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Grass seed by region

NOT ALL SEED IS CREATED EQUAL

Seed is by far the smartest way to establish a lawn, but not all seed is created equal.

Anybody can purchase lawn seed at their local big-box store, but do you think that's where golf course superintendents or high-end property managers go for their projects? Not a chance. A careful look at the seed tags of these products will reveal their true nature - high levels of inert matter, filler species, and mediocre varieties.

But Nature’s Seed is different, and you’ll notice the difference in your lawn when you order one of our bags. Read below to learn more about our grass seed, how to seed your lawn, and which options are right for you!

Seed Selector™

Did you know that Americans with lawns spend nearly 60 hours a month on yard work? 

America's love for lawns is apparent — but not everybody has such good luck when it comes to a green lawn. These days there are so many options and styles that it's essential to know what the best grass seed for your lawn is.

Nature's Seed believes that a great lawn starts at the seed. That's why we provide high-quality bags of seed with no added filler. Read below to learn the in's and out's of the lawn seeds we offer, where you can grow them, and other considerations when buying grass seed for your lawn.

 

 

Best Grass Seed

Things to Consider When Buying Grass Seed

If you're looking to buy grass seed, there are a few things you'll want to address first.
You'll have to think about whether your lawn is dying or damaged, whether it's for pasture or forage use, and what kind of sun, shade, and rain it gets. 

 

Choose Grass For Your Region

The Purpose of the Grass

Buy Quality Grass Seed

You'll want to narrow down your list of choices to start, and for that we recommend our calculator that tells you the best seeds by region. Knowing what kinds of grasses do well in your area is the right way to start because many cool-season types of grass will go dormant and dry up in the southern summer months.

After you've narrowed down types of grass ideal for your climate, it's time to think about how you're using the grass:

Answering these questions will help point you to the right grass seed. For example, in hot climates, lawns with sandy soils, lots of sun, and dry skies might be a perfect place to plant Bahia seed (since Bahia is known to be hardy with soil types and drought-tolerant). Explore your options by region and find the best one for you. 

Buying quality lawn seed might sound obvious, but it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between top grain and mediocre seed just by looking at the bag. 

The good news is that there are general rules of thumb that you want to abide by:

At Nature's Seed, we ensure that every bag meets or exceeds these guidelines — and big-box stores can't make that promise. 

Get To Know Your Grass Types

FUN FACT: In early America, grass seed was primarily used to feed livestock. 

There are hundreds of species of grass, but there are only two grass types: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. Appropriately choosing species for your climate from these two overarching types will ensure a healthy and thriving lawn. 

Some warm-season and cool-season grasses do well in what's called the “transitional zone,” which is a belt that runs horizontally through the middle of the United States. These grasses are a mix of warm- and cold-tolerant to certain extents. But there are important differences between the two types: 

Warm-season grass originates in the south and does best in hot weather. It goes dormant and turns brown with a cold temperature. It does better planted in the spring so it can grow throughout the warm summer months. 

Cool-season grass originates from the north and grows rapidly in the spring and fall, turns brown in the high summer heat, best to plant in late summer or early fall. 

There's a simple way to depict which kinds of grasses do well in your region. First, you can refer to the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Plant Hardiness Zones

The planting zones are determined by:

Throughout the map, you'll notice varying colors and ranges. This color-coded map is used to identify your zone, which can help you choose the best grasses for your area. For example, Texas has a wide range of zones, varying from 6 to 9, which means you could find a variety of transitional and warm-season grasses there.  

Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses excel in warm climates. They also do well in poor soils with low moisture-holding capacity. When warm-season grasses dry out, it can be harvested and stored to dry out as hay.

Although generally hardy grasses, its primary growth is mid-summer and requires water and sometimes fertilization during the first few weeks. It's also crucial that you choose a grass ideal for your soil type and climate so you can keep a green-looking lawn year-round.

Here, you can learn about the best warm-season grasses. First, sure to do a soil test and check your area's best grass seed by region. 

#1: Bermuda

Like most grasses present in the United States, Bermuda grass isn't native to the U.S. And despite what its name implies, it's not native to Bermuda! It originates from East Africa, arriving in the states during the 1750s as a forage grass for cattle. 

