To establish a lawn in western Washington, choose a combination of turftype tall fescue grasses and turftype perennial rye grasses. A mix that adds up to about 90% of these two grass seed types will grow well in either sun or light shade in western Washington. Turftype perennial ryegrass takes full sun and stands up to traffic. Turftype tall fescues are adapted to shadier locations. In combination, the mix works for a lawn in average light conditions.

In this area the best time to put grass seed down is in the spring during the months of April and May and in the fall during the month of September.

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Why not? Remember, just before a snow, top dress with a light sprinkle of soil so the birds don’t think you’re a horticultural philanthropist.

We suggest you contact the program advisor, John Miles, Ph.D. to setup a meeting and a visit to the campus. Contact John at john_miles@wwu.edu.

Tall Fescue is the most popular turfgrass in the mid-Atlantic region. It is a very adaptable grass, which grows in full sun or part shade. It is also the most heat and drought tolerant of the cool season grasses. Merrifield Tuff Play is a Tall Fescue blend mixed with a small amount of Kentucky Bluegrass. This combination of grasses develops a dense, wear resistant lawn for sun or part shade. Merrifield Shady Lawn Grass Seed is for use in heavy shade.

Spring and fall are excellent times to plant grass seed. For Kentucky bluegrass, temperatures should be around 80 degrees F. For details on how to plant grass seed, see our How To section.

Adopt six or seven cats. Seriously, though, cover the seed with one quarter inch of topsoil, pat down or roll gently. The faster it sprouts, the more you keep and the less the birds eat. You can also slit an old tennis ball and force it over the end of a six- to seven-foot piece of old garden hose. Draw two mean eyes and a nasty mouth, and place yellow strips of tape like Xs down the hose. Let this lie on the seeded area until the seed sprouts. Why? The birds think it’s a snake.

None, really. That’s not exactly true, but then they haven’t developed an Astroturf seed yet. There is no true shade grass; all grasses like some sun. However, the best of the bunch that can get along with less sun than the rest is Poa trivialis. Kentucky 31 tall fescue, Zoysia, Japonica, Zoysia matrella, Astoria bent, Highland and Penncross bents, as well as creeping red, Illahee, and Chew-lugs fescue, all will tolerate light shade.

Since we do not handle WWU and what they set up, we have been working with them to have them notify riders that they are registered for the night. WWU has informed us that they will send out an email or card or phone call to all riders that register with them.

Ryegrass can be mixed with fertilizer and applied to the pasture through the fertilizer spreader or it can be spread with a three point whirly bird type seeder. It can also be planted by a drill with a small seed box but care should be taken to not plant it deeper than ? inch. With broadcast seeding, pulling a chain harrow over the pasture after seeding will increase germination and survival of the plants.

Answer: Yes, grass seed application rates do vary according to soil type and aspect. On average, seeding of a general landscaping mixture containing Perennial ryegrass is around 25g per metre square. For soils which are heavier in texture such as clay loams, or soils with extreams of acidity or alkalinity, then seeding rates should be increased to between 35-50g per metre square. This helps to compensate for seedling mortality.

Dormant seeding is fine; however, seed should be planted so there is good seed to soil contact. In the event we get early snow, do not plant the seed over the snow. In warmer regions seeding is better done in the spring.

Burning off weeds only kills the tops and the new seed, but the roots will return to haunt you again.

Plastic, concrete, and iron, none of which is available yet. In the South you can count on U-3 Bermuda grass, and in the North, Kentucky 31 tall fescue. I want to caution anyone who is planting a play area not to be tempted to add clover seed to these areas to fill in spots as it can cause injuries. Clover is slippery, and when running feet try to stop quickly, clover won’t cooperate.

As a rule, none. It’s not that many grasses won’t grow and hold on hillsides; it’s your safety I’m concerned with. More accidents occur from falls and severe cuts from mowers on hillside maintenance than anywhere else. For your own safety, I would prefer that you plant any of the low- or no-maintenance ground covers.

Inverted wire brushes set in concrete and painted green. For something softer, you can depend on Kentucky 31 or Alta, coarse, or Meadow coarse fescue.

Positively and without a doubt you can grow it from seed. Be my guest. Astoria, Highland, Penn-cross, or Seaside bents all can be grown from sown seed. Before tackling a bent lawn, though, make sure you understand that they take a ton of work and a special mower. What do you mean all? There’s perennial or annual. If you’re talking about brand names; they’re improved varieties of the same two.

Most of the biodynamic and organic herbs used by True Botanica are grown locally by Wisconsin farmers. We are also building a network with other farmers in the U.S. to help expand our line of items grown from these high quality plants. Part of our mission is to support these farmers to help establish a strong socially responsible and healing farming impulse.