What grass to sow in the country for the lawn. Lawn grasses, lawn planting and watering

Each owner country house dreams of having a green lawn in front of his house. She is able to decorate any courtyard. In addition, the green cover is quite practical, because a piece of land covered with thick green grass, can be used for recreation and games.

However, creating a beautiful lawn is not such an easy task as it might seem at first glance. Even if the owner takes care of the green carpet, he is not always pleased with his beauty. In some places, bald spots may appear that occur after harsh winters.

The main mistake when creating a lawn

It must be said that problems with lawns, as a rule, occur mainly in those people who have chosen the wrong grass mixture. When choosing lawn grass, a person usually pays attention only to what type of lawn it is intended for - for sports or parterre.

The last owners country houses interested in the types of grass for the lawn, which are part of the mixture. And a lot of people don't even look at it. For most people, this information means little. But it is very important, since a large number of different mixtures are imported into our country from the European continent and not all fit for the conditions of the Russian climate.

In Europe, the climate is milder and the criteria for selecting grass for a lawn are completely different. We have severe climatic conditions, therefore, higher requirements must be imposed on grass mixtures used to create a lawn.

If the grass purchased to create a lawn does not have frost resistance, then it won't survive the winter, and in the spring you will already have to deal with the restoration of damaged areas of the lawn.

To avoid all this, it is necessary to approach the selection of grass for the lawn with all seriousness and carefully select herbal seeds. It is worth considering only those that are adapted to the climatic conditions of our country. How to choose the right lawn grass so that the lawn does not suffer from the Russian climate - this will be discussed in this article.

lawn grass requirements

No matter what lawn the grass is used for, it will always should be perennial, since the lawn is created for several years, and to create it from plants that have short term life is meaningless.

It is best to use grass seeds to form a lawn, which belong to the group of cereals. And all because they are more adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of our country. But it is not worth using all the cultures included in this group, but only those that meet certain requirements:

• Frost resistant.
• They have good external decorative qualities - the height of the cover, juicy green color with uniform germination.
• The ability to develop a strong root system that does not collapse under the influence of ground movement and is able to grow on soils with high compaction.
• The speed of building up the cover after mowing.
• Ability to reproduce vegetatively. This is due to the fact that the constant mowing of the lawn does not provide an opportunity for propagation by seeds.

Herbs most adapted to Russian climatic conditions

If you look at all the grass seeds that are offered for lawns in stores, then with all their diversity you can find only three plants that meet all of the above criteria. This trio includes: thin bent grass, red fescue, meadow bluegrass.

These plants belong to the group short-rhizome cereals. They are united by the similarity of the properties that are inherent in them.

1. They are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature, even frost. late autumn or in the early spring months will not lead to their death. The root system of these plants is able to withstand extremely low temperatures.
2. In the process of growth, these plants form turf high density, through which it is simply impossible for weeds to break through. When growing such a herb on one square meter about 30 thousand shoots are concentrated.
3. Another advantage of this "trinity" is the ability to withstand frequent mowing.
4. They reproduce well vegetatively, so they are excellent for lawn formation.

All of the above advantages allow us to say that with proper care, the lawn can be used for decades without the need for overseeding.

If you decide to arrange a lawn on your site, then, of course, you will need purchase the right herbal mixture to create a lawn. Coming to the store for lawn grass seeds, attention should be paid to those mixtures that have the highest percentage of these particular cereals in their composition.

Sometimes the names of these cereals that are part of the mixtures are written in Latin. Therefore, before going to the store, you should find out how these seeds sound in Latin, so that later you can quickly find the right herbal mixture.

In Latin, these herbs sound like this:

• agrostis tenuis - thin bent is indicated;
• the name of meadow bluegrass is poa pratensis;
• The name festuca rubra in Latin is red fescue.

Types of lawn grasses and the nuances of choice

As part of the mixtures, there are often low-growing grasses that are adapted to certain growing conditions. They cannot be called universal crops, however, in some places they are recommended for planting.

One of these cultures is oak bluegrass. The plant has as its main advantage a high ability to grow in the shade. This allows it to be grown garden plants, as well as in the locations of buildings.

Light gets there in a minimal amount, but, nevertheless, this does not prevent the lawn grass from growing and creating a green carpet. By planting this culture, you can save the lawn from bald spots, as well as from a pale cover. True, you should know that with growth, this grass is not able to form a dense root system.

Therefore, you should not often walk on the lawn, which is formed by this grass. Also follows avoid frequent mowing otherwise it will have a negative effect on appearance lawn.

swamp bluegrass

If the site is dominated by soil with high humidity, then in this case you can plant a marsh bluegrass. This culture is able to form a beautiful green cover. As it grows, it forms strong root system.

