The choice depends largely on characteristics of the grass and the intended site for it to grow. Grasses vary in growth habit, appearance quality, ease and rate of establishment, maintenance needs, adaptability to shade, wear tolerance, ability to recover from damage, cold hardiness, susceptibility to pests and diseases, and other factors. Grasses may grow in bunches or have the ability to spread via modified stems. Bunch-type grasses grow in clumps and spread very little via tillers from the base of the plant. Grasses with this type of growth habit do not readily recover from damage or fill-in bare areas on their own.
Rhizomes are stems that grow horizontally underground.
Stolons are horizontal stems that grow above the soil surface. Grasses with either of these types of growth habit can readily fill-in adjoining bare areas and also recover more readily when damaged. Kentucky bluegrass is by far the most popular species used in home lawns in northern Illinois, due to high quality appearance, hardiness, and recovery ability. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes. Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun, although a few cultivars have tolerance to light shade.