Because of its hardiness, bermudagrass is a favorite in the southwestern U. S. It is a dense and adaptable turf grass that is used for lawns, pastures, athletic fields, golf courses, and parks, making it perfect for high-traffic areas. It does best in warm weather, but is also cool-tolerant to a certain extent, although it will go dormant below 60°F. 

It grows as far as Virginia, excelling in tropical climates where it will stay bright green year-round. Its planting zones are 7, 8, 9, and 10, which covers the southern U.S. with a distinct line from Virginia to some parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

#2: Buffalograss

Buffalograss is a low-maintenance, tough turf grass that is native to the Great Plains from Montana to New Mexico. It was first used as turf in the 1930s and impressed many homeowners with its cold-resistance and drought-tolerance. 

If you look closely, you'll notice its dark bluish-green color with slightly curled blades at the ends. Water needs are minimal so that you can expect a bright green lawn throughout the hottest temperatures of the summer. However, because it's not a thick grass, buffalograss is susceptible to weeds. 

Buffalograss has a wide planting zone, ranging between 5, 6, 7, and 8, taking up the majority of the transitional zones and all of the southern U.S. This grass is ideal for those who want a vibrant lawn throughout the hottest of summers. 

#3: Zoysia

Zoysia grass is a dark green grass that is relatively new to the United States, and was introduced from the coast of the Philippines in Manila in 1911. Ideal for lawns with high-traffic and full to partial sun, it has a slow establishment rate. But the good news is that once it forms, zoysia most often resists any weeds. 

Zoysia is drought-tolerant, so water needs are minimal — however, if not watered just right, it will go dormant. It will turn brown after the first frost but resumes growth at 70°F. Although its hardiness allows it to grow in a variety of soils, it doesn't do well in overly-wet soils.

Its planting zones are 7, 8, 9, and 10, covering the majority of the southern U. S., with a few exceptions in the northern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. 

#4: Bahiagrass

Bahiagrass is native to South America and is primarily used in the southeastern U.S. It is an excellent lawn seed for lawns that need a pick-me-up due to poor soils and areas without plenty of rainfall. It is also low-maintenance without requiring too much water or fertilizing. 

However, it will die out in the shade, in acidic soils, near saltwater, or if there's too much foot traffic. It is light green with coarse, short leaves that are susceptible to diseases.

Its planting zones are parts of 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, and 11. This makes it unique, covering the majority of the southeastern U.S. from Virginia to Florida to Texas. However, it doesn't do well in extremely arid areas like New Mexico or Arizona but excels just fine in all of California. 

 

Cool-Season Grasses

Cool-season grasses are types of grass that have adapted to do well in climates with fluctuating temperatures. They don't typically die out in the harsh winter months and might be able to resist extreme weather better than the warm-season counterpart. These grasses do their best growing between 60 to 75°F, which is why it's best to plant in the spring and fall. 

Although cool-season grasses take up the majority of the U.S., it's essential to know which species will do best in your area. Check out our list below and be sure to refer to a planting zone map. 

#1: Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass is a meadow-grass that is native to Europe, North Asia, and the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. Sometime between the 15th and 19th century, the Spanish Empire brought these lawn seeds in mixtures with other grasses. Today, Kentucky bluegrass is used all over humid, cold parts of the U.S. 

Kentucky bluegrass is often used as a pasture plant, athletic fields, and lawns and gardens. The blades are thin with rounded tips like the bow of a boat, but it grows densely which makes it traffic-tolerant. However, it does have a shallow root system which means it requires frequent watering — but it spreads quickly, maintains density, and heals quickly after damage. 

Because of its hardiness, Kentucky bluegrass thrives in planting zones 1 through 7, which is all across the northern belt of the U.S., from Maine to parts of Oregon, including transitional zones. In these climates, it remains green and lush with the right watering. What more could a homeowner want? 

#2: Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is perhaps the most versatile grass seed in the U.S. It is ideal as pasture seed and for home lawns and gardens, where it establishes quickly, has a long growing season, tolerates traffic, and recovers quickly from damage.

Perennial ryegrass is an excellent targeting grass seed. It does best in cold-weather regions for pastures and turf, serving a year-round presence as opposed to annual ryegrass, which goes dormant during the hot midsummer. 

You can find perennial ryegrass all across the U. S., serving as a cool-season lawn in the northern half and used to overseed warm-season grasses in the southern parts. It does best between planting zones 3 through 7. 

