Our Choice: Best Grass Seed for Shade and Poor Soil

Depending on the type, one blend might excel in difficult soil and have extreme tolerance against disease. In contrast, another might be more high-maintenance and require proper soil before it can even germinate. You’ll first have to select a blend based on your region and then its qualities.

Some popular cool-season species include:

• Kentucky bluegrass
• Perennial ryegrass
• Fescue grass

Warm-season species:

• Bahia grass
• Bermuda Grass
• Buffalo grass
• Zoysia grass

It’s obviously critical to use the best seed for your soil type, but the million-dollar question then becomes: How do you find the right blend?

Finding the perfect blend for your lawn is simple with Nature’s Seed expertise. The best part is that it’s never been easier with the new Seed Selector Tool, which helps find the best product for your area. Find the perfect seed for your front lawn today!

How to Grow Grass in Poor Soil Conditions

Growing grass in poor soil conditions can be difficult, but it definitely is possible; to do so, be sure to keep in mind a few things:

Step #1: Address the Problems

Whether it’s browning grass or bald spots throughout the lawn, it’s easy to recognize that there’s a problem. The good news is that soil tests are the easiest way to diagnose the issues in your lawn. You can purchase simple soil tests at any home and gardening store, but you could also check out local soil testing labs, which allow you to send in a sample for analysis. Your soil test will tell you lots of helpful information, like:

• The nutrients your lawn needs
• The recommended amount of fertilizer
• pH levels

Although soil tests can’t tell you the exact type of soil you have, this is easy to decipher yourself: Take a handful of the soil in your yard and carefully take note of its texture and moisture. Healthy soils will be slightly moist and crumbly, but difficult soils like rocky dirt or clay are notorious for preventing natural growth. In instances like these, you’ll have to work towards improving the yard’s overall health.

Step #2: Improve the Soil

Although you can skip this step and opt for a blend that works in your soil type, it is always best to try to restore its overall health when possible. Here are some helpful steps to take when rectifying your lawn:

• Begin with a clean slate and remove any dead grass, excess leaves, and weeds with a rake.
• Aerate the lawn every spring and fall. Aeration loosens the compacted dirt and allows water, air, and nutrients to reach the roots.
• Use quality topsoil and a mix of fertilizer as recommended by your soil test to begin changing your soil’s condition.

Doing these steps are the best way to help promote everything your soil needs for optimal growth. For the next few seasons, you’ll have to choose a blend that does exceptionally well in poor conditions, which you can learn more about next.