There are 4 groups of grass seed that are typically used for lawns in the Midwest. These are bluegrass, ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue. Within each of these groups there are many different cultivars. There are literally hundreds of different types of bluegrasses and ryegrasses. Each one is rated on the basis of disease resistance, drought resistance, color, winter hardiness, and shade tolerance. All of the newer types of cultivars (individual seed types) are engineered to get high ratings in as many of the categories as possible.

Thirty years ago there were not nearly as many types of ryegrasses, bluegrasses, or fine fescues. There has been some excellent progress made in developing new cultivars with a wide range of qualities that used to be considered incompatible. For example, there was a time when ryegrass was not a very dark green, or when bluegrass was not shade tolerant at all. Now these desirable characteristics of color and shade tolerance have been built into many of the new cultivars. These new cultivars are generally called "improved" varieties. To see if a seed is an improved variety it usually has another name other than just ryegrass or bluegrass, for example it may be "Newland" ryegrass instead of just a generic or common ryegrass. These improved varieties cost more and often are much improved over common ryes or bluegrasses. The universities do field comparisons on most new cultivars to rate them so growers, distributors, installers and consumers have a quality gauge.

Many suppliers of grass seed make up blends of different cultivars which include the cheaper common types of seed and are sold as premium grass seed. It is very easy for them to do that since not very many consumers are knowledgeable in individual seed cultivars. Over the years we have not given in to suppliers that have suggested that we switch some of our better quality cultivars with cheaper ones to make an extra buck. Our mixes are current and well thought out.

Other important factors are germination, weed seed, and inert ingredients. Typically you will not find a reputable reseller of seed offering seed with junk in it but all this information is on the label and should be considered, especially when making a sizeable purchase of seed.

Individual cultivar substitutions may take place during the season. As good or better replacements will be used in every instance.

Professional Blend:

Beautiful, lush, dark green, requires plenty of water, fertilizer, and cutting. Very similar to sod.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Requires very good soil, fertile, with some sand content for drainage.
• Sun - Mostly sunny, some shade.
• Water/Fertilizer - Responds well to frequent watering, fertilizing, grows fast.
• Germination - 20% will come up fast, 80% bluegrass will be slow in coming up.
• Appearance - Beautiful, lush, dark green color if maintained properly.

Coverage: 500 Square feet per lb

20% Paragon GLR Perennial Rye
20% Beyond Kentucky Blue
20% Blue Sapphire Kentucky Blue
20% Jewel Kentucky Blue
20% Brooklawn Kentucky Blue

Royal Green Blend:

Excellent residential blend, needs good soil, plenty of water, and fertilizer. Best choice for mostly sunny mix in "competitive" neighborhood.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Requires good soil, fertile, with some sand content for drainage
• Sun - Mostly sunny, some shade.
• Water/Fertilizer - Moderate to frequent watering and fertilizing.
• Germination - 35% will come up fast, 55% will be slow in coming up.
• Appearance - High quality, dark green color when fed and watered properly.
  

Coverage: 400 Square feet per lb

35% Paragon GLR Perennial Rye
25% 98/85 Kentucky Blue
15% Blue Sapphire Kentucky Blue
15% Creeping Red Fescue
10% Brooklawn Kentucky Blue

Estate Green Blend:

Good blend for lawns that will not get much additional water or fertilizer.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Okay to moderate soil quality, fair fertility.
• Sun - Mostly sunny, some shade.
• Water/Fertilizer - Moderate to low watering, fertilizing.
• Germination - Quick Establishment.
• Appearance - Good color quality.
  

Coverage: 250 Square feet per lb

30% Paragon GLR Perennial Rye
20% Manhattan IV Perennial Rye
20% Stellar Perennial Rye
10% Creeping Red Fescue
10% 98/85 Kentucky Blue
10% Jewel Kentucky Blue

Shady Green Blend:

Best choice for shady areas. Shade is overriding factor in choosing a blend.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Okay for moderate to poor quality soil, better for sandy soil than clay based soils.
• Sun - Shady, some sun.
• Water/Fertilizer - Moderate to low watering and fertilizing.
• Germination - Moderate to slow establishment.
• Appearance - Thin blade good color quality.

Coverage: 250 Square feet per lb

30% Creeping Red Fescue
30% Paragon GLR Perennial Rye
15% Jamestown IV Ch. Fescue
10% Jewel Kentucky Blue
10% Navigator Cr. Red Fescue
5% Darkhorse Poa Trivialis

Wear Green Blend:

Very low maintenance, excellent for sandy soils. Also good for athletic fields.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Best blend for very sandy soils.
• Sun - Sunny, some shade.
• Water/Fertilizer - Very low water and fertilizer requirements, grows slow.
• Germination - Moderate establishment rate.
• Appearance - Very durable, dark green color, looks similar to bluegrass.
  

Coverage: 160 Square feet per lb

33.4% Avenger Tall Fescue
33.3% MillenniumTall Fescue
33.3% Titanium Tall Fescue

Quick Green Blend:

Very quick establishment, good for hillsides in not so important areas.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Okay for moderate soil quality.
• Sun - Mostly sunny some shade.
• Maintenance - Moderate to low care requirements.
• Germination - 45% quickest establishing grass seed.
• Appearance - Mostly light green, coarse blade.
  

Coverage: 160 Square feet per lb

45% Annual Rye
35% Perennial Rye
10% 85/80 Kentucky Blue
10% Creeping Red Fescue

Value Blend:

General blend for an area with a wide variety of conditions.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Okay for moderate to poor soil.
• Sun - Some sunny, some shade, good for combination of both.
• Maintenance - Moderate watering, fertilizing.
• Germination - 1/3 will come up fast.
• Appearance - Light to medium green, catch-all blend.
  

Coverage: 200 Square feet per lb

37.50% Perennial Rye
31.25% 98/85 Kentucky Blue
31.25% Creeping Red Fescue

Value Plus Blend:

High quality general blend for use in an area with a wide variety of conditions.

Characteristics:

• Soil - Okay for moderate to poor soil quality.
• Sun - Some sunny, some shade, good for combination of both.
• Maintenance - Moderate watering, fertilizing.
• Germination - 40% will come up fast.
• Appearance - Medium to dark green color, high quality catchall blend.
  

Coverage: 250 Square feet per lb

30% Navigator Cr. Red Fescue
30% Jewel Kentucky Blue
20% Cruiser Perennial Rye
20% Paragon GLR Perennial Rye

Special Mixes:

We can also blend up special mixes for orders of 500 lbs or more. Call for quote.