Reading Grass Seed Labels
Posted by Todd Jacksonon 9/24/2009
Read grass seed labels before you make your next purchase!
Reading seed labels is very important when selecting which brand of grass to plant in your lawn, for re-seeing and the initial planting stage. The label tells very important information about the brand in question and it may help explain the price differences when making your selection. The label will give you an idea about the germination rate of the selected seed (the ability to sprout), and how much of the package is inert material (filler). There are several items on the label, which are discussed below:
Brand Name
Lot number – give the manufacturer information about the seed.
Date tested- this generally applies to the date that the germination rate was tested. The more time that has passed since the test date, the less likely the seed will germinate.
Origin- This is where the grass was harvested examples are Oregon, Kentucky and Canada.
Germination percentage- is the pure grass seed that sprouted on the test date. Usually this is done in a percentage by weight.
Purity- Is the amount of pure grass seed that is contained in the package. This is usually done in percentage by weight.
Other crop seeds- These are usually not recommended for lawns. This is the percentage of cash crop seeds that are contained in the bag.
Inert matter- This can be used by the manufacturing companies to help fill the bag, which can make it appear like a bigger purchase. Inert matter will not grow, because it is usually sand, chaff, or ground corn cobs [citation: Jack Ingels].
Weed seeds- This is the amount of seeds that are from weeds that are contained in the package.
Noxious Weeds- These are weeds that are hard to get rid of after they start their life cycle. This can be given in the number by weight percentage.
The different types of seed contained in the package examples are Rye, Fescue, and Kentucky Bluegrass.
Weight of the package
Address of the manufacturer
Possible warranty information.
Be sure to read the label before your next purchase or you could be purchasing a high percentage of inert matter. The price can reflect changes in the seed, such as a recent test date, lower inert matter, less weed seeds and noxious seeds. Be sure to have your lawn prepared for the addition of your new seed!
Sources:
Ingles, Jack E. Landscaping Principles and Practices. 6th ed. Delmar Learning. 2004
