There are so many factors when choosing grass seed it can be difficult to know what to buy. The most important factor is where you live. There are grass species that thrive only in southern climates, others are specifically cool season grasses. If you live in an arid region or do not use irrigation certain grasses are more suited to drought than others. Some grasses love shade more than others and some will only thrive in sunny locations.
Seed technology is very advanced and there are coated seeds that can store water for improved germination. Seed can be inoculated with microorganisms or fungicides for improved quality. New and improved cultivated varieties are continually being developed to resist drought, disease, and a host of other lawn threats.
Add to that, grass seed marketing is a constant barrage of hope and promises including custom seed blends selling the intent to emulate the turf on your favorite team's ballpark.
It can all get a little daunting but as long as you know the climate or micro-climate of your location, you're halfway there.
You get what you pay for when it comes to grass seed so it's usually worth it to spend the extra money. Luckily the grass seed industry is fairly transparent and has standards in place. There should always be a tag listing the species and cultivars in the seed blend. The tag will also indicate the grade of the seed, the amount of inert material (stems, etc.), the presence of weed seeds, and other information regarding it's quality.
With a little research, it should be a lot easier to get the seed that is right for your lawn.
Read more:
Choosing the Right Type of Grass
Cool Season Grass
Drought Tolerant Cool Season Grasses
Drought Tolerant Warm Season Grasses
photo © Jamie Burke
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