The life span of this plant is short, so frequent sifting is necessary. This plant can be combined with another - lawn culture bent white, which grows quite well in moist soil.

However, compared to bluegrass decorative properties she is lower. If we talk about the lifespan, then usually it is eight years.

bent dog

As for the parterre lawn, which is generally not recommended for walking, you can use dog bent grass for its cultivation. This herb belongs to the group of herbs with high decorative properties, which is due to its emerald color, as well as blades of small thickness and delicate to the touch.

Often a lawn formed by such grass called velvet because from a distance it looks like an expensive fabric. However, despite these advantages, the dog bent has certain disadvantages.

One of them is the capriciousness of this plant. The lifespan of a bent dog is only five years. She has weak roots and this grass grows extremely slowly, while it is unstable to trampling.

Meadow fescue

If you want to have a beautiful lawn on the site, which will have an aesthetic appearance, do not want to wait a long time for the grass to germinate and form it, then you need to choose a mixture that includes meadow fescue.

Having planted this grass, in two months you can get in front of your house beautiful green cover. Among all lawn grasses, this grass is one of the fastest growing.

It is suitable for use in pure form to create a temporary lawn, which is planned to be used in one place for no more than four years. The lawn will not last longer, since this grass has a short lifespan.

Lawn grasses unsuitable for the Russian climate

As part of lawn herbal plants from Europe, there are herbs that are not recommended to be planted in our country due to the severity of the climate. They are designed for mild conditions, so they die pretty quickly.

These herbs include perennial ryegrass, which grows quite well, has high decorative properties and forms a dense cover in the process of its development.

However, after the first winter, most of the grass dies, resulting in large patches that appear on the lawn. AT European countries This herb is widely used. A lawn created from this grass can exist for eight years.

Often in mixtures offered in stores, annual bluegrass is found as an additional component. main feature This herb lies in its unpretentiousness, as well as high growth rates.

However, there is one drawback this plant. It lies in the fact that this grass reproduces by seeds, and when cold temperature it's just not possible. The following year, the grass does not produce offspring, which leads to active growth weeds.

Two more herbs that should not be planted in the Russian climate - soddy pike and sheep's fescue. They have many advantages, but still have disadvantages. Growing a lawn from these herbs, over time, from an even green carpet, it turns into a cover with a predominance of green mounds.

Many owners of country houses want to have a green lawn in front of the house. You can create it on your own. However, to get a good lawn, you need put in a lot of effort. And it's not just the need for constant care of the green carpet.

No less important correct selection herbs. If you do not pay attention to this moment, then the result will disappoint you. Not everything for lawn grass is suitable for the harsh climate of our country.

You should be aware of this, therefore, when choosing herbal lawn mixtures, preference should be given to those that contain crops, resistant to low temperatures , and can form a dense green cover.

Considering this point when choosing lawn grass, after landing, you can get a beautiful carpet in front of your house in a short time, which will become the main decoration of your site.

In order for the lawn to please with its beauty all summer long, you need to choose good seeds

Types of lawns and their properties

The lawn differs from ordinary ground cover plants. We list its main properties:

• the grass should cover the soil with a dense layer during growth;
• it is important that in the sown area you do not have to regularly hide bald spots by sowing new grass;
• plants are required to create a dense layer of turf, which will exclude the growth of weeds;
• the grass should look neat and make you want to walk on it without shoes.

Grass growing conditions

Having dealt with the basic properties of herbs, you should think about which lawn is better to plant in the country. Experts recommend proceeding from the illumination of the site, as well as from its purpose. Gardening stores offer many seed mixes that include different varieties of plants. If you decide to use a ready-made composition, you should be aware that the mixtures may be different. We list the main types:

1. Seeds for fast germination. green grass for a short time will cover the entire area.
2. Seeds that grow well only in lighted places.
3. Plants that love shade. This type of mixture is best chosen for planting in the garden near trees or on the shady side of the site.
4. Universal composition. Such mixtures feel great in any conditions and will quickly cover any prepared area with a green carpet.

Purpose of the green carpet

Before sowing a lawn, it is necessary to determine its purpose.

Next, you should think about the planned function of the site on which the lawn will be grown. It can be a lawn to decorate the courtyard, or a playground for children's games. It is important to study the instructions on the packaging with the mixture, which indicate under what conditions it is better to plant this variety.