#3: Fine Fescue

Ideal for the northeast, northwest, and the transitional zones, fine fescue is a disease-resistant, bunch-forming grass that originates from Europe. It was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1800s when lawns became fashionable to Americans, especially for those who craved a year-round lawn that grows quickly. 

When planting fine fescue, it's crucial to spread across the lawn carefully. Since it grows in bunches, it can be easy to plant too much in one spot. 

Fescue is a favorite for many homeowners and farmers. For example, certain species like red fescue help with erosion control, are great as cover crops, for golf courses, playgrounds, and even pasture for deer, elk, and moose. 

Did You Know? Red fescue is actually disliked in some regions because it can become weedy or invasive in some areas, which is why it's wise to double-check your local NRCS Field Office for its status and use in your area.  

Still, fine fescue is one of the most popular and widespread grass seeds in the U.S. It adapts well in various climates since it's about to tolerate cold, heat, drought, and shade. It's a great addition to lawns that need that extra resilience and durability, thriving in zones 2 through 7. 

Nature's Seed Can Make the Difference

When it comes to yard care, you want to make sure your home has the healthiest lawn on the block, which starts with the best grass seed. And although pristine lawn care can seem overwhelming, it's effortless thanks to Nature's Seeds easy-to-use Seed Selector tool. 

Instead of choosing the cheapest brand name at your local big-box stores, it's essential to understand the ingredients in your seed so you know you're buying something high-quality for your lawn. 


The good news is that it's easy to buy quality grass seed thanks to Nature's Seed. We exclusively provide premium quality seeds with varieties only top-rated by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. Choose from any of our categories to start shopping now!

 

About our Lawn Grass Seed

The Nature’s Seed Difference

The Nature’s Seed Difference

Nature's Seed only stocks turf varieties that have been top-rated by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). These elite varieties have been bred for superior genetic traits such as color, density, drought tolerance, and disease and pest resistant. You won't find these varieties at big-box stores.

Once we've acquired the best seed possible, we submit it to rigorous quality controls including custom cleaning, purity, and viability testing performed by independent seed laboratories. And unlike other seed companies, we sell all our grass seed in PLS (pure live seed). This means you get the exact amount of viable seed that you order, every time.

But which seeds should you choose, and how do you plant them effectively? Below, we share some tips on which grass seed types to choose, when to seed your lawn, and how to choose a grass seeder that works for you.


Grass Seed Types

Grass Seed Types

Lawn grass can be classified into two main types: cool-season and warm-season. As you might have guessed, cool-season grasses perform better in the northern half of the United States while warm-season grasses are better adapted to the southern half.

The most popular cool-season lawn grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescues. Some of the most popular warm-season grasses include bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, buffalograss, and bahia.

What about the transitional zone where the northern half of the country meets the southern half? In these areas, both cool and warm-season types can be used — although we usually recommend a tall fescue blend for better coverage.


When to Seed Lawn

When to Seed Lawn

After you’ve determined if you’ll be using cool-season or warm-season species, you’re ready to determine your planting date.

Ideally, cool-season grasses should be planted in the spring or fall when your average high temperatures between 60-75 degrees. Warm-season grasses should be planted in the spring or early summer when your average high temperatures are above 80 degrees.


Lawn Grass Seeders

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF SEED SPREADERS:
Hand-held Broadcast Spreaders

These are some of the most common and least expensive types of spreaders available. The spreader is held with one hand while the other hand cranks on a handle, flinging the seed over a distance as you walk across an area. These spreaders work great for smaller lawns, but aren’t practical for large lawns or sports fields. Flow rate accuracy and quality can also be questionable on some models.

Tow Behind/Push Broadcast Spreader

These types of spreaders fling seed just like the hand-held versions, but are wheeled across the ground instead of carried and are much more efficient for large areas. However, what you make up for in speed and efficiency you lose in precision. Best used for large open areas.

Drop Spreaders

Drop spreaders are also wheeled and pushed/towed along the ground, but instead of flinging seed over a distance they “drop” seed from the bottom of the spreader in a very precise, controlled manner. Drop spreaders are an excellent choice for seeding irregularly shaped lawns and keeping seed out of flower beds, sidewalks, etc. but are more time-consuming than broadcast spreaders.

Slit Seeders

Slit seeders are engine-powered machines that cut small groves into the soil and place the seed directly into these slits all in one pass. They offer unmatched efficiency, accuracy, and seed-to-soil contact and produce some of the best results, but are tricky in tight areas. Used extensively by professionals and can also be rented by homeowners.


