How to Choose the Right Grass Seed for Your Lawn.
First, consider everything you and your family do or want to do in your yard. Are you looking for a play area that can stand up to all the running around done by your kids and pets? Do you want your lawn to be a visual delight with little anticipated foot traffic? Do you need a lawn that’s able to endure heavy traffic? Will you have the resources to water your lawn? The answers to these questions will help determine your appropriate grass options, so consider them carefully and consider how your new lawn will fit into your family’s intended uses and needs. Here are some considerations when choosing the best grass seed types for your yard.
Which grass types perform best in Midwest lawns?
Cool-season grasses like turf-type tall fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass perform the best in the Midwest. Early spring green-up and year-round good looks of fescue and bluegrass make beautiful lawns with the least maintenance. Grass Pad recommends cool-season grasses like Heat Wave, Heat Wave Plus, Macho Mix, Blue Wave, Estate Mix, and Stadium Special. Use on home lawns, business green zones, and athletic fields.
What is your sun exposure?
The best grass seed for sun and shade conditions will be turf-type tall fescue blends such as Macho Mix or Heat Wave. Bluegrass blends such as Blue Wave and Estate Mix are sun worshippers who perform best in full sun and tolerate partial shade areas. The best grass seed mix for heavily shaded areas under big trees is a unique blend of shade-tolerant grass seed varieties in Uncle’s Premium Shade Mix.
How often will you water your lawn?
With an easily accessible water source, such as an inground irrigation system, the cool-season bluegrass blends in Blue Wave and Estate Mix will outperform all other types. The bluegrass varieties in these blends are aggressive and self-repairing for heavy traffic. In addition, bluegrasses have excellent disease resistance requiring the least amount of maintenance, and stay greener longer into the winter season than fescue varieties. Bluegrasses require more frequent watering during the summer for the best performance.
What are the best grasses for drought tolerance?
Turf-type tall fescue blends like Heat Wave and Macho Mix are the most tolerant to heat making them outstanding performers in transitional zones. The heat and drought-tolerant turf-type tall fescue varieties contained in Heat Wave and Macho Mix have root systems that enable them to reach deeper into the ground for water. For the best performance, turf-type fescues require deep but infrequent watering to stand up against extreme heat and summer drought and avoid turf disease.
Which grass performs best in heavy traffic?
Heavy traffic, whether in backyards or sports fields, need grasses that grow vigorously to stand up to wear and tear. Aggressive self-repairing bluegrass varieties in Blue Wave and Estate Mix will do the best. In addition, frequently overseeding play areas and dog runs with sports turf perennial ryegrass in Stadium Special throughout the year will support your existing lawn and blend well with bluegrass or fescue.
What type of grass seed do you have?
Are you unsure what type of grass you currently have in your yard? If you are trying to match your existing grass, your lawn could be a mix of several grass varieties the previous homeowners have thrown down. Bring us a sample; either bring a clump of the grass into the Grass Pad or bring us a detailed photo of the grass blade and root structure. The closer the photo’s focus is to the individual blade, the easier it will be for us to see what grass variety it is. Our green team grass experts will respond quickly.
Why Grass Pad weed-free grass seed is the best?
High-quality Grass Pad grass seed does not have fillers or fluff in the bag. Grass seed should be 98% pure and 100% weed free. Don’t assume fancy branded bags are pure grass seed. Most are half full with peat moss or coated with some “magic dust” or other inert matter. That makes an expensive seed and expensive peat moss. The high-quality grass seed mixes at Grass Pad are all seed blends with no fillers added. Remember, the magic is in the grass seed, not the filler or coating. All Grass Pad seed varieties are University tested for performance and laboratory tested for purity.
60 years of experience in the professional turf industry. Grass Pad is a pioneer in sod production and an active member of Turf Producers International. As a major turf seed and fertilizer supplier to premier sod producers in the Midwest, Grass Pad gives homeowners access to the same quality turf products the professionals’ demand. Sod farms don’t buy seed and fertilizer for turf production at box stores or hardware stores; why should you? Come on down to the Grass Pad and speak to our green team about all your lawn needs.
