, you should not plant grass seed because it will not have enough time to grow before winter sets in.
What kind of grass seed is best for southern Illinois?
Southern Illinois has a wide variety of soil types. Therefore, there are many different types of grass seeds that will work well in your yard. However, some varieties do better than others depending on the soil type. For example, Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the most popular varieties of grass seeds in the country because it does well in almost every soil type. It also does well in shady areas and under trees where other varieties may struggle to grow. Another popular variety is Buffalo Grass. This variety also does well under trees and has a more attractive look than Kentucky Bluegrass. If you want to learn more about which types of grass seeds are best for your area, contact us today!
What is the best time to plant grass seed in Illinois?
The best time to plant grass seed in Illinois is from April through July. This is the time when the soil temperature is warm and moist, which allows for optimal germination of your seeds.
What grass grows best in the Midwest?
I have a small lawn that is mostly weeds. I would like to know what grass will grow best in the Midwest. I live in eastern Nebraska. It is dry here and the summers are hot, but we do get some rain during the summer months. The soil is loam and clay with some gravel mixed in. I would appreciate any information you can give me on this subject. Thank you very much for your time!
Grasses are classified as warm season or cool season based on how they grow and thrive. Warm season grasses grow best when temperatures are warmer (above 70 degrees F) and grow slowly when temperatures are cooler (below 70 degrees F). Cool season grasses perform better at cooler temperatures (below 70 degrees F) and may go dormant during the heat of summer, but emerge from dormancy earlier than warm season grasses in spring. Both types of grasses can be grown successfully in many areas of Nebraska, depending on climate zone, soil type, and other factors such as irrigation availability or restrictions.
Cool Season Grasses:
Perennial ryegrass (3-6 weeks) has great germination rates under cool conditions with good seedling vigor, making it ideal for overseeding existing turfgrass into bare spots or thinning out overgrown areas before overseeding with perennial ryegrass for a quick greenup; it also has good wear tolerance once established; however, it lacks shade tolerance