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Professionals will always aver that an impressive lawn is a result of great seeds. You can grow a gorgeous lawn from typical grass seeds or even make a thick lush onto an existential turf.
The best grass seeds can even help address spots wherein pet urine, insects, insufficient sunlight and fungus have led your grass turf to yellow or brown. Therefore if you possess a yard or some acres, it is witty to get some grass seeds on them.
That said, if you live in Virginia and want to grow the best grass seeds on your lawn, there are some things you need to know before deciding to plant. As one of the more “northern” southern states, there’s some important distinctions compared to optimal South Carolina grass seed (for example).
This article seeks to give an extensive review of the best grass seeds to grow in Virginia. It would be best to read through to get the best insights from professionals diligently. Shall we start?
Best Grass Seed for Virginia Climate
Cool-Season Turf
cool-season turf only becomes active during early spring then flags during hot summer. It later rejuvenates in the fall.
Therefore, should you plan to get a variety of this, you are best advised to plant grass seeds in the early fall to help them root well. If you plant in spring, the seeds will be subject to scorching. Cool season grass types of grass seeds are inclusive of;
Tall Fescue Grass Seed
Tall fescue seed has about a hundred varieties, aka cultivars. It is known for possessing deep root systems and thrives well in drought. Additionally, it handles shade and full sun but needs to be slashed occasionally to about 3 inches.
Further Reading on Tall Fescue & Fine Fescue:
Kentucky Bluegrass
The Kentucky Bluegrass is a highly recognizable turf due to its color. Kentucky Bluegrass loves full sun and may tend to be dormant in dry periods. Unfortunately, it is prone to diseases and hence requires a lot of maintenance. The grass forms thick layers that beautifully create a lush lawn after some years.
Further Reading on Bluegrass:
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass grows best at over 1500ft elevation and in the entire summer. It speedily germinates and creates a dense, lush cover. The grass is bred to mitigate getting gray leaf spot disease. You cannot grow it where there are drought and scorching heat. Try to cut it in a stripe pattern of up to one inch, and it will appear lovely.
Warm Season Turf
Expectedly, the warm season turf types of grass seeds can easily tolerate drought and heat. They, however, can become dormant during winter. You will not have problems with pests and diseases with these types of grass seeds for Virginia lawns. Types of warm-season turfgrass seeds are inclusive of
Bermuda grass
This type of grass is very prolific and possesses impeccable rejuvenation capabilities. Sometimes it tends to be highly invasive and can grow by rhizomes and stolons. Bermuda grass loathes shade but favors sunshine so much.
See how Bermuda Grass compares with others:
Zoysia Grass
Should you be residing in the cooler parts of Virginia, then the Zoysiagrass will be the best pick for you. It might be a warm-season grass, but it highly tolerates cold and can perfectly withstand winters. With high density, you can expect it to best control all types of weed. Nonetheless, this turf doesn’t establish quickly.
After setting, it is pest resistant and needs low maintenance. Zoysiagrass can be mowed to 2 and a half inches. However, sharp blades can offer you the perfect cut hence rendering this grass pricey.
St Augustine Grass and Centipedegrass
You can only grow these in Tidewater regions. The latter is a greenish yellowish slow-growing hence the name Centipede and tends to like acidic soils. High traffic is not favorable for Centipede. You can mow it to up to two inches.
On the other hand, St Augustine will be a top pick if you want to cover shady areas. It speedily thickens and grows. Nonetheless, it is highly prone to diseases and pests; thus, you need to mow it higher than 3 inches.
Grass Growing Climate for Virginia
When speaking of the best grass seeds and turfs in Virginia with professionals, you’ll often hear transition zone as a term. This simply implies a combo of dry and hot summers coupled with somewhat wet and cold winters making it an arduous choice.
Generally, grasses are typically classified as warm season and cool season grass. Fortunately, Virginians have a plethora of choices because Virginia is always a combo of both seasons.
Virginia typically entails two different regions in regards to growing grass.
There is the Northern Piedmont region (or Northern Virginia) that entails land west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and northern land. On the other hand, there is the land located east of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as Southern Piedmont.
