The Grass Doctor

what is the best type of grass seed to use in southeast missouri?

I've read about different types,but I am more unsure now than I was before. I read a article that said perrenial rye was good then I read not to use that kind,and that kentucky blue grass was good,so on,and so on,HELP!!!

Public Comments

1. Well that really depends all upon you. Your the only one who knows exactly what your looking for and such and I honestly really don't know that much about grass, but there are going to be a lot of different people saying whats best because is all going upon their own personal opinions. So here's a website that will help you out with this area and more than likely any other that you may have www.motherearthnews.com
2. Hello Jeff, You could plant a perrenial rye. If the area is shaded? Rye and Fescue both require at least three hours of sun light per day. Pennington Seed is located in Missouri. They have a great seed mix called Triad. If has three different grass seeds specialy designed to provide a thick ground cover year round. However, it is recommended that you over seed each fall or spring to maintain the density of your turf. If the area receives at least three to five hours of sun light per day, consider Zoysia. Small childern will usually stay on any portion of the lawn planted with Zoysia as apossed to Bermuda. Meyers is a great veriaty. Zoysia is a thick, carpet like, turf. It is used by golf courses. Green Acre Sod Farms, Inc., of Bixby, OK have farms in Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma. They are curently sodding a new golf course in Branson, MO and are hauling Meyers Zoysia in by the truck load! Zoysia grows slower and requires less water. Therefore, it is less expensive to maintain. From sprigging it takes about three years to grow to harvest as sod. This makes the sod price a little higher than Bermuda or Fescue. Zoysia goes dormate in the fall about the same time as Bermuda. You can overseed it with Pennington's Triad or any Fescue or Rye of your choice in the fall to maintain a green turf. I would begin with a soil test. Contact your county extension agent. In Oklahoma this only cost $10 and the results are back in about two weeks. Tell them what type of grass you are going to plant and they will let you know exactly what type and how much fertylizer you need. I once had a customer drive into the parking lot with a $500 pickup load of fertylizer. I asked what he was going to do with it? He replied he was putting it on his lawn so the sod we were installing next week would grow better. I suggested he have a soil test done. So, he did. We postponed the sod install and waited two weeks for the results. He only needed to add a small amount of lime. A savings of over $400. The county extension agent can also assist you in selecting the proper turf for your location. To locate you county extension agent go to: http://extension.missouri.edu/regions/ Go to this page for info about the soil test. The one you need is Regular analysis, $10. I know that you will enjoy your new lawn.