For the playground, you can plant a sports lawn. In such a mixture there are seeds of plants that are not afraid of active trampling. It is this mixture of herbs that can withstand a significant load, while not losing its neat appearance, and “bald spots” will not appear on it. The composition of the seeds includes varieties of hard and elastic plants.

It is important that the playground mix does not contain plant seeds with flowers (clover). This is fraught with the fact that wasps and bees will tend to the lawn, which is not very good when there are children on the site. A child can step on a wasp or touch it with his hands.

Moorish or meadow set is a picturesque forbs. Such a lawn will bloom during the summer, and flowers with bright colors will enliven monochromatic greenery. It is easy to create a Moorish lawn with your own hands, picking up plant seeds so that the flowers replace each other all summer.

You can also buy ready mix. It is advisable to mow such grass regularly in order to get rid of dried plants, and to give new ones the opportunity to see the sun. At the same time, you should not walk on the grass, otherwise it will lose its appearance. Meadow grasses help in creating rustic style and make the area picturesque.

In the meadow lawn there are many types of grasses and flowers that replace each other during the summer

Popular Grass Varieties

There is an opinion that the best lawn is obtained from grass of one variety. Most often, in practice, grass mixtures are planted. In any case, in order to understand the properties of the future coating, it is necessary to study the characteristics of herbs. Consider the most popular cultures that are currently used:

• ryegrass English or perennial;
• fescue (festuca) red;
• bluegrass (Poa) meadow;
• filiform bent grass (Agrostis capillaris).

ryegrass english

Perennial ryegrass is a very popular grass among landscapers. Those who prefer English lawn know that ryegrass is the basis of this mixture. This plant is sensitive to lack of moisture and should be watered regularly. Feels good on dense, severe types soil. Due to its qualities, ryegrass requires systematic care. It is important that when mowing, the length of the remaining stems is at least 20-25 cm. This plant is relevant for the lawn, because it has undoubted advantages:

1. Ryegrass sprouts quickly and well covers the entire sown surface with a dense layer of grass. Well rooted right in the year of sowing. The grass is resilient and quite soft.
2. It does not lend itself to trampling, and after a load it quickly recovers and takes on a fresh look.
3. Does not allow weeds to take up free space.

Perennial ryegrass has excellent characteristics and is used in turf mixtures

However, before choosing ryegrass, you should consider its features. We list the most significant:

1. This cereal does not like temperature changes. If the winter is snowless, it is likely that bald patches will appear on the ryegrass site.
2. Poor resistance to fungal infections. In particularly humid places, ryegrass can be affected by mold.
3. We have already said that this plant does not tolerate irregular watering. If the summer is sunny and rains are rare, the ryegrass may die.

Most often, ryegrass is added to mixtures for sports grounds, it helps the coating withstand significant loads. It is also used in compositions intended for the regeneration of damaged lawns.

Red fescue is unpretentious, drought resistant

Fescue is the most versatile crop and is added to most mixes. In this case, the plant can be of three varieties: hairy with short rhizomes, fescue without rhizomes and red long-leaved fescue.

This plant is especially popular due to the following qualities. We list the most prominent:

1. Fescue is unpretentious and undemanding to care. Its ability to regenerate is medium - the plant withstands a certain load, but is inferior in resistance to some other varieties.
2. Fescue grows evenly, takes root quite quickly.
3. This grass can easily withstand dry summers. Fescue will dry out a little scorching sun, but very quickly gaining strength after watering.

To use the qualities of the plant to the fullest, you should take into account the characteristics of each variety. For example, species of fescue with dense roots fill gaps in the grass layer well. However, they do not produce dense turf. In this regard, these varieties are used in mixtures for parks, landscapes, most often on dry soil.

Long-leaved fescue belongs to rhizomatous-loose bush grasses. Its roots form a dense turf, as they can densely germinate in several directions at once. Due to this feature, this variety is used as the basis in the best mixtures for decorative and Moorish lawns.

Bluegrass has an excellent ability to form dense growth, which has medium elasticity. In addition, the turf is not susceptible to damage, as it is quickly regenerated. This property is due to underground processes that instantly fill empty areas on the soil surface.

However, bluegrass also has disadvantages. The main ones are:

• slow germination after sowing, sometimes it takes him a month;
• this plant has poor resistance to diseases that can quickly destroy an entire crop.

Meadow grass meadow covers the soil with a dense, even layer of overgrowth

Bluegrass is certainly used in mixtures for sports lawns. This culture condenses upper layer coating, while at the same time increasing its resistance to stress. Since bluegrass regenerates well, it quickly closes damaged areas. Add its seeds to the mixture for moorish lawn, which is the easiest to create with your own hands. There are elite varieties of this grass, their feature is narrow leaves. These types of plants are mainly used in mixtures for decorative lawns.

