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What's the Best Grass Seed for My Lawn?
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 his is the most
frequently asked question of The Lawn
Institute by homeowners. The answer depends on a number of
factors, such as, general geographic location for turfgrass
adaptation (cool season or warm season grasses), the amount of
sun and shade, the amount of traffic or play, watering practices,
and the general level of maintenance. Answers to these questions
will help you and the garden center retailers make a better
decision as to which quality seed mixture or blend to buy for
your geographic location and environmental conditions. What are
your choices or options?
 The first order
of business is to have a general
understanding of the grass species that grow best in your area of
the country. Let's start with the northern lawns, which are
identified with the cool season grass species; namely, Kentucky
bluegrass, fine fescues, perennial ryegrass, and turf type tall
fescue.
Cool Season (Northern)
Kentucky Bluegrass -
This is by far the "Number One" lawngrass
for the northern parts of the country.
It's a native of Europe and Asia and came
to North America several hundred years ago. This grass has been
and is used for about every turf area except golf course
putting greens.
Many older
lawns were planted with common Kentucky
bluegrass some years ago. In the last several years, there has
been major breakthroughs in the breeding and development of new,
improved bluegrasses.
The new,
named bluegrass varieties found in quality blends
and mixtures are more heat and drought tolerant, have greater
insect and disease resistance, and in many cases are more shade
tolerant; though they grow best with an abundance of sunlight.
Once
established, Kentucky bluegrass spreads by
underground stems called rhizomes. Thus, it is capable of
filling in to heal areas of thin grass and help crowd out weeds.
But, they germinate slowly and are often times sold in mixtures
with other faster germinating cool season grasses, such as,
perennial ryegrasses and fine fescues. However, in seed
mixtures, the Kentucky bluegrasses should be the dominant species
by percentage and weight. It can be established by seed or sod.
(Continued on the next page)
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Quality grass seed is the best
foundation for a great lawn.
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What is The Lawn Institute?
 n 1995, The Lawn
Institute was incorporated as a
not-for-profit corporation to assist in and encourage through
research and education the improvement of lawns and sports turf.
For 40 years, the Institute has been one of the most respected
authorities in North America among turf professionals and
scientists for monitoring, reporting, and interpreting the latest
advances in turfgrass research, landscape horticulture, and
agronomic science.
Through
the 1980's, the Institute focused its efforts and
communication toward the emerging professional lawn and landscape
market; educating the growing number of commercial operators. At
the outset of the 1990's, informational efforts shifted more
toward the homeowner by working closely with the consumer
magazines and the growing number of professional garden writers.
With greater exposure to the homeowner through the
consumer press, The Lawn Institute has received thousands of
requests from homeowners for information on the best lawnseed,
proper maintenance practices, and specific questions related to
their particular lawn and landscape situation. We determined
there was a growing need to provide a "user friendly" information
source to homeowners who are doing their best to develop and
maintain an attractive, healthy, and environmentally beneficial
lawn and landscape; thus, the primary reason for starting the
Lawn & Landscape Digest.
For those subscribers who have previously requested
information from The Lawn Institute, some of the information in
this Premier Issue will be familiar; but worth reviewing again.
For thousands of other subscribers, this will serve as a "primer"
for the basics of lawn and landscape management.
Future issues will regularly feature new lawnseed
varieties, flowers, trees and other plant materials to consider,
quarterly regionalized lawn and garden calendar, a review of
common lawn and landscape problems with suggested solutions, Q &
A column where we answer reader questions on specific problems
and concerns with the landscape, regional reports of special
interest from extension specialists, horticulturists, and other
agronomic professionals in the field . . . and more.
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