Ideally, Northern Piedmont regions are cooler compared to the Southern Piedmont regions. It is here that cool-season types of grasses thrive. However, the soil causes problems towards Virginia’s western parts because it is mostly clay soil or sandy.
On the other hand, regions on Southern Piedmont will efficiently grow the warm season types of grasses compared to the Northern Piedmont regions. Soil is more fertile towards rivers that cut via the state hence creating more optimal areas for effective grass growth.
It is noteworthy that there is varying climate such as wet winters and soils throughout Virginia. Thus it is arduous for Virginians to select a single grass type that’ll thrive well.
You can only find an optimal area towards the Northwest of Virginia. However, by wisely choosing the best varieties and blends, you can create a beautifully lush, thriving turf in your lawn.
Seed Characteristics for Virginia Grass Types
- Insect and disease resistant
- Cold, traffic, heat, and drought tolerance
- Can grow well and quickly
- Ideal color and density characteristics
- Satisfactorily established across a lawn
Key Factors to Consider for Virginia Grass
How Much Seed to Buy?
Should you create a lawn, it is vital to work out the lawn size to sow comprehensively. That way, you will know the number of seeds you want to purchase. It is noteworthy that various lawn seeds do possess different sowing rates.
Always counter-check the chosen seeding rate. Should you want to overseed, you will use half of what you could use in an entire lawn. If you’re going to fill in patches, you will need to reduce that amount again.
How Much Sunlight for Virginia Lawns?
Is the area you want to sow in total sun exposure? It is good to look at the sunshine amount that’s falling on the yard. In case there is a somewhat partial shade, it is best to get varieties that can thrive in such conditions.
Many warm-season types of grass such as couch and Kikuyu require a lot of sunlight to thrive skillfully, while fescue grasses can do well in shady conditions.
Quality Grass Seeds
Professionals can never stop insisting on quality seeds for your lawns in Virginia. The blend and variety of seeds you want to purchase need to be top-notch regarding quality. Low-quality grass seeds are going to bring out poor-looking lawns.
It is best to purchase from certified sellers like the company itself rather than in chain stores or discount offering stalls. After you have decided on the type of seed you want, your main aim should be getting trusted dealers who can give you quality seeds.
Wear and Tear
You might adore the exquisite look of a lovely little cottage garden when you have animals and kids. However, it might not tolerate heavy foot traffic because it could be trampled on every time. Therefore it is best to consider harder types of grass for your lawns. Ascertain that your yard can absorb the foot traffic whenever you visit it.
How Much Lawn Upkeep?
Some types of grasses need a lot of care, watering, and maintenance compared to other varieties. Cool-season varieties of grasses usually need constant watering throughout summer to mitigate dying off or to brown.
Conversely, many warm-season grass types do not need a lot of maintenance, but they possess thicker leaves and typically seem less fine. It is crucial to consider how you will need your lawn to look and feel at the end of the day.
5 Best Grass Seed Brands for Virginia
If you want to get the best grass seeds for your lawn in Virginia, it is noteworthy that you get a grass that is a combo of the warm season and cold season types of grass. There are a plethora of varieties developed to counteract issues that could plague a cultivar for each grass type. That said, in the market, there is a vast array of grass seeds.
Therefore you need to understand your climate and yard before making a decision. Some grass seeds can do well in winter, while others can thrive well in summer.
Comprehensive, detailed research was undertaken to get the best grass seed options to grow into amicable green lawns in Virginia to compile this independent review.
Some versatile options are disease and pest-resistant, contain independent fertilizers, retain water, quickly grow, and tolerate heavy traffic. Yes, here are the best grass seeds that you can use to spruce up that beautiful Virginian yard you have.
Pennington 100086830 Smart Seed Tall Fescue Premium Grass
Starting off the list is the Pennington 100086830, which is a Tall Fescue grass. It is by far a great choice since it provides a lot of seeds/pounds. Besides, it offers various seedlings that can grow well in various climates and can be used for multiple purposes.
Should you require a special Tall fescue type to patch your yard or rejuvenate your old grass, then this is the best choice you can get in the market.
