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Grasses used in Maine are often seeded in late summer. Late summer (August 15 to September 15) seeding allows turf grass seeds to germinate rapidly in the warm soil. The warm days and cool nights are ideal for seedling growth. In addition, there is less weed competition in late summer than in early spring. If weeds are not a concern on your site, late spring (May) seeding can result in an excellent lawn. Summer seeding can also yield a high-quality turf, but you must irrigate frequently to prevent the seed from drying out. Cool-season grasses such as the following are used in Maine:
Kentucky bluegrass - Kentucky bluegrass is a persistent and attractive species that is used in many home lawns, institutional grounds, parks, and athletic fields. This species has a medium to fine leaf texture and a medium- to dark-green color when properly fertilized. It produces extensive underground stems, called rhizomes, which provide good sod-forming characteristics and superior recuperative potential when compared to most other cool-season turfgrasses. Kentucky bluegrass is cold tolerant, wear tolerant, and moderately heat and drought tolerant. It makes optimum growth during the spring and fall and becomes semi-dormant under prolonged periods of heat and drought. It usually recovers quickly from dormancy with the advent of cooler temperatures and adequate soil moisture.
Perennial ryegrasses are bunching cool season grasses that are compatible in appearance with bluegrass, do not form thatch, have good heat tolerance and may be drought resistant. They tend to be disease prone and offer poor freezing tolerance if flooded or exposed to wind. Perennial ryegrasses is designed for full sun areas, but will tolerate some shade. Ryegrass is bred to give a pleasing dark green color, with a fine texture and excellent mowing qualities. Is also a very good choice for blends with Kentucky Bluegrass and Fine Fescue.
Fine-leaf Fescues - Fine fescues have an extremely narrow, almost needle-like leaf blade. They are included in turfgrass mixtures for their excellent shade tolerance. Fine-leaf fescue often appears in neglected lawns because it withstands a high pH. Due to its fine texture, fine-leaf fescue is often difficult to mow.
Bentgrass - This fine-textured grass is unique among cool-season grasses in its ability to be cut at heights of 1/2 inch or less. It has a high disease potential, poor drought tolerance and requires extremely high levels of maintenance. Bentgrass is a weed in home lawns and should be left on the golf course where it belongs.
Below is the USDA Zone Map for Maine so you can determine which zone you reside in. Below that are our picks for your state which will do best in your area. Next on this page are tables which list various grasses and their characteristics so you can compare before you decide on your purchase. Click on the product name (ie. Midnight) for more information about that grass and to make your purchase.
| USDA Zone Map For Maine | |
|---|---|
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| Best Grasses For Maine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Species | Category | Applications |
| Midnight | Kentucky Bluegrass | Cool Season | Lawns - Full Sun |
| World Cup | Kentucky Bluegrass | Cool Season | Lawns - Full Sun |
| Champion Ryegrass | Rye Grass | Cool Season | Lawns - Full Sun |
| Legacy | Fine Fescue | Cool Season | Lawns - Partial Sun |
| Combat Extreme | Fescue - Turf Type | Cool Season | Lawns - Partial to Full Sun |
| Garland | Rye, Fine Fescue Mix | Cool Season | Lawns - Partial to Full Sun |
| Showtime | Fine Fescue, Rye, Bluegrass Mix | Cool Season | Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun |
| Poa Supina | Supina Bluegrass Mix | Cool Season | Lawns - Very Shady in Cool Zones |
| Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool Season Grasses |
Leaf Texture |
Establish Rate |
Nitrogen Use |
Water Use |
Drought Tolerance |
Salinity Tolerance |
Shade Tolerance |
|
| Bentgrass - Creeping | Fine | Moderate to Fast |
Low to Moderate |
High | Poor to Moderate |
High | Poor to Moderate |
|
| Bentgrass - Colonial | Fine | Moderate to Fast |
Low | Moderate | Poor to Moderate |
Moderate | Moderate | |
| Bluegrass - Kentucky | Moderate to Fine |
Slow | Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Good | Moderate | Poor | |
| Bluegrass - Rough | Moderate to Fine |
Slow | Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Poor | Moderate | Excellent | |
| Fescue - Chewings | Fine | Moderate | Moderate to Low |
Moderate | Good to Excellent |
Low | Excellent | |
| Fescue - Hard | Fine | Slow to Moderate |
Low to Very Low |
Moderate | Excellent | Low to Moderate |
Excellent | |
| Fescue - Creeping | Fine | Moderate | Low to Moderate |
Moderate | Good | Low | Excellent | |
| Fescue - Turf Type | Moderate to Coarse |
Moderate | Moderate to High |
Low to Moderate |
Excellent | Low | Good to Excellent |
|
| Ryegrass - Perennial | Fine to Moderate |
Very Fast | Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Good | Poor to Moderate |
Poor to Moderate |
|
