The Different Types of Grass Seeds
The challenge of deciding which grass seed is best for your lawn can be overwhelming when you see all the different brands available at the store and hear the grass seed advertisements on television. The types of grass seeds that will work well on your lawn are dependent on several factors, some as simple as where you live and the amount of sunlight your lawn receives. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sunlight Levels
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Grass seed will be labeled for lawns that get full sun, are in the shade or are a combination of sun and shade. A sunny area would receive at least six hours of sunlight. Shade is indicative of no direct sunlight hitting the ground. Some labels on grass seed packages will specify even more distinct sunlight requirements such as part sun, which is four to six hours of sunlight, or part shade, which is less than four hours of sun during the day or dappled shade all day as some sun reaches the ground through a canopy of trees.
Grass seeds suitable for full sun include Bermuda and Buffalo. For full sun to part shade: Bahia, Centipede, Fescue, Kentucky Blue Grass, Perennial Ryegrass, St. Augustine and Zoysia. For shade: Newport Kentucky Bluegrass, Creeping Red Fescue, Tall Fescue or Bent Grass.
Climate
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Where you live can affect the success of the grass seed you plant. Bahia, Bermuda, Buffalo, St. Augustine and Zoysia are typical types of grass seeds that grow well in the South. Grass grown from those southern seeds would turn brown in the cool climates of the north. Good grass seed choices for cool climates are Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass and Ryegrass.
Planting time in warm climates is in the winter while in cool climates, fall is the best time to plant seed.
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Water Requirements
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Whether you water your lawn will impact the choice of grass seed. Some grass seeds, like Bahia, Bermuda, Buffalo and Fescue are drought tolerant and may get by with rainfall only. Grass seeds that will require water between rainfalls so the grass does not die include Perennial Ryegrass and St. Augustine. To a lesser degree, Centipede and Kentucky Blue Grass can tolerate some dryness but will thrive with watering when rainfall is insufficient for deep soaking.
Area to Cover
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What you choose to seed over a small bare area can differ from the type of seeds that you choose to use on your entire lawn. To patch a bare area, a bag for lawn repair can be used. The bag will include a fibrous mix, usually green in color, with seed and fertilizer. The prepared patch mix makes covering bare spots, such as those created from pet urine, easy to repair. There is no seed choice for patch mix. The store will sell what is available for your area.
Traffic
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Some lawns are all for show and are seldom walked upon while other lawns are playgrounds that see a lot of activity. Any grass seed can become a showy lawn and most seeds can tolerate some foot traffic. The best choices, though, for play areas are Creeping Red Fescue, Tall Fescue and Meadow Fescue.
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