There are many varieties of grass seed, each designed to performed in
different climates and conditions. This page is dedicated to outlining
the types of grass seed and how they perform. For expert advice on grass
seed for your unique lawn conditions, visit any of our 3 Ace locations
to speak with a lawn expert.
Which Seed is Best?
In cool-season northern states, a blend of permanent grasses is best,
as long as about 90 percent of the mixture is desirable permanent lawn
grasses.
Unblended grasses, such as pure Bermuda grass, do well in warm-season
southern states where temperatures exceed 80°F. Warm-season grasses are
known for being durable and requiring less watering than cool-season
grasses, but they do have a stronger tendency to grow weeds. It is also
important to know that many newer types of warm-season grasses cannot be
started from seed. They must be set out as plantings. Warm-season
grasses include common Bermuda grass, zoysia, centipede and carpetgrass.
By contrast, cool-season grasses do well in northern and central
states where the temperature can range from 60-75°F. If they are grown
in a climate where it is too warm they tend to brown. Cool-season
grasses are hearty and thrive during the milder spring and fall
temperatures. Good cool-season grasses include bluegrass, red and tall
fescue and bentgrass.
In mixtures, remember that formulations vary greatly. Prepackaged
seed must indicate on the package the percentage of each grass type in
the mixture.
Each pound of better grass seed contains a higher percentage of
permanent grasses, more desirable for a long-lasting lawn. Inexpensive
mixes frequently contain low-quality annual grasses and too many
contaminants, such as weed seed, to maintain a good lawn.
| Type |
Perennial Ryegrass |
Annual Ryegrass |
Kentucky Bluegrass |
Part Kentucky Bluegrass |
Newport Kentucky Bluegrass |
Marion Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Days to Germinate |
10-14 |
10-14 |
14-28 |
10-28 |
10-28 |
14-28 |
| # Seeds / pound |
230,000 |
230,000 |
2.2 mil |
2.2 mil |
2.2 mil |
2.2 mil |
| Seeding Rate / 1000 sq ft |
| New Lawn |
10 |
10 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Estab. Lawn |
6 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Usual Life |
3 yrs |
1 yr |
Permanent |
Permanent |
Permanent |
Permanent |
| Blade Texture |
Coarse |
Coarse |
Fine |
Fine |
Fine |
Fine |
| General Utility |
Poor |
Poor |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| For Shade Area |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
Good |
Poor |
| For Play Areas |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
| For Golf Fairways |
Fair |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
Good |
Excellent |
| For Quick Cover |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Poor |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
| For Slopes / Terraces |
Good |
Fair |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
| General Desireability |
Quick Cover / Nurse Grass |
Quick Cover |
Sunny Lawns |
Fast Germination |
Shade Tolerant |
Sunny Lawns |
| Type |
Creeping Red Fescue
|
Tall Fescue |
Meadow Fescue |
Red Top |
Bent Grass |
| Days to Germinate |
10-21 |
10-14 |
10-14 |
9-14 |
7-14 |
| # Seeds / pound |
550,000 |
230,000 |
230,000 |
4.99 mil |
5.5 mil |
| Seeding Rate / 1000 sq ft
|
| New Lawn |
6 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
2 |
| Estab. Lawn |
3 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
| Usual Life |
Permanent |
Permanent |
Permanent |
3 yrs |
Permanent |
| Blade Texture |
Fine |
Coarse |
Coarse |
Fine |
Fine |
| General Utility |
Good |
Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Fair |
| For Shade Area |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
| For Play Areas |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Good |
Fair |
| For Golf Fairways |
Excellent |
Fair |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
| For Quick Cover |
Fair |
Good |
Good |
Excellent |
Fair |
| For Slopes / Terraces |
Good |
Excellent |
Fair |
Good |
Good |
| General Desireability |
Shade Tolerant |
Hard Use |
Poor |
Fine Nurse Grass |
Putting Greens |
Name: Perennial Ryegrass
Description: Fine textured and deep green in color, ryegrass is a
fast-growing seed, frequently used by itself or in mixtures. Rye-grass
is available as an annual or perennial. Small quantities may be included
in seed mixtures. Good to cover slopes because of quick germination. It
is a cool climate grass that works well in the northwest and coastal
west. Does not do well in extreme cold or drought conditions.
