It is important to acknowledge where we are in the growing season. It is also important when choosing grass seed at this time of the year to recognize the germination time required for our cool-season grasses and to choose accordingly.
Kentucky Bluegrass – under normal fall weather conditions Kentucky Bluegrass can take up to twenty-eight days to germinate. This would put new seedlings germinating around the middle of October. In a probability these new plants will not be established before we encounter a frost. Kentucky bluegrass prefers soils with pH 6.5 – 7.0 Establishment rate: slow to medium.
Fine Fescue – are a shade tolerant cool-season grass that will do well with more acidic soils in the 5.5 – 6.5 range. Fine Fescues can germinate in 7 – 14 days. Establishment rate: medium – fast.
Tall Fescue – turf type Tall Fescue can have very good drought tolerance. Tall Fescue will also do fine in more acidic soils in the 5.5 – 6.5 range. Tall Fescue generally germinates in 7 – 14 days. Establishment rate: medium – fast.
Perennial Ryegrass – is useful for quickly reestablishment of damaged areas on lawns and athletic fields. Perennial ryegrass does well in soil pH in the 6.0 – 7.0 range. Perennial ryegrass germinates in 5 – 7 days as such it is a good choice for this time of the growing season. Establishment rate: fast.