Lawn Grass Seed Faqs

How long does it take for grass seed to grow & germinate?

Different grass species take different amounts of time to germinate (sprout). Here’s the most common lawn grasses listed from quickest to slowest. Keep in mind that these times are for seeds planted under ideal conditions – temperature, moisture levels, etc. If planted under less-than ideal conditions these times could be longer.

Perennial Ryegrass: 5-10 days

Fine Fescue: 7-12 days

Tall Fescue: 7-12 days

Buffalograss: 7-14 days

Zoysia Grass: 7-21 days

Bahia Grass: 10-14 days

Bermudagrass: 10-30 days

Kentucky Bluegrass: 14-30 days

How long is grass seed good for?

When stored in a cool, dry place and away from all temperature extremes, grass seed should last between 10-18 months from the testing date without a significant decrease in the germination rate. After this time the seed can still be used, but each year after that will see the germination rate drop. Most sources report a 10-20% decrease for every year grass seed is stored.

How much grass seed per acre?

Nature’s Seed sells turfgrass blends by the coverage area. These sizes range from 500 sq. ft. to 5000 sq. ft. and are based on our recommended seeding rates for each species. However, we know lawns come it larger sizes especially if you’re planting a park or sports field. For areas over 10,000 sq. ft. in size, please contact us for the best prices possible.

Here’s a handy guide for planting grass seed by the acre based on our recommended seeding rates for each of our turf blends.

Blue Ribbon Kentucky Bluegrass Blend: 218 lbs./acre

Velvet Blue Blend: 131 lbs./acre

Northeast Seed Blend: 131 lbs./acre

Northwest Seed Blend: 349 lbs./acre

Sun & Shade Blend: 262 lbs./acre

Perennial Ryegrass Blend: 436 lbs./acre

Fine Fescue Seed Blend: 349 lbs./acre

Triple-Play Tall Fescue Blend: 523 lbs./acre

Low Maintenance Seed Blend: 262 lbs./acre

Bahia Grass Seed Blend: 218 lbs./acre

Bermudagrass Seed Blend: 175 lbs./acre

Buffalograss Seed Blend: 131 lbs./acre

Zoysia Grass Seed Blend: 88 lbs./acre

How often to water grass seed?

When your lawn is just starting out you should keep the area constantly moist, but not soaked, until the new grass is two inches tall. This is usually accomplished by watering 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time. After this, begin cutting back until you’re watering every other day. After a few weeks of this, cut back to three times a week. Once your lawn is fully established you can follow a more permanent schedule but remember infrequent, deep watering is better for your lawn than frequent, shallow watering. Watering every day not only encourages weed growth, it can also lead to a shallow root system since the roots have no reason to grow deeply to find moisture. This makes the grass more susceptible to drought stress if water suddenly becomes unavailable, like when water restrictions are put in place or natural precipitation fails to fall. Shallow roots are also more prone to pest problems, traffic damage, and diseases. Instead, water deeply enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. Do this once or twice a week max. To find out if you’re watering deep enough, grab a shovel and start watering you lawn. Dig up a small section of your lawn every 15 minutes to find out how long it takes for water to seep 6-8 inches down. Once you know how long it takes, set your sprinkler system to water for that duration every time.

How to best plant grass seed in the spring?

While fall planting is the ideal time for cool-season turfgrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fescue, springtime can be very successful too. For warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, buffalograss, zoysia grass and bahia, late spring is the best time.

Step 1 – Prepare the area by killing off and/or removing the old lawn or existing vegetation. This can be accomplished using a tiller, sod cutter, or with a glyphosate herbicide. If you use a tiller or sod cutter, break up any soil clumps and rake the area smooth. If you use glyphosate, wait 2-3 weeks and then remove the dead vegetation. Scalping the area with a string trimmer or lawnmower on the lowest setting does this nicely. Follow this up with a vigorous raking to loosen and smooth out the soil.

Step 2 – Sow the seed using a seed spreader. Hand sowing can work for smaller areas, but larger areas should be planted with a mechanical spreader. Follow the spreader manufacture’s recommended settings for the type of seed you’re using. Most manufactures list their settings on their websites.

Step 3 – After sowing the seed work it into the soil by raking lightly or by pressing it into the soil using a lawn roller.

