How to Pick Grass Seed

Select the type of grass seed best suited to your climate. Choose a cool season grass, such as perennial ryegrass or Kentucky bluegrass, if you live in a cooler climate. Select a warm season grass, such as bermudagrass or centipede grass, if you live in a warmer climate, such as the southern U.S.

Choose a grass well-suited to the soil conditions of your site. For example, tall fescue does well in moist soil, while bahiagrass is more drought tolerant.

Decide whether to seed your lawn with a mixture or a blend. A mixture contains seeds from two or more species. A blend contains seeds from cultivars within the same species. Blends can give a lawn the genetic diversity it needs to resist diseases and pests. Make sure the different types of seeds in a mixture have a similar appearance at maturity, if you decide to plant two or more separate species, and that each species is well adapted to the region's climate and to the site conditions.

Research into which pests typically attack which species of grass. Choose a type of grass seed that resists the major pests in your location.

Choose a grass seed that will not require more maintenance than you can provide. Avoid bermudagrass if you do not want to mow frequently, for example.

Purchase seed at a local grain elevator or seed retailer if possible.They can provide seed mixtures or blends onsite based on your individual needs. You might have to purchase a prepackaged formulation if you purchase at a large garden center.