Perhaps newer cultivars will become available that may be better suited for lawn use in northern Illinois. Zoysiagrass has both rhizomes and stolons, producing a dense stand that readily produces thatch. Zoysiagrass is slow to establish. This grass does have very good heat and drought tolerance, as frequently promoted in magazine advertisements. Appearance quality as a lawn grass is poor, however, and rough bluegrass appears very weedy when mixed with other grasses in other situations.
Rough bluegrass has thin leaf blades and stolons.
Sabre is an improved cultivar of common rough bluegrass. Annual ryegrass is a short-lived species that is not suggested for lawns. It is best suited as a quick, temporary cover for bare soil due to its rapid germination.