Step 4 – In arid climates, apply a thin layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture (optional).

Step 5 – Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soaked, until the new grass is two inches tall. This is usually accomplished by watering 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time.

How to plant grass seed on existing lawn?

Planting into existing grass, also known as overseeding, is one of the best ways to rejuvenate an existing lawn. Not only does overseeding help bare and thin areas fill in, it also introduces newer turfgrass varieties into older lawns. These newer varieties bring with them added resistance to pests and diseases, and improve the overall quality of the lawn. Overseeding can be accomplished in three steps:

  1. Prepare the area by mowing your lawn shorter than usual and removing the clippings. This is important for achieving adequate seed-to-soil contact. For even better results, consider having your lawn core-aerated prior to overseeding.

  1. Sow the seed using a spreader. For overseeding purposes you only need to use half the recommended seeding rate. For example, if the seeding rate was 5 lbs. /1000 sq. ft. for establishing a new lawn, the seeding rate for overseeding an existing lawn would be 2.5 lbs. /1000 sq. ft.

  1. Keep the area constantly moist, but not soaked, while the new seed germinates. Continue this until the new grass reaches the height of your existing grass. Continue to mow as needed but try to limit the traffic on your lawn during this time.

How to plant grass seed on hard dirt?

Trying to plant grass seed on hard, compacted soil is challenging. Whatever you do, don’t bring in topsoil and spread it over the hard soil. While it may look like the problem is solved and your grass will even germinate and start to establish, that compacted layer will play havoc with the drainage, root development, and overall vigor of your grass later. However, if you can bring in enough new soil to bury the compacted soil at least 2-3 feet deep than this idea can work, but that much soil over a large area is usually not practical.

The best solution is to incorporate organic matter into the compacted soil at a depth of at least 6 inches, deeper if possible. Organic matter can include compost, lawn clippings, shredded leaves, aged manure, etc. Tilling is often the only way to incorporate this matter into the soil. Make sure the soil isn’t wet or it could do more harm than good. However, a slightly moist soil will make for easier tilling than bone dry soil will. In the future having the area core-aerated yearly will help avoid more compaction.

How to spread grass seed evenly?

The best way to sow grass seed, and the way we strongly recommend, is with a mechanical spreader. These spreaders come in many varieties but all function the same basic way. By adjusting the distribution rate these device help to ensure a uniform, consistent spread. This consistency makes for a more efficient use of grass seed and eliminates the patchiness often resulting from hand spreading. Here is a closer look at the different types of mechanical spreaders on the market:

Hand-held Broadcast Spreaders – These are some of the most common and least expensive types of spreaders available. The spreader is held with one hand while the other hand cranks on a handle, flinging the seed over a distance as you walk across an area. These spreaders work great for smaller lawns but aren’t practical for large lawns or sports fields. Flow rate accuracy and quality can also be questionable on some models.

Tow Behind/Push Broadcast Spreader – These types of spreaders fling seed just like the hand-held versions, but are wheeled across the ground instead of carried and are much more efficient for large areas. However, what you make up for in speed and efficiency you lose in precision. Best used for large open areas.

Drop Spreaders – Drop spreaders are also wheeled and pushed/towed along the ground, but instead of flinging seed over a distance they “drop” seed from the bottom of the spreader in a very precise, controlled manner. Drop spreaders are an excellent choice for seeding irregularly shaped lawns and keeping seed out of flower beds, sidewalks, etc. but are more time-consuming than broadcast spreaders.

Slit Seeders – Slit seeders are engine-powered machines that cut small groves into the soil and place the seed directly into these slits all in one pass. They offer unmatched efficiency, accuracy, and seed-to-soil contact and produce some of the best results, but are tricky in tight areas. Used extensively by professionals and can also be rented by homeowners.

What is the best grass seed for shade?

Most grasses prefer full-sun (8+ hours of sunlight a day), and some grasses can handle part-sun (4-6 hours of sunlight a day). But for areas that receive 2-4 hours a day, fine fescue is the best choice for northern climates. Unfortunately, if you have an area that receives less than 2 hours of sunlight a day you might need to consider a different type of groundcover.

For shady areas in the southern half of the United States your options are very limited. Warm-season grasses perform best in these southern areas, but warm-season grasses are also known for being intolerant of shade. Some varieties of zoysia can tolerant part-sun conditions, but the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass is St. Augustine (not available in seed form). St. Augustine grass has some drawbacks however, so be sure to do your homework before considering this type of lawn.

