Seed

The correct seed mix.

Lawns are composed of a mixture of different grasses. However, famous names like "Gardner’s Pride", "Wembley Turf" or "Evergreen" do not make for a perfect lawn on their own. Depending on use, location and soil, certain grass types and varieties are ideal for each application.

Lawn areas around the house, for example, must be resilient and easy to care for. Here, grass mixtures comprising of ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue are most suitable. The narrow blade ryegrasses grow quickly and are resilient. The broad blade Kentucky bluegrasses are highly resilient and are well suited for mulch mowing. The fine blade red fescues can be cut very short and are suitable for shady areas. The ryegrasses grow quickly and are hard wearing, but are not as dense as the highly resilient and slower-growing Kentucky bluegrasses.

Both types of grass are well suited for mulch mowing. The fine blade red fescues are well suited for mixtures and survive relatively well in the shade, provided they are not constantly cut short. High hedges, walls or trees often block off a great deal of light and moss tends to form in the shade. Grasses such as tussock grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) or wood meadow-grass (Poa nemoralis) are suitable for areas with little light.

Helpful tips:

In order to provide the grass plants with the greatest possible surface area for vitally important photosynthesis, the cutting height should not be under 5 cm in shady areas. This also helps prevent moss from spreading.

Consider the Football World Cup.

On most major football pitches, the proportion of slow growing Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is approx. 75 %. Its strong underground runners form a broad, resilient base. Mixed with this is approx. 25% ryegrass (Lolium perenne), which grows quickly, fills in bare patches and provides the perfect appearance for television.

Poa pratensis
Kentucky Bluegrass
Smooth meadow-grass		 Festuca rubra
Red fescue
Red top		 Lolium perenne
Ryegrass
Blade medium width very fine narrow
Growth slow medium very fast
Form of growth underground runners, rhizomes bunchy, short runners bunchy, short runners
Location plenty of light suitable for shady locations plenty of light
Nutrient requirement high low high
Cutting must not be cut short normal to short normal, frays out
Resilience high, resilient medium, low resilience very high, good resilience
Application hard wearing and utility lawns utility and ornamental lawns sports fields and playing areas
Suitability for mulch mowing good not so good good

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