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Nebraska Grass Seed

USDA Zone Map For Nebraska & Best Grass Seed Choices

Page Index:

Grasses used in Nebraska consist of cool-season grasses (Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Fine Fescues,) are the norm throughout Nebraska with the exception of the southern parts of the state where Bermuda, zoysia and some native grasses such as Buffalo grass are common. Buffalo grass would be the best grass for a lawn in areas of 15 inches or less rainfall a year.

Cool-Season Grasses:
Kentucky bluegrass - The use of Kentucky bluegrass should be limited to the cooler parts of Nebraska. Unlike perennial ryegrass, which is a bunch type turfgrass, Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes and withstands moderate traffic. Because of the rhizomes, Kentucky bluegrass recuperates well from wear injury. On athletic fields, it can be used in mixtures with perennial ryegrass and/or tall fescue.

Fine fescues - Fine Fescue is a shade tolerant turf grass with a medium to dark green color. Adapted to the Pacific Northwest, Fine Fescue grows best in cool humid regions, coastal regions and in high elevations. All varieties require little maintenance and like to be mowed at 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. They have the finest leaves, the most shade tolerance and the lowest fertilizer, mowing and moisture requirements of all the cool season turf grasses. Chewings Fescue, Red Fescue, Creeping Red Fescue, Sheep Fescue and Hard Fescue are popular varieties of Fine Fescue. These varieties can be found on lawns, in parks, along road sides and other turf grass areas and extensively used in grass seed blends and mixes for both sunny and shady areas. Fine Fescues are not recommended for sports fields and golf tees because they have a low wear tolerance. Most of these varieties have all the same characteristics. Chewings Fescue has a noncreeping, bunch-type growth habit unlike Red Fescue. All varieties germinate rapidly and are well adapted to poor, dry, sandy soils.

Tall fescue - Turf Type - Due to its heat and drought tolerance, it is a good general purpose turfgrass for Nebraska. Tall fescue is a tall-growing, coarse- to medium-textured, bunch-type turfgrass that can be established by seed or sod. Tall fescue resists heavy wear and high temperatures. When adequately irrigated, it can be grown successfully in all parts of Nebraska.

Perennial ryegrass - Improved and newly released varieties of perennial ryegrass are well adapted to most of Nebraska and thus their use has increased greatly. These varieties establish quickly and provide, good cold tolerance and winter color, but only adequate heat tolerance. Even when irrigated heavily, summers in southern Nebraska can be too hot for perennial ryegrass to survive.

Warm-Season Grasses:
Bermuda Grass - Bermudagrass is the species most adapted to and most frequently used in the lower elevations of southern Nebraska. Many new and improved seeded varieties have been developed and released during the last 10 years. Users now have a choice of varieties that are denser and finer textured than the almost extinct seed of common bermudagrass. Bermudagrass spreads aggressively by stolons (aboveground runners) and rhizomes (below ground runners) and can become a nuisance when it invades flower beds and gardens. Bermuda grass can be grown successfully in some cities south of the Platte.

Zoysiagrass - Improved zoysiagrass varieties have been introduced that establish more quickly than previous varieties. However, zoysiagrass still establishes slower than bermudagrass. The newer varieties are very dense and can be grown successfully in some cities south of the Platte.

Buffalograss - This species is more drought tolerant and can be sustained on moderately less water compared with bermudagrass. Improved seeded buffalograsses are now available. They are denser and of higher quality (more attractive) than the older, dual-purpose forage varieties yet not as dense as traditional lawn grasses. Special care must be taken during establishment, especially in weed control.

Below is the USDA Zone Map for Nebraska 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 Nebraska
Nebraska Grass Seed Nebraska Zones

Best Grasses For Nebraska
Product Name Species Category Applications
Combat Extreme Fescue - Turf Type Cool Season Lawns - Partial to Full Sun
Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass Cool Season Lawns - Full Sun
World Cup Kentucky Bluegrass Cool Season Lawns - Full Sun
Showtime Fine Fescue, Rye, Bluegrass Mix Cool Season Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun
Champion Ryegrass Rye Grass Cool Season Lawns - Full Sun, Overseed
Legacy Fine Fescue Cool Season Lawns - Partial Sun
La Prima Bermuda Grass Warm Season Lawns - Full Sun, South NE
Supreme Buffalo Grass Warm Season Lawns - Full Sun, South NE
Zenith Zoysia Grass Warm Season Lawns - Full Sun, South NE
Compadre Zoysia Grass Warm Season Lawns - Full Sun, South NE

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

Grass Seed Calculator

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
EnvirolawnEnvirolawn 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
CarpetCarpet 200 to 250
Centipede Coated 1000 to 2000
Seashore PaspalumSeashore Paspalum 1000
Zoysia Companion or Zenith 500 to 1000

LazyManTMLiquid Gold

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