Now is the right time to seed or overseed your lawn. But choosing the best grass seed for your specific lawn situation can be confusing. Not all grass seed is the same. Advances in lawn seed technology over the past decade and more have created improved varieties that are more resistant to insects, disease, and drought.
Reading the Label on Your Grass Seed
When you are ready to buy seed, turn to the label on the bag. By law, the grass seed bag must contain a label that tells you what is inside the bag. I created a sample label below:
Each kind of lawn seed is listed by its percentage (purity) by weight in the bag. The germination figure is an important percentage because it tells you how much of each pure seed variety listed will “sprout” and is capable of growing a grass plant. The higher the percentage the better. If any weed seed is present, it is listed by percentage of weight. We really don’t want any weed seeds, but it is very difficult to catch all weed seeds. Acceptable limits range from 0.3 to 0.5%. The higher the percentage of weed seed shown on the label, the poorer the quality.
I can’t stress enough about READING THE LABEL with each bag before making your selection. Here at The Great Big Greenhouse & Meadows Farms, we pride ourselves with carrying high quality grass seed.
Did this information help you with understanding what seed to buy? Or, are you more confused as to how to buy the best kind for your personal situation? If so, you are not alone. A lot of customers come to us needing assistance and advice. Be sure to stop in soon while the supplies are plentiful.
September is here. We need September to give us some good timely soaking rain that will help with the germination of the grass seed. Now, it is lawn renovation season. Don’t miss out on what needs to be done in September. You want this new grass seed to have time to germinate and grow and become a stronger plant before the leaves begin to fall.
HAPPY GARDENING!!