The main property of the filamentous bent is the inability to withstand significant loads. To increase the resistance to trampling, it is recommended to mow the bent grass, leaving the length of the stems 5-10 cm. The second disadvantage can be called slow germination, sometimes bent grass begins to grow only a month after sowing. In addition, grass grows rather slowly, especially at the beginning. The field needs to be watered systematically, maintaining high level moisture. Lawns in which this plant occupies a significant proportion often form turf felt. You can fight it by cutting through the top layer of turf.

The filiform bent has the following advantages. The main advantage is the beautiful and dense layer of greenery that forms on the surface. Another undoubted advantage is the ability of grass to grow on dry soils, in which there is little nutrients.

Filamentous bent grass can grow on poor soils, but is easily trampled

The bentgrass is commonly used in golf turf mixes. The best decorative mixtures almost always contain bent grass and red fescue.

Secondary Lawn Grass Types

We talked about the most popular herbs that are used for lawns. However, other plants are also used, which are often added to lawn mixtures. If the composition of the mixture is selected independently, it is worth buying plant seeds that have good frost resistance and do not require too complicated care. However, most lawn grasses below have their own characteristics that you should be aware of.

This plant is suitable for those who do not want to cut the grass often. The grass produces shoots that creep along the ground, after which they take root. It turns out a grassy carpet of bright color, which quickly fills with itself all the free areas. The disadvantage of such a lawn is that the shoots are lighter than the main lawn, which makes the color of the area uneven, too colorful.

The shoot-bearing bent grass forms an even grassy carpet that does not need to be cut often.

Different types of bluegrass

bluegrass happens different varieties: narrow-leaved, oak, marsh. All of them are often used in lawn mixtures, but each variety has its own characteristics:

1. Bolotny loves moist soils, so it can be sown in areas without drainage. This plant forms a dense cover, with a dense root system, it can be mowed regularly. The marsh bluegrass lives only 4-5 years, after which it must be sown.
2. Dubravny (also called upland) loves shade, so it is sown near trees with a branched crown, in the shade of a house, near a fence. In contrast to the swamp, the oak bluegrass root system weaker. In this regard, it will not withstand frequent mowing, and also weakens from a significant load.
3. The narrow-leaved or flattened bluegrass grows quickly and fills any area well. The disadvantage is the short life span - such grass will please the owner for no more than 5-6 years. Also, uneven coloring is considered to be its special property; therefore, bluegrass angustifolia is not used. professional designers. The flattened bluegrass produces shoots of increased rigidity, which does not allow you to enjoy a soft rug. This type of lawn is only good for decorative purposes.

A noticeable advantage of this type of grass is its rapid germination - two months after sowing, the lawn is completely ready. Meadow fescue can be used as a temporary cover as it only lives for 4-5 years.

Often it is used as an addition to the main type of lawn - due to its rapid growth, fescue fills any piece of land. The disadvantage of grass is a weak root system - fescue is afraid of the load, so it is not often used as the main one.

Meadow fescue will please with good germination

bent dog

Dog bent grass is a grass that has excellent decorative qualities. It has a bright emerald color, and its leaves have a velvety surface. A weak root system, as well as a short lifespan, do not allow the use of dog fescue as a cover for sports or playgrounds. At the same time, this grass is often grown to create Moorish and parterre, that is, decorative lawns.

This grass is not often used as a lawn. Clover loves sunny areas, and usually does not take root in the shade. Resistant to trampling, it improves soil quality. The disadvantage is uneven coloring. In addition, clover is a well-known honey plant. Its flowers produce a lot of sweet nectar, attracting bees to them. In this regard, clover is not planted where there are children.

White clover will quickly fill the lawn, but it is not recommended to use it on the playground

DIY clover lawn

Despite the shortcomings white clover can be a good cover for any site. In order for this grass to perform the functions of a lawn, it must be planted according to the rules. Competent site preparation, selection of seeds and timely care will allow you to get a spectacular and presentable green lawn near the house. This plant has obvious advantages:

• a strong root system will displace any weed from its environment;
• excellent decorative effect;
• a dense carpet of green leaves will completely cover any area;
• clover stems do not grow tall, which means that a haircut is not required;
• grows well without special care - plants do not need to be watered often, or fed;
• clover is not so easy to trample - it is very resistant to stress;
• good growth rate;
• the plant provides saturation of the soil with nitrogen, which makes it more fertile;
• clover can be planted on any land with a variety of terrain.

