What Grass Would You Recommend for Low Maintenance in the Seattle Area?

Ryegrass Mix

• Traditionally, you want a lawn free from flowers and weeds. If this is true, pick a quality seed blend of ryegrass mixed with fescues. The ryegrass grows quickly, filling in the gaps as the fescue grasses mature. The same can be done with a Kentucky bluegrass in the mix, though that type of grass will die out in the Seattle area after a year or two, leaving the fescue grasses.

Eco-Lawn

• Developed by Professor Tom Cook at Oregon State University, the eco-lawn is a mix of low maintenance grasses, clovers and tiny flowering plants that can be mowed, require no fertilizer and need watering only once a month. This option can be more expensive, but requires less work in the long-run.

Moss Lawn

• If your soil is particularly acidic and your lawn is mostly shaded, opting for a moss ground cover is not a bad idea. Moss can tolerate lighter traffic, stays green year-round and does well with pine and other evergreen trees.