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GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Grass seed explained

It is time to look after a few weak or dead patches of grass. Do you know which grass seed to select that will grow best in your yard and blend with your existing lawn?  

Most good quality lawn seed will contain a blend of seed varieties. Once you’ve sown the seed and it begins to grow, the varieties will jockey for position and depending on your soil and environment, eventually one will dominate while the others will take a back seat.   

GARDEN CLIPPINGS: Grass seed explained Back to video

Seed blends will usually contain three or four ingredients which are listed in fine print on the package. Read the list carefully to help you choose the seed best suited for your lawn. 

Kentucky bluegrass seed is a sun-loving seed that produces lush grass that you might see on photos of golf courses. Colour is true green, perhaps with a tint of blue. With care, Kentucky bluegrass produces grass so dense and healthy that weeds are smothered.   

Buy a roll of sod and you will likely be buying grass that is 100 per cent Kentucky Bluegrass.  Pound for pound, Kentucky bluegrass is expensive because seeds are smaller. 

With all of Kentucky bluegrass’ positive traits, why would we add other seed varieties to the lawn? 

Kentucky bluegrass loves to grow where conditions are perfect but suffers when the going gets tough. 

It is the first grass to suffer in times of drought. It needs good soil and wants fertilizer to maintain fine quality. When insects and disease appear, Kentucky bluegrass is often the target.   

In a grass seed blend, Kentucky bluegrass is slow to sprout, relying on the other seed varieties to act as nurse grass to assist its sluggish growth.  

Fescue grasses, including creeping red fescue and chewing fescue produce fine grass that performs well in residential landscapes. Roots go deep and are less reliant on water and fertilizer.   

Fescue grasses sprout quicker than bluegrass and are a good choice for backyards that are active with dogs, soccer balls and swing sets. Fescue grass is the top choice for shady areas.  

Perennial ryegrass is the most gratifying grass seed to sow because it sprouts quicky and gives almost instant gratification. Colour is bright green. Roots go deep, providing good drought tolerance. 

Perennial ryegrass is tough and is tolerant of pests and high traffic.   

Improved varieties of perennial ryegrass often have lateral spread technology, helping to create denser grass with enhanced rhizome growth. 

For patching small areas of turf, look for a seed blend that contains a high percentage of perennial ryegrass.  

Poa trivialis is a fine-leaved bluegrass that is tolerant of deep shade and damp soil. A small percentage of Poa may be added to seed blends where grass growth is stubborn because of shallow rooted trees overhead.   

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