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Use for highly manicured show lawns, very dark green color, enhanced disease resistance. Thrives in sun or partial shade. Seeding your own lawn? This is the blend to use! |
A blend of Very green in color and disease |
Ideal for areas where lower use of water and fertilizer is needed. Does well on poor soils, is winter |
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Golf course quality, guaranteed free of poa annua. Excellent for golf courses, athletic fields and commercial turf. |
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Also used for reclamation, road ditches, etc. |
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Grows well in Withstands heat and |
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Varieties are selected to withstand extended use and to rejuvenate
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Medium green in color. Thrives in full Performs well on any site and soil condition but needs deep soil. |
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SELECTING BLUEGRASS VARIETIES FOR ENHANCED
HOME/LAWN TURF QUALITY
Within the last few years there have been many new and genetically superior cultivars of bluegrass released for home lawns. These new and more expensive cultivars can be selected for various genetically superior qualities such as disease resistance, color, leaf texture, shade tolerance, winter hardiness, aggressiveness, spring green-up, drought resistance, and etc. In the Black Hills area it is most important to select cultivars for disease resistance (especially leaf spot), aggressiveness, winter hardiness, and where applicable shade tolerance. Most older, established lawns and lawns seeded with common, inexpensive seed mixtures, will not have the genetic capabilities of producing enhanced turf quality with disease resistance. These older established lawns require higher maintenance and added expenses.
When selecting bluegrass cultivars it is important to select a mixture of three of four cultivars with different genetic capabilities (see chart on reverse side). When selecting a seed mixture it is important to select cultivars from three or four of the recommended variety groupings. Two cultivars should be selected for disease resistance (leaf spot, dollar spot, and brown patch) and one cultivar from the aggressive group. All cultivars should be selected for winter hardiness, matched color, and leaf texture. When shade is evident, one or two cultivars should be selected for shade tolerance. Cultivars of the midwestern variety types are not recommended for manicured home lawns.
A professional seedsman should be consulted to help select available bluegrass cultivars for a high quality turf. The genetic superior cultivars of bluegrass are recommended when seeding a new lawn, interseeding an existing lawn to upgrade the quality of turf, or when purchasing sod. Not all sod sources are made up of quality bluegrass cultivars. It requires a lot more work, expense, and homeowner frustration to maintain a quality turf with genetic inferior bluegrass cultivars.
Kentucky Bluegrass Variety Classification
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Variety Type |
Characteristics & Strengths |
Weakness |
Cultivar Names |
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Midwestern (Common) Types
Not recommended for quality home lawns |
Erect growth; narrow leaf Excellent heat & drought resistance Persists under low maintenance Rapid drought recovery |
Very susceptible to leafspot Poor winter/spring color Sensitive to drought Intolerant of low mowing heights Not competitive in blends |
Alene, Ginger, Kenblue, South Dakota Common, Park, Rhonda |
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Bellevue (Parade) Types
Recommended Varieties |
Medium color; medium density & texture Excellent winter color Very good resistance to stripe smut, dollar spot Moderate heat tolerance Some resistance to billbug feeding Moderately aggressive |
Moderate leafspot susceptibility Can be stemmy in spring Moderately competitive in blends Varieties in this group VERY closely related |
Banff, Classic, Columbia, Dawn, Freedom, Parade, Georgetown, Haga, Liberty, Rugby, Suffolk |
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BVMG Types (Baron, Victa, Merit, Gnome)
Recommended Varieties |
Good turf quality (widely used) Very good seed yielders (less expensive) Good leafspot resistance Moderate dollar spot, rust resistance Medium texture, density Medium low-growing |
Later spring green-up Can be very stemmy in spring Susceptible to new stripe smut race VERY closely related |
Baron, Victa, Merit, Gnome, Crest, Fortuna, Kelley, Abbey, Nassau, Marquis |
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Mid-Atlantic Types
Not recommended for Black Hills |
Good density; vigorous turf Deep, extensive rhizomes and roots Excellent sod producers Recover well from injury Excellent heat and drought resistance |
Tend to be coarse-textured Moderately susceptible to leafspot Variable winter color and spring green up |
Livingston, Plush, SR2000, Wabash, Huntsville, ISI-21 |
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Northern Latitude (Compact) Type
Recommended |
Dark green; high density Slow vertical growth rate Tolerates low mowing heights Good leafspot resistance Often perform well in shade Varieties in this group more genetically different Competitive in blends |
Most have long winter dormancy Winter and spring “purpling” Slow spring green-up Heat tolerance may be poor Often poor seed producers
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Able 1, Alpine, America, Eclipse, Glade, Midnight, Blacksburg, Opal, Indigo, Nugget, Apex, Unique |
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Aggressive Types
Recommended |
Very dense turf Aggressive lateral growth; excellent sod strength Excellent wear tolerance Tolerates close and frequent mowing Often perform well in shade |
Rapid thatch formers Will dominate in blends or mixtures Often poor seed producers |
A-34, Limousine, Mystic, Touchdown, Princeton 104 |
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Other Types
Some cultivars recommended |
Do not fit into above groups Many are Bellevue/BVMG hybrids Good disease resistance Moderately competitive in blends |
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Adelphi, Aspen, Eclipse, Liberty, Challenger, Nustar, Washington, Nublue |
RECLAMATION GRASS SEED BLENDS
BLACK HILLS RECLAMATION MIX
20% Kentucky Bluegrass 10% Alsike Clover VNS
15% Timothy Climax 10% Slender Wheatgrass VNS
15% Western Wheatgrass VNS 10% Annual Ryegrass VNS
15% Canada Bluegrass VNS 5% Medium Red Clover
A blend for reclamation of area disturbed by grading, digging and disturbed top soils. Rate: 20-28 pounds per acre broadcast;
8-12 pounds per acre drilled.