What is the best way to plant grass seed in the fall?

Late summer and early fall is the prime time for planting cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescue. Soil temperatures are warm and nights are cool which encourages quick germination and rabid establishment. Fall also happens to be the beginning of the wetter season throughout much of the United States, and soil moisture levels are near perfect. However, fall is not a good time for planting warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, buffalograss, zoysia grass, or bahia. Wait until late spring for these types of grasses.

Step 1 – Prepare the area by killing off and/or removing the old lawn or existing vegetation. This can be accomplished using a tiller, sod cutter, or with a glyphosate herbicide. If you use a tiller or sod cutter, break up any soil clumps and rake the area smooth. If you use glyphosate, wait 2-3 weeks and then remove the dead vegetation. Scalping the area with a string trimmer or lawnmower on the lowest setting does this nicely. Follow this up with a vigorous raking to loosen and smooth out the soil.

Step 2 – Sow the seed using a seed spreader. Hand sowing can work for smaller areas, but larger areas should be planted with a mechanical spreader. Follow the spreader manufacture’s recommended settings for the type of seed you’re using. Most manufactures list their settings on their websites.

Step 3 – After sowing the seed work it into the soil by raking lightly or by pressing it into the soil using a lawn roller.

Step 4 – In arid climates, apply a thin layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture (optional).

Step 5 – Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soaked, until the new grass is two inches tall. This is usually accomplished by watering 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time.

What to cover grass seed with?

Covering an area with mulch after seeding can be beneficial when establishing a new lawn. While it’s not a requirement it can help the soil retain moisture. This is especially helpful in dry, arid parts of the country. There are many different types of mulches available ranging from peat moss, straw, compost, recycled paper, etc. We strongly recommend against peat moss as its use contributes to wetland destruction. Straw is a cheap option, but make sure it comes from a weed-free source or else you could introduce weed seeds into your new lawn. Spreading one 80 lb. bale per 1000 square feet is adequate. The best option is our professional-grade Seed Aide Cover Grow – water retaining seed starting mulch. This mulch combines post-consumer recycled paper, recycled clean whole-wood mulch, organic tackifier, and bio-stimulant for superior seed establishment.

Where does grass come from?

Nature’s Seed uses an extensive network of grass seed producers from around the country, but the majority of the cool-season grass seeds we use were grown and harvested in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon is the largest supplier of cool-season grass seeds in the country and is grown and harvested by professional farmers. Here at Nature’s Seed, we select and stock only the best grass varieties based on data gathered by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP).

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Best Grass Seed for Illinois

A lush green lawn has long been a dream of any homeowner. Recently, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers has thrown homeowners off of grass seeds and they’ve been turning to alternatives, such as clover. However, homeowners still view clover as a type of weed and nothing looks as welcoming as a grass seed lawn in Illinois — as long as you can grow it without patchy, brown spots.

Achieving such a goal for your lawn is absolutely possible. Choosing the right grass seed makes it easier for you to grow a beautiful lash lawn without the need to add pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Read on to learn more about how to grow the best lawn possible. 

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Illinois Grass Growing Conditions

Growing healthy grass from grass seed is conditional on soil health. Illinois has different soils, with some of them being highly productive. Other types might not be fit for growing grass because they might be too steep or dry. But overall, Illinois is a great agricultural state and is perfect to plant grass seed.

The location, low elevation of the state, and the confluence with major drainage lines have influenced soil development throughout the centuries. 

West Illinois has the Mississippi River, the south has the Ohio River, the Southeast has the Wabash River, and the Illinois River is in the central part. These rivers have distributed critical nutrients to the soil, making it fertile and productive.

Additionally, Illinois’s climate is also favorable to the soil condition and for growing lawn grass. The state has the perfect mix of warm and cold weather to allow for cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses, as well as adequate fertilization periods.

 

In general, there are ten major soil groups, and five of them are crucial to Illinois:

  • Mollisols: dark-colored soils, perfect for lawn grasses, formed by the decomposition of underground remains. Mollisols are mainly found in central and Northern Illinois, making up 49% of the state.
  • Alfisols: light-colored soils that grow under forests. They are predominant in Southern Illinois and make up 46% of the state.
  • Entisols: light-colored soils in Southern and Western Illinois and make up 3.25% of the state.
  • Inceptisols: thick and dark-colored soil types that make up 1.5% of the state soil.
  • Histosols: are made up of organic soils, such as mucks and peats, and only occupy around 1% of the state soil.

