What is the difference between blend and mix? And what factors to consider when sowing a lawn? A blend of grasses is a mix of two or more cultivars of the same species. In other words, combining Victa with Vantage bluegrasses is a blend. A mix is made up of two or more grass species, such as bluegrass and ryegrass.
This is useful when selecting grass seed in a garden or home improvement store. If your lawn is largely one species of grass, you need a grass seed blend. If your lawn contains a mix of species, you will need a grass seed mix that matches your lawn's species.
Since most warm-season grasses are planted vegetatively (sprigging) or with sod, this discussion focuses on cool-season grasses only. Most cool-season grasses grow in bunches or spread by subterranean roots called rhizomes.
Both perennial ryegrass and turf-type tall fescue grow in bunches and fill up slowly. Bluegrass has rhizomes and fills in quickly.
What grass should you put on your lawn?
It depends on your lawn's needs. Ryegrass is a great recuperator, although it is sensitive to heat and dryness, and it fills in slowly. Tall fescue tolerates heat and drought, but takes time to establish. However, bluegrass is the least heat and drought tolerant of all the turf. So, a mix of two or three of these grass species seems to be the ideal choice.
Most people don't realize that ryegrass germinates in 7 days, tall fescue in 10 days, and bluegrass in 28 days. Too much ryegrass or tall fescue in a predominantly bluegrass lawn will inhibit bluegrass germination. The other issue is that most people are not committed to watering the area for 28 days.
A mix of grasses with the majority being bluegrass should contain no more than 20% ryegrass or tall fescue and be kept moist for at least 28 days.