The Pennington Smart Seed Tall Fescue Premium Grass Seed Blend 3 LB doesn’t need much watering. This blend is also 99% weed-free and can easily cover 1500 sq. feet rendering it a speedy growing turf.
Besides, it possesses high foot and wears tolerance and thus, it is usually used in playgrounds and sports fields. You can never go wrong with it because it thrives in all types of climates. If you properly maintain it, you will have an excellent-looking lush turf in your yard.
Key Facts
- No fillers
- Needs less watering
- Grows deeper and denser root system
- Its mix is about 99 percent weed-free
- It effectively utilizes fertilizer performance
Pros
- Versatile usage
- Can tolerate high foot traffic
- Requires little watering
- It can be used to rejuvenate old grasses
- Tolerates diseases and pests
- Grows into a beautiful lush turf
- It doesn’t need much fertilizer as it has its own too
- It can be an excellent replacement for all your lawn’s dead spots
Cons
- Can use more water in summer where places become too hot
- Some people complain of the slow rate of germination
Scotts 18258 Turf Builder Bermuda Grass Seed mix
Scotts 18258 Bermuda grass seeds feature an impressive feature known as the Scotts Call WaterSmart PLUS. This type of special coating enhances water absorption and aids in feeding required nutrients and offering safeguards grass from diseases. What’s impressive about these seeds is that they rapidly grow and even function well in bare spots, rejuvenating and replacing the dead ones.
You can also get quick and early seeding without necessarily watering them often. This is because it absorbs water double the amount uncoated seeds can. They aggressively spread beautifully and even choke out any weed. It is the best option for a lawn in Virginia that faces long drought and heat periods.
The secret to growing your Bermuda grass seeds effectively is to ensure that you kill any other existential grasses and ensure that temperatures are typically above 80F. The soil needs to be tilled up to where you will plant the seeds and put excellent topsoil above the seeds. This will prevent them from drying up or birds eating them.
After that, water it to up to 2″ and voila! Your beautiful grass seedlings will spread wildly. It is noteworthy that trying to mix various grass seed varieties will slow down the grass’s germination. It is the best choice for many lawn owners who don’t have time to maintain their lawns all the time.
Key Facts
- The grass can seed to 15000 square feet
- It is perfect for yards that face issues with drought and heat
- It seeds successfully when it has less water
- It spreads aggressively to the crowd and chokes out existential weeds as well as fill bare spots
- Absorbs twice water compared to uncoated seeds
- It is medium-textured
Pros
- You are highly guaranteed of seeds that will grow greener, thicker and quicker
- It grows within 6 to 10 days of germination
- You can comfortably walk across the grass as it is finely textured
- It is excellent for overseeding
- It can spread to up to 15000 square feet
- Entails WaterSmart PLUS coating, which absorbs a lot of water, protects it from pests and diseases, and feeds it with the required nutrients to grow
- Reduces weeds
Cons
- It may not be as thick as you want
- Doesn’t do well with other grasses
Barenbrug USA Green Thumb 528263 Kentucky Bluegrass Seed
When you hear of Kentucky bluegrass, just know that this is the king grass of lawns.
The Green Thumb 528263 Kentucky Bluegrass Seed 8 LB can never go wrong in your Virginia lawn. It is impeccable for moderate shade and sunny areas. It has a high tolerance to heat and drought, making it an excellent choice for Virginians who stay In the hotter regions.
It Is 100% Kentucky bluegrass; thus, you are assured of fine-textured and deep green top-notch lawns within 28 days.
The Barenburg grass is a highly recommended grass that grows lush and beautiful. You definitely can make a great lawn with this grass if you love stylish and wealthy yards. It is also an affordable grass that doesn’t tolerate weed.
Key Facts
- Heat tolerant
- Winter hardy
- 100% Kentucky bluegrass
- Germinates in about four weeks
- Requires moderate shade and full sun
- It is weed-free
Pros
- Top-notch grass seeds
- Recommended if you live in sunny conditions
- It is weed-free
- Germinates and grows into a lush lawn
- Can adapt well to different climatic conditions
- It also helps in overseeding and rejuvenates a poor lawn
- Good looking grass
Cons
- Will need frequent maintenance and watering
ConsScotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix
Another suitable grass for Virginia yards is the Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun and Shade Mix. It is by far the most versatile grass seed you can find on the list. You can expect it to remain dense and greenly lush in the utmost extreme conditions presented to it.
