We believe that the average homeowner’s needs for an attractive lawn can best be met with a blend of grasses that are most suited for the area.
We sell several blends that have been highly recommended by reputable companies that have done extensive testing.
Benefits of blends:
- Color of blends is excellent, many times better than single varieties
- More disease resistance and heat tolerance because weaknesses in a certain variety are lessened or virtually eliminated
- Tolerate a broader range of soil and weather conditions
The first thing you need to determine is the right blend for the job….is your lawn full sun, sun/shade or shady (4 hours or less).
Full Sun
1. Hertzlers Landscapers Blend (Pennington Mix)
2. Contractors Blend (80% Turf Grass and 20% Annual Ryegrass)
3. Class Act (Wetsels Blend)
Class Act is a blend of 4-5 of the top selling fescues available today.Class Act can be depended on to produce a dark green, dense turf that is disease resistant and drought tolerant. It is specifically blended to persist in moderate shade, a trait not all blends can boast about. All varieties used in this blend are contained in Virginia Tech’s recommended turf grass variety publications.Class Act II is suitable for lawns from North Carolina to Virginia to Ohio. It is blended and recommended by Wetsel’s Seed.Seeding rate:
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.Germination rate: 10-14 days |
3. Kentucky 31 Fescue
KY 31 is a tall growing, coarser blade, perennial grass and adapted to a wide range of soil conditions. It is deep rooted, grows in clumps, light green color and has good longevity. Due to its ability to come out in early spring and stay late in fall, under normal conditions, 30 days of extra growing can be realized. KY 31 shows good drought resistance. It is great for pastures as well as lawns and is cheaper in price than the specialty lawn blends.
Can be planted in early spring or fall. 20-40% annual ryegrass can be added in the fall or spring. The ryegrass germinates quicker than the fescue and provides cover for the fescue. The ryegrass likes cooler weather and if planted in the fall will stay green all winter but dies out during the heat of the following summer allowing the fescue to fill out.
Seeding rate:
- New Lawns: 8-10 lbs./1000 sq. ft. or 200 lbs./acre for new lawns
- Overseeding: 3-5 lbs/1000 sq. ft.
Sun & Shade
1. Rebel Blend
2. Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrasses are fine textured, dark green, and have good recuperative abilities. They grow best in full sun to light shade and require moderate to high maintenance. Kentucky Bluegrasses have a summer dormancy
Shady
1. Park’s Shady Lawn: Wetsels Seed
This is our best blend is for shady lawns and is hard to beat for value and quality. It gives a consistent appearance when used in lawns for overseeding or establishing new stands. Good green color arrives early in the spring and last well into the fall with relatively little care. This blend has a large following of satisfied customers throughout Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio.This blend contains a mixture of:
Park’s Shady is also blended and recommended by Wetsels Seed. Seeding rate:
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Germination rate: 10-14 days . |
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Note: the information on Wetsel’s blends was taken from literature provided by Wetsels Seed Inc., Harrisonburg, VA. |
2. Rebel Shady Lawn
Other Grass Seed Options
1. Annual Ryegrass
Annual and has rapid establishment-quicker than fescues. It is often planted with fescue to help with erosion control and early establishment of sod. It likes cool weather and will die out in the hot summer. Likes a pH level of 5.8-6.2. |
4. Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrasses are quick establishing, fine textured, and display a good color. They have good wearability and survive summer stress. They are disease susceptible and have an aggressive nature. |
Note: There are many, many varieties of lawn blends and varieties out there which you can see if you go to the Wetsels or Pennington web sites, however, these are the varieties that we have had good success with and recommend for this area.
Other Links of Interest:
- Fertilizing Your Lawn
- Plant Nutrition
- Liming Your Yard
- Local Lawn Care Services -Check our “Bulletin Board” tab for listing of local contractors