How to Choose Grass Seed

Avoid future lawn problems by learning how to choose grass seed. This will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. By Robert DeStaso Landscaping.

1. Determine your growing conditions: Warm or Cool, Sunny or Shady, Dry or Damp, Sandy or Loamy

2. Learn the facts about grass seed germination.

3. Choose from the following grass seed comparison charts.

Cool-Season Grasses - Grass Seed Comparison:

Grass Type	Shade Tolerance	Disease Resistance	Wear Tolerance	Nitrogen Requirement	Heat Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Recovery Potential
Kentucky Bluegrass	Fair	Variable	Good	Variable	Fair	Good	Excellent
Rough bluegrass	Good	Fair	Good	Low	Poor	Poor	Good
Tall Fescue	Good	Good	Good	Low	Good	Excellent	Poor
Fine Fescue	Good	Good	Fair	Low	Good	Good	Poor
Perennial Ryegrass	Fair	Variable	Excellent	Medium	Good	Fair	Poor
Creeping Bentgrass	Fair	Fair	Poor to Fair	Medium	Fair to Good	Fair	Good

* Get the benefit of two or more cool season grasses by buying a mixture.

Warm-Season Grasses - Grass Seed Comparison:

Grass Type	Shade Tolerance	Disease Resistance	Wear Tolerance	Nitrogen Requirement	Heat Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Recovery Potential
Common Bermudagrass	Fair	Fair	Good	Low	Fair	Excellent	Excellent
Improved Bermudagrass	Fair	Variable	Excellent	Medium	Poor	Excellent	Excellent
Zoysiagrass	Good	Fair	Good	Low	Good	Excellent	Good
Centipedegrass	Fair to Good	Fair to Good	Fair	Low	Poor	Good	Poor
St. Augustinegrass	Good	Fair	Fair	Low	Poor	Good	Good
Buffalograss	Fair	Excellent	Fair	Very Low	Good	Excellent	Fair

* Warm-season grasses are seldom planted in mixtures because they lack compatibility and just don’t look right when planted together.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Seed.

Return from How to Choose Grass Seed to Homepage.