FOOTHILLS MIX
20% Annual Ryegrass 10% Big Bluestem
10% Crested Wheatgrass 10% Sideoats Grama
10% Slender Wheatgrass 10% Canada Wildrye
10% Durar Hard Fescue 5% Blue Grama
10% Canada Bluegrass 5% Arizona Fescue
An all grass blend for revegetation in areas where a native grass blend is desirable, establishes quickly. Rate: 20–25 pounds per acre broadcast; 15-20 pounds per acre drilled.
PREMIUM FARMLAWN
40% Ephraim Crested Wheatgrass 20% 3150 Hard Fescue
30% Clubhouse Perennial Ryegrass 10% Gulf Annual Ryegrass
A blend for low maintenance, large lawn areas, excellent for grass cover on barrow ditches, hill sides, and other areas of reclamation. Establishes rapidly. Rate: 3-5 pounds per 1000 square feet broadcast; 2–3 pounds per 1000 square feet drilled.
35% Buffalo Grass 15% Annual Rye
20% Sideoats Grama 10% Blue Grama
20% Sheep Fescue
Mix of native grasses that are all very short, minimum to no moisture after establishment. Has annual rye for cover crop the first year. Minimal or no mowing; reduces fuel production for fire control. Rate: Broadcast 35-40 pounds per acre; drilled rate 15-20 pounds per acre.
A mixture of hardy, cool season grasses, that are drought tolerant and adapt well to the Black Hills area. It provides a good, palatable spring forage and fair regrowth in the fall. This mix may produce a hay crop depending upon available moisture. Ideal for area not receiving regular irrigation
SPECIAL GRASS BLENDS MIXED TO ORDER. PLEASE INQUIRE FOR QUANTITY.
WildFlower Mixes
WILDFLOWER MIXES
This mix includes perennial wildflowers that will provide color year after year. Grows from 10 to 30 inches and is very drought tolerant.
Characteristics:
- Grows 10 to 30 inches tall
- Beautiful perennial mix
Seeding Rate:
- 6 to 8 lbs per acre
- 1 lb per 6,000 square feet
- 1/2 lb per 3,000 square feet
Mix Contains:
15% Black-eyed Susan 6% Rocky Mountain Penstemon
15% Perennial Lupine 6% Purple Coneflower
10% Lance-Leaf Coreopsis 6% Grayheaded Coneflower
10% Sweet William 5% Shasta Daisy
10% Blue Flax 4% Columbine, Dwarf
10% Wall Flower, Siberian 3% Prairie Coneflower
Formulations and varieties are subject to change without notice!
Low Grow Wildflower Mix
The Low Grow Wildflower Mix offers a combination of both annuals and perennials that will be lower growing. Grows from 8 to 20 inches high and is very drought tolerant.
Characteristics:
- Grows 8 to 20 inches tall
- Annuals and Perennials
Seeding Rate:
- 6 to 8 lbs per acre
- 1 lb per 6,000 square feet
- 1/2 lb per 3,000 square feet
Mix Contains:
12% Cornflower 5% Sweet William
10% Baby’s Breath 5% Dwarf Lance-Leaf Coreopsis
10% Blue Flax 3% Dwarf Plains Coreopsis
8% Sweet Alyssum 3% Annual Candy Tuft
8% Chinese Forget-Me-Not 2% Dwarf Red Coneflower
8% Dwarf Godetia 2% Gaillardia Aristata
8% Wall Flower, Siberian 1% Tussock Bellflower
8% California Poppy 1% Johnny Jump-Up
5% Shasta Daisy 1% Snow-in-Summer
Formulations and varieties are subject to change without notice!
Rocky Mountain Wildflower Mix
The Rocky Mountain Wildflower Mix is a special blend of annuals and perennials that produces color throughout the season. Grows from 10 to 30 inches high and is very drought tolerant. Not recommended for planting during the heat of the summer.
Characteristics:
- Grows 10 to 30 inches tall
- Annuals and perennials
Seeding Rate:
- 6 to 8 lbs per acre
- 1 lb per 6,000 square feet
- 1/2 lb per 3,000 square feet
Mix Contains:
10% Cornflower 4% Perennial Gaillardia
10% African Daisy 3% Annual Gaillardia
10% Black-eyed Susan 3% Evening Primrose
10% Baby’s Breath 3% Sweet William, Pink
5% Blue Flax 3% Shasta Daisy
5% Sweet Alyssum 2% Corn Poppy
5% California Poppy 2% Catchfly
5% Wall Flower, Siberian 2% Rocky Mountain Penstemon
5% Prairie Coneflower 2% Spurred Snapdragon
5% Plains Coneflower 2% Purple Coneflower
4% Garland Daisy
Formulations and varieties are subject to change without notice!
All Perennial Wildflower Mix
This mix includes perennial wildflowers that will provide color year after year. Grows from 10 to 30 inches and is very drought tolerant.
Characteristics:
- Grows 10 to 30 inches tall
- Beautiful perennial mix
Seeding Rate:
- 6 to 8 lbs per acre
- 1 lb per 6,000 square feet
- 1/2 lb per 3,000 square feet
Mix Contains:
15% Black-eyed Susan 6% Rocky Mountain Penstemon
15% Perennial Lupine 6% Purple Coneflower
10% Lance-Leaf Coreopsis 6% Grayheaded Coneflower
10% Sweet William 5% Shasta Daisy
10% Blue Flax 4% Columbine, Dwarf
10% Wall Flower, Siberian 3% Prairie Coneflower
Formulations and varieties are subject to change without notice
• Individual varieties of wildflowers available on request
