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Mowing, weeding and fertilization are all important to a healthy lawn. The most critical factor, though, is most often getting the right information about what type of grass seed to use in your new or renovated lawn.
Grass is a green monocot with blade-like leaves that produces long panicles of hundreds of small seeds. Grass seed is widely available, from catalogs to garden centers and hardware stores.
The function of most grass seed is to grow into lawns that hold soil in place. Grass lawns are customary in temperate climates. Grass is also used as silage, in grazing pastures and as ornamentals in gardens and landscapes.
Grass seed may be annual or perennial. Annual grass seed germinates and grows faster and may be used in mixtures to provide "quick cover" for slower growing perennial varieties.
Each variety grows better in specific zones, based on climate. St. Augustine, Bahia and Bermuda grass are popular warm season grasses. Bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass are common cool season grasses. Tall fescue and perennial ryegrass are successful in "transitional" areas between warm and cool season growing areas.
A seed mixture should be appropriate for the growing area and have a guaranteed germination rate of at least 85 percent. It should contain less than 0.3 percent weeds, less than 0.5 percent other crops, no weeds and less than 8 percent inert matter.
Laura Reynolds began writing professionally in 1974. She has worked as author and editor in nonfiction, professional journals and newspapers. Reynolds has also served in numerous appointed and elected local offices. She holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Northern Illinois University.
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