by Alanna Rose

Created on: October 07, 2010

There are many different types of grass seeds and they may be categorized in different ways.  First you will need to consider if the grass seeds are warm season grass seeds which are good for areas in the South or if they are cool season grass seeds more suited for areas in the north.  You may also find either perennial or annual grass seeds, although most people are only looking for perennial seeds which will not die each year.  The texture of the grass can be either fine or coarse and different grasses even spread in different ways.  Here are a few popular types of grass seeds.

Warm Season Grass Seeds

Bermuda Grass will grow well  in most areas of the South as it can tolerate high heat and is also drought resistant.  This grass will turn brown and dormant in the winter if planted in the North where it freezes.  This grass will spread with surface runners.

Zoysia grass is usually grown in the warm areas of the Midwest and the South as it is tolerant to heat and it will become dormant in the winter.  This type of grass is planted by plugs and will spread by surface runners that are very dense.  This density is great for reducing the amount of weeds in your lawn.

Another good warm season grass is Centipede grass which is a very hardy type of grass.  It can tolerate some shade and is relatively easy to maintain.  This grass has a greenish-yellow color and can be most often found in the southeast.

Carpetgrass is usually found in Florida and other areas that are near the Gulf Coast as it prefers warm and wet conditions.  This type of grass will need to be mowed often and will not do well in the shade.  This grass is good for areas where the soil is either sandy or infertile.

St. Augustine grass is also found in Florida and in areas around the Gulf Coast.  It will not survive in areas where the temperature drops below freezing.  This type of grass is very tough and has thick blades. 

Cool Season Grass Seeds

Kentucky Bluegrass is a very common grass seed used in cooler areas of the United States.  This grass will grow with a blue-green color in a sunny location.  This grass is somewhat slow to germinate and will not tolerate drought conditions, but it makes for a good lawn as long as it is properly maintained with mowing and adequate fertilizing.

Tall Fescue is a coarse grass that is not great in the shade, but is a tough type of grass.

Creeping Red Fescue is a good grass for the sun or shade and can often be found in a mixture with bluegrass seeds.  It is best to plant this grass seed in the fall.

Ryegrass can be found as either a perennial or an annual.  This grass will germinate very quickly and has a fine texture and a deep green color.  This variety of grass will not do well in extreme cold or in drought conditions.

Red Top is a good grass seed for very wet areas.  It will have red seed heads during the summer season.

There are many different types of grass seeds that you can buy, but it is always important to make sure that you are buying a good quality grass seed.  A mixture of different seeds is a good option for many lawns.  Always remember to check the label to see how much weed seed might be in your bag of grass seed.  Doing a little bit of research of what grass seed is best for your soil, amount of light, and climate will help you to have a beautiful lawn.

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