Always read the seed label and understand the type of grass seed that you are establishing. Quality seed is one of the most relevant aspects of your lawn care.
The primary varieties of turfgrasses recommended for Ohio lawn care includes the following species listed below. Perennial Ryegrass & Fine Fescue are often used in blends of Bluegrass or Tall Fescue
Tips for reading a lawn care seed label:
- Bluegrass’s are the most predominant grass which results in the greenest and softest cultivar available. Always seed with a variety of bluegrass’s for disease resistance. This cultivar spreads through existing roots and fills nicely. Over-seeding rates are 1 – 2 lbs./1000 sq. ft. Sunny conditions are recommended.
- Tall Turf Type Fescues are deep rooted grasses with wider and coarser blades. These cultivars are bunch type grasses and require 5 – 10 lbs./1000 sq. ft. when over seeding. These grasses are good for sun and shade conditions.
- Fine Leaf Fescues are cultivars conditioned for shady conditions. These are creeping grasses which do not hold up well in heat and stressful conditions. Cultivars include red creeping and chewing fescues.
- Ryegrasses or nurture grasses are perennial or annual. Annual ryegrasses are not recommended.
- Date tested Look for seeded tested within the last 12 months. This will be the freshest and preferable seed.
- Germination percent of pure seed that germinates under ideal conditions. A high germination rate is best , never purchase seed with less than a 70 percent germination rate.
- Seed labels will show a % of each seed cultivar included, you will know what type of grass to expect before you put it down.
Over-seeding damaged areas:
Fall and Spring are both great times to fill in bare or damaged areas of your lawn from seed. Any stressed areas from this season will need over-seeding to completely recover. Over-seeding is also a good practice to introduce more disease resistant strands of grasses into a lawn. Core Aeration can be a good way to provide a seed bed for new seeds to germinate. Purchasing quality turf grass seed for reestablishing lawns or establishing new lawns is critical to the future success of the lawn. Annual ryegrass germinates rapidly and will grow throughout the summer but in almost all instances will die in the winter and leave the area bare the following year. Perennial Ryegrass is a good nurture grass to help other grasses fill in and germinate. It is often included in high quality seed mixes. Tall fescue is a very drought-tolerant, deep-rooted grass, it does however have a wider rougher textured blade. Kentucky bluegrass is the most widely used turf grass in our area. Ivanoff Lawn Care and Landscaping is currently offering core aeration and over seeding services, as well as core aeration with our exclusive potassium treatment.