| Warm Season Grasses |
Leaf Texture |
Establish Rate |
Nitrogen Use |
Water Use |
Drought Tolerance |
Salinity Tolerance |
Shade Tolerance |
|
| Bahiagrass | Coarse toVery Coarse |
Slow to Moderate |
Low | Low | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate to Good |
|
| Bermudagrass | Fine to Moderate |
Moderate to Fast |
Moderate | Moderate to High |
Excellent | Very Good | Poor | |
| Blue Grama | Fine to Moderate |
Slow to Moderate |
Low | Low | Excellent | Moderate | Very Poor | |
| Buffalograss | Moderate to Coarse |
Slow to Moderate |
Low | Low | Excellent | Moderate | Very Poor | |
| Carpetgrass | Coarse | Moderate to Fast |
Low | High | Low | Low | Excellent | |
| Centipedegrass | Moderate to Coarse |
Slow | Low | Low | Good | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
|
| Seashore Paspalum | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Excellent | Excellent | Good | |
| Zoysiagrass | Fine to Medium |
Slow to Moderate |
Moderate | Moderate | Excellent | Good | Moderate to Good |
|
| Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics - Continued | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool Season Grasses |
Fertility Needs |
Wear Resistance |
Mowing Height |
Cold Tolerance |
Acid Soil Tolerance |
Thatching Tendency |
Heat Tolerance |
|
| Bentgrass - Creeping | High | Low | Low | Low | Medium to High |
High | High | |
| Bentgrass - Colonial | High | Low | Low | Low | Medium to High |
High | High | |
| Bluegrass - Kentucky | Medium | Medium to High |
Medium | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
| Bluegrass - Rough | Medium | Medium | Medium | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
| Fescue - Chewings | Low | Low | Medium | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
|
| Fescue - Hard | Low | Low | Medium | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
|
| Fescue - Creeping | Low | Low | Medium | High | Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
|
| Fescue - Turf Type | Low to Medium |
Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Medium | High | Low | High | |
| Ryegrass - Perennial | Medium | High | Low to Medium |
Medium | Medium | Low | Medium to High |
|
| Warm Season Grasses |
Fertility Needs |
Wear Resistance |
Mowing Height |
Cold Tolerance |
Acid Soil Tolerance |
Thatching Tendency |
Heat Tolerance |
|
| Bahiagrass | Low | Medium to High |
High | Low | Low | Medium to High |
High | |
| Bermudagrass | Medium | High | Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
Medium | Medium | High | |
| Blue Grama | Low | Low | High | High | Low | Low | High | |
| Buffalograss | Low | Low | High | High | Low | Low | High | |
| Carpetgrass | Low | Medium to High |
Low | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
High | Low | |
| Centipedegrass | Low | Low | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
High | Medium | High | |
| Seashore Paspalum | Medium to High |
Medium to High |
Low | Medium | Low | Medium to High |
High | |
| Zoysiagrass | Low to Medium |
Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
High | Low to Medium |
Medium to High |
High | |
To calculate the amount of seed you will need for your project, click one of the links below for the type of grass seed you are interested in. A dialog window will appear listing your selected coverage and providing options for calculating your seed.
If you already know the square feet, length/width or acreage of your yard or lot, you can use the 'Quick Calculator'. If you need to add multiple lots and/or subtract areas that will not require seed, you may use the 'Advanced Calculator.'
The dialog window can be moved by clicking and dragging the top 'title bar'. You may click different types of seed to recalculate without re-entering your data.
| Cool Season Grasses: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Grass: | Name of Grass: | Square Feet Covered |
| Bentgrass, Colonial | Highland | 500 to 1000 |
| Bentgrass, Creeping | Nu Penn or Penncross | 500 to 1000 |
| Bluegrass, Creeping | True Putt | 350 to 500 |
| Bluegrass, Kentucky | Midnight or World Cup | 350 to 500 |
| Bluegrass, Rough | Maximum | 350 to 500 |
| Envirolawn | Envirolawn | 750 |
| Fescue, Fine | Hard, Creeping, Sheeps or Legacy | 150 to 200 |
| Fescue, Turf Type Tall | Combat Extreme | 100 to 125 |
| Mixtures, Turf Type Fescue & Kentucky Bluegrass | Combat Blue | 175 to 200 |
| Mixtures, Ryegrass & Fine Fescue | Garland | 125 to 175 |
| Mixtures, Ryegrass, Bluegrass, & Fine Fescue | Showtime | 175 to 250 |
| Mixtures, Rough Bluegrass & Supina Bluegrass | Poa Supina | 350 to 500 |
| Ryegrass, Perennial | Outsidepride Blend | 100 to 140 |
| Warm Season Grasses: | ||
| Type of Grass: | Name of Grass: | Square Feet Covered |
| Bahia | Pensacola | 175 to 200 |
| Bermuda | Laprima, Princess, or Riviera | 350 to 500 |
| Blue Grama | Bad River | 350 to 500 |
| Buffalo | Cody or Supreme | 350 to 500 |
| Carpet | Carpet | 200 to 250 |
| Centipede | Coated | 1000 to 2000 |
| Seashore Paspalum | Seashore Paspalum | 1000 |
| Zoysia | Companion or Zenith | 500 to 1000 |
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