Name: Annual Ryegrass
Description: Fast-growing seed, frequently used by itself or in
mixtures. Rye-grass is available as an annual or perennial. The annual
is quick to germinate for temporary lawns, but can only be planted for
one season. Small quantities may be included in seed mixtures. Good to
cover slopes because of quick germination.
Name: Kentucky Bluegrass
Description: Known by its blue-green color, it is one of the most
common grasses used in the cool season areas of the U.S. (as it weathers
well in cold winters). Forms a good sod when grown alone and thrives
when included in a mixture. Slow to germinate and become established.
Won't tolerate dense shade or drought. Responds to adequate
fertilization and high mowing (more than an inch and a half).
Name: Part Kentucky Bluegrass
Description: Forms a good sod when grown alone and thrives when
included in a mixture. Slow to germinate and become established. Won't
tolerate dense shade. Responds to adequate fertilization and high mowing
(more than an inch and a half)
Name: Newport Kentucky Bluegrass
Description: Forms a good sod when grown alone and thrives when
included in a mixture. Slow to germinate and become established. Won't
tolerate dense shade. Responds to adequate fertilization and high mowing
(more than an inch and a half).
Name: Marion Kentucky Bluegrass
Description: Seeds are very small which means greater coverage per
pound. Resistant to leaf spot. Can be mowed closer and fertilized more.
Retains green look longer. Best to plant in early fall or very early
spring because seedlings grow slowly. Subject to rust and powdery mildew
in fall if soil lacks nitrogen.
Name: Creeping Red Fescue
Description: Well adapted to drought soils in shady or sunny area.
Generally included in bluegrass mixtures. Creeping fescue is another
common strain. Some strains are subject to leaf spot and become open and
pitted in the summer. Fall planting preferred.
Name: Tall Fescue
Description: Rather coarse, but good for areas that need a tough
stand of grass.
Name: Meadow Fescue
Description: Similar to Tall Fescue with long and slender leaves. A
hardy perennial bunchgrass it works well in cool climates and is usually
found in pastures or fields.
Name: Red Top
Description: Like its name suggests, this grass sports red seed heads
throughout the summer. It works well in wet places such as around water
gardens.
Name: Bent Grass
Description: Used mainly on golf putting greens. Dense patches of
creeping bentgrass generally are unwanted. Where bent is desired, it
must be given good care, cut very close, fertilized regularly, watered
repeatedly and thinned several times a year.
Other Grasses
Name: Bermuda Grass
Description: Spreads by fast-growing surface runners during warm
periods, but goes brown and dormant from first frost till late spring.
Not recommended in northern areas, but has high heat and drought
tolerance for Southern regions.
Name: Zoysia
Description: Medium to dark green in appearance it is planted by
plugs. Adapted to sunny areas in warmer parts of the Midwest and
South. Surface runners make a dense mat, which reduces weeds and
crabgrass. It turns brown slowly in mid-fall; remains dormant until
mid-spring. Although it has a high tolerance to heat, it is slow
growing.
Name: Centipede
Description: Good in moderate shade and infertile soil; has few
insect or disease problems. It is yellowish-green in color and is mostly
used in the southeast. Although it is a slow growing grass, it doesn't
require a lot of maintenance.
Name: Carpetgrass
Description: Recommended for infertile and sandy soils. Does not
like shade and must be mowed frequently. Similar in color to
centipede grass and most often found in Florida and areas along the
Gulf Coast as it likes wet and warm climates.
Name: Bahia Grass
Description: Grows well in partial sun or shade in warm climates.
Requires little maintenance. Keep trimmed to 1/2 inch. Can be green or
light green in color and is known for staying green during the fall and
winter.
Name: St. Augustine
Description: Recommended for Florida and Gulf Coast areas. A course,
tough grass that requires a power mower, but little other maintenance.
Can be dark green or even blue-green in appearance. Do not use in areas
that go below the freezing level
Name: Victa
Description: Dark, deep bluegreen bluegrass with a medium-fine
texture and low growth habit. Good leaf spot resistance and
above-average shade tolerance.
Name: Baron
Description: Dark bluish-green, low- growing, disease resistant and
relatively problem free.