 

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agriculture

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When to Plant Grass in Illinois?

Beginners with little information or experience might assume that you can plant grass seed anytime you want. On the contrary, each region has a specific time for planting lawn grasses, depending on the climate, soil, and many other factors.

For Illinois, the best time to plant lawn seed mixture is mid-August to early September. If you've missed this time frame, you can also plant in April. 

You should avoid planting new grass in late spring or mid-summer because the full sun might damage it. That's because the region is primarily appropriate for cool-season grasses and requires some shade.

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Best Grass Seed for Illinois

The type of grass seed you choose for your lawn in Illinois depends on the plant hardiness zones and the weather. Because Illinois has a colder temperature, warm season grasses are not an option. If you plant warm season grasses, they will quickly wilt and your efforts to grow a green lawn will go to waste. 

 

The Illinois plant hardiness zone covers zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, and 7a, which have a temperature range of -20 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s why the best type of grass seeds for Illinois are cool season grasses. 

 

Source

 

1) Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass is the most popular lawn grass in Illinois. Homeowners like it because of its durability, hardiness, and appearance. 

While most people call it the best grass seed in Illinois, Kentucky Bluegrass requires moderate to high attention and maintenance, including fertilizing, mowing, and watering, to keep it looking good. So you'll need to spend quite some time working on it to maintain high quality.

Kentucky Bluegrass prefers the full sun, but some subtypes, or cultivars, have a tolerance to light shade. Kentucky Bluegrass spreads through an underground root system known as rhizomes. It grows slowly if spread by seed, but its lush germination makes waiting worthwhile.

 

2) Fine Fescue

Second on the list is the fine fescue, which is perfect for new lawns and property owners with little experience. It's adaptable to shade and requires less maintenance than Kentucky Bluegrass. Frequent mowing could do more harm than good, so keep that in mind when creating a mowing schedule. 

However, fine fescue does have good durability and can recover after some foot traffic (also known as wear tolerance).  

Fine fescues have a fine texture and include a few subtypes of popular grasses such as:

  • Red fescue
  • Chewings fine fescues
  • Sheep fescue
  • Hard fine fescues

 

They’re primarily used in different mixtures to establish variations of light intensities.

 

3) Perennial Ryegrass

Quick to grow and able to tolerate heavy foot traffic, Perennial Ryegrasses are high-quality, bunch-type grasses that are similar to Kentucky Bluegrass. Perennial Ryegrass requires effort and maintenance, so they do better as part of a grass seed mixture rather than on its own.

 

4) Tall Fescue

If you live in warmer parts of Illinois, especially southern Illinois, the tall fescue is perfect for home lawns. It has a high drought tolerance, excellent heat resistance, a high-quality appearance, and remarkable recovery ability. Tall fescues are clump-type grasses, so they may take longer to establish but the end result looks wonderful on your lawn.

 

5) Zoysia Grass

As one of the few warm-season grasses in Illinois, Zoysia is easy to plant and care for but can become burdensome. It's deep-rooted into the ground and can be very invasive. So, unless you live in warmer parts of the state, or you want to conserve water with a drought-resistant grass type, Zoysia should not be your first choice of grass type in Illinois.

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Recommended Lawn Seed Mixes for Illinois

Mixing two or more lawn seeds produces mixtures and blends. These mixtures combine several grass types, enhancing them to withstand more stress or problems than if you were to use only one grass type. 

The cool temperatures of Illinois, especially Northern Illinois, allow for more cool-season grasses and mixes, such as Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Fine Fescues.

Here are the recommended mixes of grass types for Illinois, depending on light exposure.

 

Full Sun Mixes

  • Kentucky bluegrass blend/perennial ryegrass
  • Kentucky bluegrass blend
  • Fine fescue blend
  • Tall fescue blend
  • Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass/fine fescue

 

Light Shade

  • Kentucky bluegrass/fine fescue blend
  • Tall fescue blend

 

No Sun/More Shade

  • Rough bluegrass
  • Fine fescue blend
  • Woodland natives
  • Full shade tolerant ground cover
  • Mulch to cover soil

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Conclusion

An alkaline soil and generally low elevation make Illinois and Northern Illinois the perfect place for cool-season grasses. Many homeowners love planting new lawn seeds and getting that beautiful green color in their front or back yards. 

