Page Index:

• Grass Used in Washington
• USDA Zone Map
• Best Grasses for Washington
• Grass Characteristics
• Grass Characteristics Continued
• Grass Seed Calculator
• LazyMan Product Line

Grasses used in Washington vary from the Western WA to Eastern WA. Kentucky bluegrasses, fine-leaved and turf-type tall fescues are best adapted for Eastern Washington. Turf-type perennial ryegrasses, fine-leaved fescues, turf-type tall, and bentgrasses are well-adapted to Western Washington. Kentucky bluegrasses are usually shortlived in Western Washington.

Cool-Season Grasses:
Perennial ryegrass - Ryegrass is a persistent, dark-green, fine to medium-textured turfgrass that is used for home lawns, parks, grounds, golf courses, and athletic fields. This species produces a bunch-type growth habit and does not form rhizomes or stolons. Its recuperative potential is not as strong as Kentucky bluegrass. Perennial ryegrass germinates rapidly (5 to 7 days) and establishes quickly. It is very competitive with other turfgrasses and is used extensively for overseeding thin or damaged turf. Because of its aggressive nature, perennial ryegrass is generally not used in amounts over 20 percent in a mixture with other turfgrasses. It is suitable for use alone or in combination with Kentucky bluegrass and/or fine fescues.

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 - Tall fescue is a persistent and durable plant that forms acceptable turf for home lawns, grounds, parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields. It is commonly used in low maintenance situations such as utility areas, highway medials, airstrips, and fairgrounds. Many new and improved varieties have finer texture, higher tiller densities, and a darker-green color than the coarse-textured, light-green varieties such as 'Kentucky 31' and 'Alta.' Tall fescue is considered by many individuals to be incompatible with the finer-textured and darker-green Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescues. Tall fescue may be objectionable in a mixture with fine-textured turfgrass species because it tends to form coarse-textured clumps in an otherwise uniform stand.

Tall fescue is primarily a bunch-type grass that occasionally produces short rhizomes. It is somewhat slow to establish extensive root systems and has only fair recovery potential. This species is the most heat and drought tolerant of the cool-season turfgrasses. The increased drought tolerance is a function of its ability to produce a deep root system. Tall fescue performs well in open, sunny areas and is moderately shade tolerant. It is less suited to heavily-shaded conditions than the fine fescues, but is more shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Tall fescue is best suited to well-drained soils.

Kentucky bluegrass - Kentucky Bluegrass is an easily grown, high quality perennial turf grass used in Eastern Washington and in mixes (small percentages) in Western Washington. It is most commonly used on home lawns, parks, cemeteries, institutional grounds, airfields, roadsides, golf course fairways and athletic fields because of its ability to withstand high turf injury. Its thick root system helps the plants recover quickly and prevents the plants from falling apart. Kentucky Bluegrass grows best in the north eastern and central states. This dense grass has good color, a fine texture and is the cold hardiest of all turf grasses. It has a high water requirement and may suffer in summer heat if mowed too short. Although this is popular grass seed, it has high maintenance requirements like frequent watering, fertilizing and mowing. It prefers to be mowed at 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. This cool-season grass is one of the most important and widely used turf grasses.

Below is the USDA Zone Map for Washington 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 Washington

QuickAdvanced

USING THE QUICK GRASS SEED CALCULATOR:
Simply select your unit of measurment and enter your area value(s). The total square footage (if appropriate) and seed required to cover your area will be automatically calculated.

USING THE ADVANCED GRASS SEED CALCULATOR:
Enter as many grass areas/lots as you need. If you have lots with areas not needing seed (e.g. buildings, driveways etc.) enter the dimensions of those under 'Voids' to be subtracted from the total area. Clicking the '+' button will add a new area; clicking '-' will remove the associated area.

Coverage Type
Grass Type:
Coverage:

Coverage Area
Units:	Length/Width Square Feet Acres
Length:	ft.
Width:	ft.
Sq. Ft.:
Acres:

Areas / Lots
Click the + button to add a new area
Length: ft. Width: ft.
Voids (buildings, driveways etc.)
Click the + button to add a new 'void'

Total Area:
Seed Rqd.:

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.

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