Buying Grass Seed
Cool Season Lawn Grasses
Not all grass is created equal. This chart shows important characteristics such as drought, wear and shade tolerance as well as fertilizer needs of four grass varieties. Before buying seed, a good question to ask yourself is "What do you use your lawn for?"
| Characteristics | Kentucky Bluegrass | Perennial Ryegrass | Tall Fescue | Fine Fescue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade tolerance | Poor | Poor | Good | Excellent |
| Drought tolerance | Poor | Poor | Some | Some |
| Wear tolerance | Good | Good | Good | Poor |
| Establishment (days) | Slow 30 to 90 |
Fast 14 to 21 |
Ave./Fast 21 to 30 |
Average 21 to 50 |
| Growth habit | Rhizomatous | Bunch | Bunch | Bunch |
| Leaf texture | Medium-Fine | Medium | Coarse | Very Fine |
| Seeding rate (lb./1000 ft.2) |
1 to 2 | 5 to 9 | 5 to 9 | 3 to 5 |
| Nitrogen fertilizer (lb. N/1,000 ft.2/year) |
3 to 4 | 2 to 6 | 2 to 4 | 1 to 2 |
Grass Seed Sources
- Allen, Sterling & Lothrop - YardScaping Mix
- Lebanon Turf Products - Winning Colors Tall Fescue Blend & Ecology Mix Fine Fescue
- Norpine Landscape, Inc - Low Mow Fescue Mix
- North Country Organics - Variety of mixes
- Northeast Agricultural Sales, Inc. - Shady Supreme Mix, Maine Roadside Mix II
- O'Donal's Nursery - YardScaping Mix
- Prairie Nursery - No Mow Mix
- Preferred Seed - Low Gro, Drought & Wear Supreme
- Pro Time Lawn Seed - Ecological Mixes
- Seedland.com - Variety of mixes
- Seed Research of Oregon - Native Grasses
- Wildflower Farm - Eco-Lawn
The list is provided with no guarantees that the information is accurate or up-to-date. No endorsements are implied.