Macho Mix™ – Macho Mix contains 95% elite turf-type tall fescue blend plus 5% sports turf perennial ryegrass. Great for play zones and dog runs. Quick germination from sports turf perennial rye makes Macho Mix a valuable tool for a fast start in cool soils. Excellent for late-season overseeding and dormant seeding. Dark green in color. Excellent performer in the sun or shade. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 7-10 days | Seeding Rate: 5-12 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Heat Wave® – Grass Pad’s premier turf-type tall fescue is a blend of the newest generations in elite fescue grass seed. The most heat and drought-tolerant fescues with superior performance in the mid-west. The deeper growing root system of Heat Wave will allow grass plants to naturally access more water and nutrients without needing extensive watering. Containing top-rated turf-type tall fescue varieties only available at Grass Pad, Heat Wave is a top choice for sod farms, athletic fields, golf courses, and home lawns. Excellent in full sun or shade. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 7-10 days | Seeding Rate: 5-12 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Heat Wave® Plus – Grass Pad’s best-performing fescue blend with bluegrass added to improve stand density. This popular grass seed combination delivers drought tolerance of fescue plus durability and self-repair of aggressive bluegrass. Excellent for the sun or shade. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 7-10 days | Seeding Rate: 5-12 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Blue Wave® – Grass Pad’s blend of elite Kentucky bluegrass varieties is recommended for the Midwest. The perfect blend of next-generation bluegrass varieties with characteristics for dark color, disease resistance, heat tolerance, and wearability make Blue Wave the number one choice for bluegrass lawns. Formulated for superior performance in all types of situations, such as home lawns, golf course fairways, and sports fields. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 14-21 days | Seeding Rate: 2-6 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Estate Mix™ – Want the soft, friendly feel and lush, thick look to your turf? You should choose Estate Mix, bluegrass plus perennial sports turf rye mix, which is an excellent choice for fall lawn renovating and spring seeding. Give your lawn that soft well-manicured look of a golf course fairway. Aggressive bluegrass varieties will fill in routine damage, and perennial sports turf rye adds durability in heavy traffic areas. Good for shade areas and excellent in full sun. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 7-10 days | Seeding Rate: 4-10 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Uncle’s Premium Shade Mix– Custom blended shade tolerant grass seed varieties are chosen for their low water and nutrient requirements. The selected varieties of bluegrass, ryegrass, turf-type and fine fescues in Uncle’s Premium Shade Mix have improved seed varieties that tolerate poor growing conditions very well. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 7-10 days | Seeding Rate: 5-12 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Stadium Special™ – Wear tolerance and playability of Grass Pad’s fastest-growing sports turf perennial ryegrass blend can be used over existing bluegrass and fescue lawns. Perennial ryegrasses are used on golf courses and sports fields for their durability and good looks. Excellent for cool soil germination and quick repairs. Click Here to Learn More
| Germination: 5-7 days | Seeding Rate: 5-12 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. |
More Related Articles on Grass Seed
- How to read a grass seed label and what you don’t want to see on the label. Learn more at this link.
Idiot Proof Fall Lawn Renovation and Overseeding
- Ten Idiot-Proof steps to fall overseeding. Learn more at this link.
Idiot-Proof Spring Lawn Renovation and Overseeding
- Twelve Idiot-Proof steps to spring overseeding and preventing crabgrass. Learn more at this link.
Idiot-Proof Guide to Dormant Seeding
- If you have missed the fall overseeding window. Dormant seeding may be your best option. Learn more at this link.
How to Grow Grass under Shade Trees
- Five tips to improving growing conditions under shade trees. Learn more at this link.
How to Bring a Grass Sample for Identification
- If you would like us to help identify your grass or plants. Here are tips on what we need to see. Learn more at this link.
