Reasons to Choose Starr Turfgrass

There are two options for anyone who wants to have a lush and immaculate yard: install sod or plant grass seeds. Although sod installations offer numerous benefits to traditional seeded lawns, there are lots of purists out there who swear by grass seed over sod lawns. There are also people who prefer the challenge of growing a lawn from seeds as opposed to having an instant lawn with a sod installation. Whether you want grow from seed because you have the desire to grow something on your own or you just honestly think seeded lawns look better, here are some things to know about choosing and planting grass seed.

Warm Season vs Cool Season Grass 
The first step is to decide whether to plant warm season or cool season grass. Warm season grass, as the name suggests, grows best in hot weather. This type of grass also goes dormant and turns brown with cooler temperatures. Winter grass is the opposite of warm season grass. Some warm season grasses can only be grown from sod or grass sprigs. Check with your local lawn car company to learn more.

Straight Seed vs Seed Blends 
When buying grass seed, check the label or ask someone working in the lawn care department to find out if the bag is the straight seed or a blend. A straight seed consists of only one type of grass seed, which means a more uniform look and feel. Blend and mixtures contain either several varieties of one type of grass seed or a combination of different types of grass. Believe it or not, blends and mixtures often offer better disease resistance than straight seed lawns.

Grass Seed Planting Tips 
The first thing is to work the soil where you will sow the seed with a sharp garden tool. Remove weeds, rocks, and stones from the soil and then mix in organic material or fertilizer to help the soil retain water and provide the seed with better nutrients. Use a lawn spreader or sow the seed by hand and water daily until germination occurs. When new grass reaches three inches in height, remove the mulch and lightly mow.