by Krista White

Created on: April 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 18, 2011

The grass seed section at the garden center can be intimidating if you aren't familiar with the products. There are so many kinds of seed, and so many brands, how do you know which to choose? The answer is simple - one of each.

Of course I don't mean that you need to literally buy dozens of bags of grass seed. What I do mean is that you want variety. Especially for novice lawn-tenders, a seed mix is essential, as it will greatly reduce the amount of maintenance required to get the perfect suburban look. There are a few general types of grass typically used for home lawns, each of which has its own benefits and draw-backs.

Kentucky bluegrass is the seed typically used for sod, and has a thick even, carpet-like appearance. The up is that it spreads by rhizomes - thick underground stems - so it can fill back in if it gets damaged. The down side is that it is one of the first to go dormant (remember, brown lawns in the middle of summer are dormant, not dead) without watering. It can also take up to 3 weeks to germinate after seeding, giving plenty of time for wind, rain and the local wildlife to whisk it away before you get to enjoy it.

Rye grasses, annual and perennial, are finer and grow in tufts, rather than the even shag of bluegrass. They also tend to be more of a lime green colour, which people can mistake for a lawn in need of fertilizer. However they do come up very quickly after seeding (4 or 5 days), and reseed liberally.
Fescues are perfect for shady or dry (or both) spots. Being prairie grasses, they're very drought tolerant, which comes in handy in July when your city bans lawn-watering. The leaves are even finer than the rye, and blue to grey in colour.

A healthy lawn should include all of these grasses, for several reasons. The first is that you will get a more even cover of grass over the whole lawn, since one species may grow where the others have trouble. Next, the more drought tolerant species will camouflage the brown of the dormant grasses, so you can get away with less watering. Finally, bugs and diseases have very specific appetites, so if you have an all bluegrass lawn and you get a bluegrass-loving pest, you're in a lot of trouble. Having a mix of grasses will not only cut down the cost of repairing damage, but will slow the spread of the pests in the first place.

Just as important as mixing your seed is applying it liberally. Overseed the entire lawn at least once a year to keep it vigorous, and as the most effective weed prevention available. Keep the lawn constantly moistened until the seed germinates, and then switch to water 1 inch (ie put a tuna can on the lawn and run the sprinkler until it's full) once a week. If you start off right, you'll save yourself a lot of time afterwards.

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