In Iowa we will use a few types of turf. Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass are the most common. Fescues are the other type typically used in home lawns. Some will recommend chewing and red fescues for shaded areas. We have began using mostly Turf Type Tall Fescue on new seedings as well as overseeding with a TTTF/KBG blend. The TTTF offers more drought resistance than the other types. There are many varieties of these types of seed. Different varieties offer different characteristics such as drought resistance, color, ideal mowing height, etc. Speaking of mowing height follow these tips in order to get the best results out of your treatment programs:
Mow at a height of at least 3 inches
Do not remove more than ⅓ of the grass blade when you mow.
Leave clippings on the lawn. Recycled clippings decompose and leave the valuable nutrients in the lawn.
Sharpen your mower blade as needed. A dull blade tears the grass vs cutting it. This opens up the plant to disease and drought issues.
Teamwork!