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.

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 Mix

"Beautiful, lush, dark green, requires plenty of water, fertilizer, and cutting"

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% Cruiser Perennial Rye
20% Mongoose Kentucky Blue
20% Blue Sapphire Kentucky Blue
20% Appalachian Kentucky Blue
20% Brooklawn Kentucky Blue

Royal Green

"Excellent residential blend, needs good soil, plenty of water, and fertilizer"

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

Estate Green

"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% Cruiser Perennial Rye
20% Manhattan V Perennial Rye
20% Evening Shade Perennial Rye
10% Creeping Red Fescue
10% 98/85 Kentucky Blue
10% Brooklawn Kentucky Blue

Shady Green

"Best choice for shady areas"

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% Cruiser Perennial Rye
15% Jamestown IV Ch. Fescue
10% Brooklawn Kentucky Blue
10% Cindy Lou Cr. Red Fescue
5% Racehorse Poa Trivialis

Wear Green

"Very low maintenance, good for sandy soils, grows slow, no tillers"

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% Cochise III Tall Fescue
33.3% 2nd Millennium Tall Fescue
33.3% Lexington Tall Fescue

Quick Green

"Good for quick green-ups, roadside, or on steep slopes, light green"

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 Mix

"Good inexpensive 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

" High Quality general blend, good choice for mixed conditions w/nice lawn "

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% Cindy Lou Cr. Red Fescue
30% Brooklawn Kentucky Blue
20% Evening Shade Perennial Rye
20% Cruiser Perennial Rye

Special Mixes:

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