Many people tend to have issues with their lawns when it comes to gardening and grass seed. These problems stem from the lack of knowledge of grass seeds and insufficient planning about the future maintenance of the chosen grass type or grass mix. We will walk you through the different types of grasses so you can make an informed decision about which grass you want to grow. Additionally, we will provide maintenance tips for each grass type so you can kit yourself up ahead of time.
Grass Seeds to Avoid
Before we get into the grass seeds that you should consider, you should be warned of some of the ones you should steer clear of.
Creeping Bentgrass
The Creeping Bentgrass is a type of grass used for sports such as golf and tennis, where it is mowed to a shallow height not to obstruct the players’ movements. The glaring disadvantage that comes with using the Creeping Bentgrass is the fact that it grows very rapidly. In fact, it grows at such a fast rate that it needs to be mowed daily. If it were to be used for a lawn, you would end up with large mounds of grass, which is why we’d advise you not to go for it.
Annual Ryegrass
As the name suggests, Annual Ryegrass does not hold out for more than a year, which is less than ideal if you want a more permanent lawn setup. Although it can be helpful if you want a temporary lawn or support as it is also resistant to diseases and can deal with a large number without being ruined, it is not the grass type of choice if you want longevity.
Choosing the Best Grass Seed
Invest in a Soil Test
One thing that you’ll come to find is the importance of the correlation between the moisture and pH of your soil and the grass seed you intend to purchase. If the two factors do not align, the best grass can result in a shabby look for your lawn. Most grass seeds do well in soil that is moist and has a low acidity pH of 5 or below. A soil test will let you know, well ahead of time, what kind of grass seed is best suited to you.
Now we will go through a few different factors that may sway your choice of grass seed to purchase
Warm-Season Grass
Grasses are usually subcategorized into two parts; warm-season and cool-season grass. As the name suggests, this type of grass grows well in warmer regions. So if someone lives in an area naturally on the warm side, they will want to go for warm-season grass seeds. Some grass types are St. Augustine, Bermuda Grass, and Centipede Grass. These grasses do very well in the summers.
Cool-Season Grass
On the opposite end, we have cool-season grass seeds which thrive in the colder seasons and are naturally more tolerant to being in the shade and hence don’t need too much sun. This grass type covers grass seeds such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Tall Fescues.
Resilient to High Traffic
Another vital factor to take into consideration is how much traffic you are expecting to see at your house and your lawn. If the grass you’ve chosen is not capable of taking that much stamping, then your lawn will fall victim to some bad wear and tear. Luckily, the Kentucky Bluegrass is ideal to be able to handle this exact scenario. Whether you want to have parties or want to play sports on your lawn, Kentucky Bluegrass will stay resilient in the long run.
Watering and Irrigation
Now that we’ve discussed some of the different types of grass seeds one should opt to buy for various purposes, we can dive into the irrigation and maintenance of said grass seeds. If you are more comfortable with a grass type that does not need too much watering, the Tall Fescue or Buffalo Grass would be the best choice. Contrarily if you want to maintain a healthy lawn and are looking forward to maintaining and irrigating it without any water restrictions, the Kentucky Bluegrass is a great choice.
This should be enough to get you started and give you a general idea of what kind of grass seed you should buy. Be sure to go for a grass seed that works in harmony with both your soil and the weather in your region,