The best grass seed is the Kentucky Bluegrass. It develops a great root system and has excellent wear tolerance. Other grasses such as tall fescues, red and chewings fescues, perennial ryegrass, and more, make for perfect lawn grass.

Getting these grass seeds is easy: Nature's Seed offers high-quality seeds tailored to your projects and goals. You can choose based on regions, mixes, and more to get the best result for your lawn. Visit our online store and start planning — and planting! — your lawn today.

DLF Trifolium Seed: Top Quality Lawn Grass

DLF Trifolium is the world's largest lawn seed producer. Grass mixtures of the premium series DLF MasterLine (GolfMaster, SportMaster, etc.) are used on the best football and golf fields, in the best landscape parks. The DLF Universal series (Robustika, Playground, etc.) is distinguished by its affordable price, which allows you to create a beautiful lawn for a reasonable price.

Bright lawn grass, 's best sustainability performance, ideal proportions of turf grass species, and continuous research and development of breeding have made DFL turf seeds the most popular in the world.



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DLF lawns are fully suited to the climate of the northwest, which is achieved by a large variety of varieties that are suitable for various climatic zones around the world. nine0007

DLF Trifolium has test stations around the world to test new turf grass varieties in different climates. Every year DLF updates the composition of its lawn grass mixtures by introducing new selections, as well as adjusting the composition.

Pay attention to the Masterline line from DLF - lawn grasses with the best indicators of winter hardiness, drought resistance and endurance to loads are collected in these grass mixtures. This is a professional series of herb seeds with the fastest establishment, great color and maximum resistance to gas diseases. nine0007

The Masterline series, which includes such lawns as Sportmaster, Golfmaster and Ecomaster, is suitable for those who need the best quality of . A distinctive feature of Masterline is the presence of two varieties of each type of lawn grass. This is necessary for better adaptation of the lawn to different soils.

Lawn grass seeds

Lawn grass seeds

The device of a lawn is a final stage of works on an accomplishment and gardening of a site. The lawn is not only a decoration of landscape design, but also contributes to the creation of a favorable climate, serves as a favorite place for recreation, it can be used for sports and children's games. Of course, lawn care requires a lot of time, and its arrangement requires significant cash injections, but with a competent approach, all these costs can be minimized. The first step in this will be the right choice of seeds for sowing the lawn. nine0007

How to choose the right lawn grass seeds? First of all, lawn grass seeds must be of high quality - they must pass the necessary laboratory examinations and meet all quality indicators. It is best to purchase lawn grass seeds from a manufacturer who is interested in the quality of their products and is obliged to check their product. Our company is just focused on the sale of lawn grass seeds from the manufacturer and guarantees the high quality of lawn grass seeds. nine0007

The choice of lawn grass seeds depends on what kind of lawn you are going to arrange on your site - parterre or sports lawn, meadow or Moorish lawn, or maybe the so-called "lazy lawn".

So, for parterre lawn, which serves mainly for aesthetic purposes, it is necessary to have lawn grass with high decorative properties - red fescue, thin bentgrass, meadow bluegrass. Sports turf requires lawn grass seeds that are most resistant to trampling. Sports turf is best formed from lawn grasses such as perennial ryegrass, bluegrass meadow and red fescue. Mauritanian turf is made up of a mixture of lawn grasses and annual low-growing flowers, and the blooming "lazy turf" necessarily includes white clover seeds. nine0007

The choice of lawn grass seeds also depends on the natural and climatic conditions in which the lawn will be arranged. Lawn grass seeds are selected depending on the composition of the soil, the degree of shading of the site, the level of groundwater, and so on.

Lawn grass seeds such as red fescue and its subspecies, sheep fescue and cane fescue are suitable for shady areas. Drought-tolerant lawn grasses such as cane fescue, sheep's fescue, and red fescue. nine0007

To create a quality, durable lawn, as a rule, not one specific type of lawn grass is used, but a mixture of lawn grass seeds. Such grass mixtures allow you to create the most dense, uniform, lawns with good performance properties. Certain properties of individual types of lawn grasses organically complement each other, help to grow better and resist environmental influences.

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