It has interpolated water-smart coating, which feeds the grass with necessary nutrients while protecting it from pests and diseases. This special coating also helps it retain and absorb double the uncoated water seeds can.
It quickly germinates into rich, greener grass. this grass will ease your lawn’s dead spots and blades. The grass is fine textured and designated for full sunshine areas
You need to feed and water the seeds constantly if you want to get the best results wherever you are in Virginia. For quicker and better results, you can add some Scotts Builder after and before the seed application. Maintenance is vital if you want a rich lawn bearing in mind this is a perennial ryegrass type (just make sure you don’t accidentally buy annual ryegrass).
Key Facts
- It is designated for dense shade and full sunlight
- Can aggressively spread to rejuvenate thin and bare spots
- It is a very versatile grass hence can do well in any given extreme conditions
- With the 4 in 1 coating, you are assured of disease and pest free grass
- It highly retains and absorbs water and is fed constantly with required nutrients
Pros
- Produces high lush grass when you prepare the soil well and water it frequently.
- Boasts of high tolerance to extreme conditions making it a perfect choice
- It is a naturally allelopathic and pre-emergent grass which implies that it can inhibit the growth of weed and other plants
- It extensively germinates
- It can be utilized for temporary and permanent lawns
- Can withstand light shade
- Establishes quickly
- Best choice as it is perennial ryegrass
Cons
- Older plants will die
- If you don’t overseed the grass frequently, it will become clumpy
Everwilde Farms – 1 Oz Virginia Wild Rye Native Grass Seeds
Finalizing the list of the best grasses for Virginia is the EverWilde Wild Ryegrass. It is a tall and graceful type of mixture that presents lovely lushes when planted well. It is a popular and vilified type of cover grass that can create an extensive lawn and protect other plants.
If you are unsure how to plant the seeds, there are detailed instructions. It is also a top-notch grass that can excellently grow when well maintained. The bulk seeds can be stored and even immediately planted. They are not prone to diseases and pests. It can do well in good conditions too.
Key Facts
- Reusable and resealable zipper bag that can store excess seeds well
- Creates beautiful cover for your lawn
- It is tall and graceful
- Has instructions on how you can get quality results
- Is not prone to pests and spoiling.
Pros
- An excellent cover crop that prevents erosion
- Since it’s deep-rooted, it can tap nutrients and water from the soil profile
- Functions perfectly when applied to soybeans and corn
- It is a good forage too
- Luxuriously consumes nitrogen
- Can hold in manure for long
- Grows beautifully
- Tolerant to heat conditions
Cons
- Requires a lot of maintenance
FAQs
Answer: raZor Fescue tends to be a fine-textured, shade tolerant, and prosperous green color. Therefore it’s an excellent choice for landscapes, parks, home lawns.
Answer: It is noteworthy that tall fescue is considered the best option for various yards and lawns. Courtesy of its wide blade and upright growth, it cannot blend with Kentucky grass. Tall fescue needs frequent mowing and maintenance.
Answer: Yes, it will. However, it is noteworthy that there is a lot more to lawn care than just seeding and sprouting.
Answer: Yes, it is sufficiently thick to choke out weeds easily.
Final Cut: Virginia Grass Seed
Our top pick is the Scotts Turf Builder Seed for Sun & Shade for Virginia lawns. The varying climatic and soil conditions may pose some challenges to Virginia residents who desire a lovely yard.
This is because the blend possesses numerous cool-season types of grasses. Therefore it can successfully withstand the warmer southern conditions. You need to plant the grass seeds when the temperatures are consistently 60-80 degrees.
Having said all that, you need to know which area you are in Virginia’s transition zone. Look for the best varieties of grass seeds for your lawn. For best results, do talk to a professional who will guide you more. With that, let us know in the comment section which grass seed you used to create a lush lawn. Also, share with your peers if you enjoyed the review.