How Much Grass Seed Per Acre?

Using the correct amount of grass seed can determine the quality of a lawn or pasture.

Seeding rate is an important factor contributing to lawn or prairie quality. Prairie plantings are usually measured as pounds per acre, while lawns are seeded using pounds per 1,000 square feet. Prairie plantings call for less seed, and different species call for different seeding rates.

Prairie Planting

Popular grass seeds should be planted at the following pounds per acre rates: western wheatgrass, 8 lbs. per acre; thick spike and streambank wheatgrasses, 6; green needlegrass, 5; crested wheatgrass, 7; sheep and hard fescues, 2; tall fescue, 6; Canada bluegrass, 1; Russian wildrye, 7; blue grama, 2; buffalograss, 15; and sideoats, 5.

Lawn Plantings

Lawn planting rates are generally provided in pounds per 1,000 square feet. For examble, western wheatgrass, with a rate of 4, should be planted at 4 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Similarly, the rates for other grass seeds are: thick spike wheatgrass and streambank wheatgrass, 3.5; greenneedle grass, 3; crested wheatgrass, 3; sheep and hard fescue, 1; tall fescue, 2.5; Canada bluegrass, 1; Russian wildrye, 3; blue grama, 1; buffalograss, 9; and sideoats grama, 3.

Re-seeding Rates

If a lawn requires re-seeding, the amount of seed required can be calculated by multiplying the estimated percentage of lawn lost by the seeding rate of the grass seed used.

References

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Table of Grasses for Ground Cover and Lawns