Selecting the Turfgrass

Turfgrass Options

Most lawns planted in the last 20 years are ryegrass, which is what sod farmers grow. Select amongst numerous lawn grass options in Portland, Oregon, including ryegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, colonial bentgrass, and several lawn alternative blends. Some choices are more sustainable than others.

Seed Options for Lawns

• Ryegrass remains the best choice for the typical lawn you see around town. If you want a beautiful lawn at all times, read no further. Just pick ryegrass. Available as sod.
• Fine fescue blended with ryegrass works best in part shade. Not available as sod.
• Colonial bentgrass, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass are rarely used in western Oregon. We don’t generally recommend them unless you have a specific requirement.

Grass Type and Sustainability

If sustainability and simplicity rate high on your priority list, you might consider an alternative to turf grasses. Be warned, however, most people will hate this option! They will think it looks like a patch of weeds. However, you may love it. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder!

Several seed suppliers have blended fescue and several herbaceous plants to create a sustainable turfgrass alternative. OSU has done research with at least some of these. Results are mixed.

What’s in the blend? There are variations but these are main components.

• Fine fescues, either creeping red or chewings type
• Fennel
• English daisy
• Clover
• Several wild flower variations

What goes wrong? After a few years one seed component usually takes over—commonly clover.

So why would anyone want to try a lawn alternative? There are some very good reasons, actually. Such a blend possibly rates the highest for sustainability. Consider these post installation and establishment features.

• No need for fertilizer at all. As a legume clover fixes nitrogen in the soil.
• Stays moderately green while watering only every few weeks during the summer. You can skip an irrigation system.
• Mowing may be generally infrequent due to slower growth rate.
• The few weeds that do find their way into the lawn alternative may blend right in.

If you do choose a lawn alternative, remember, it is easy to replant with a conventional lawn at a later time.