It is important to know that clover coating also has disadvantages. The following nuances should be taken into account:

• if other flowers are planted nearby, clover will block their living space;
• sometimes the grass growth rate is too high - clover quickly absorbs a new area;
• the plant retains moisture, which can make the surface of the site quite slippery.

Clover must be grown in a well-lit area.

Instructions for planting clover

Next, we will tell you how to plant clover in the country with your own hands. This plant is quite unpretentious, it does not require systematic watering, top dressing. However, to obtain a uniform coating, several conditions must be observed. First, you need to choose the right place. It can be a sunny area, or partial shade. Secondly, clover should be sown at the end of spring. Next, you need to do this:

1. First you need to remove a layer of earth at least 5 cm, and then level the surface.
2. Seeds should be soaked in water for 1 hour or more. Then mix with the ground and scatter over the area.
3. Pour a 1 cm layer of soil on top.
4. Water the soil well with a sprinkler.

It is desirable that the earth remains moist for a week. If you do not walk on the lawn, then after about 14 days shoots will appear.

It happens that when proper care the lawn is still not happy with its density, in some places it freezes over the winter and requires frequent overseeding. All these are the consequences of an incorrectly chosen herbal mixture. When buying, we usually pay attention only to the information on what type of lawn the mixture is intended for (sports, parterre, etc.). The herbs that make up the composition are of less interest to us, especially since their names will say little to the average buyer. But this information is more important than the rest, because a lot of mixtures are imported into our country from Europe. There the climate is milder, and the criteria for selecting lawn grasses are not so strict. But in our harsh climate, the European lawn often freezes out, because it does not contain frost-resistant grasses. To avoid such problems, lawn grass should be selected according to the degree of adaptability to the climate and soils of your area. Let's analyze this in more detail.

Any ornamental lawn grass should be a perennial, because the lawn is created for more than one year, and it makes no sense to sow the site in a new way every spring. Of all existing species plants are most adapted to the conditions of the lawn cereals. But not all, but only those that meet the following requirements:

1. Frost resistant.
2. Decorative externally (juicy green flowers, with uniform germination of shoots, with the same density of cover, etc.).
3. They develop a strong root system that does not collapse as a result of movement, is able to grow on compacted soils, etc.
4. After mowing, they quickly build up cover and respond well to mineral fertilizers.
5. The ability to reproduce vegetatively, because seeds cannot reproduce on the lawn.

The most adapted to the Russian climate herbs

If we analyze all the plants offered in mixtures according to the five listed criteria, then out of the whole variety there will be only three names of grass for the lawn, which ideally meet the conditions of Russian weather. This is bent grass thin,red fescue and meadow bluegrass. All of them are included in the group of short-rhizomatous cereals and have similar properties.

These plants are not afraid of temperature contrasts, especially during frosts. in early spring or late autumn. Their root system withstands severe frosts and forms such a dense turf that it is simply unrealistic to break through it for weeds. For 1 sq.m. develops about 30 thousand shoots. Grasses withstand frequent mowing, have a high speed vegetative propagation, therefore, with proper care, the lawn will last for decades without overseeding.

Red fescue grows quite slowly, so the lawn will look poor for the first year of planting, but for the next season the plant creates a dense, even cover.

Bluegrass meadow is not worth buying in its pure form, because it slowly builds up the root system. It is better to take a mixture where it is the main ingredient

The thin bent grass is famous not only for its winter hardiness and unpretentiousness, but also for its rich dense green color, which gives the lawn a rich look.

When studying the composition of mixtures in stores, choose for yourself those that contain the largest percentage of these particular cereals. Sometimes the names of the components are written in Latin on the packaging. Remember how these three herbs sound in Latin:

• The thin bent is designated as Agrostis tenuis;
• Meadowgrass meadow is Poa Pratensis;
• Red fescue translates as Festuca rubra.

Additional components in mixtures

In addition to the three cereals, other plants suitable for the climate of our latitudes can also be found in mixtures. All of them will have good frost resistance and undemanding maintenance. But there are some disadvantages that do not allow these herbs to be considered the best for the lawn. And if you find their names in the mixture, then remember that they should not be the main component, but can be used as an addition.

We list the types of grasses often used in lawn mixtures:

• The best quality- very fast growth. Minus - gives horizontal shoots that stand out with a light color against a dark green lawn. From this, the lawn acquires a non-uniform color. This quality is inappropriate on parterre lawns, although it is not so important for a recreation area.
• Other types of bluegrass. In addition to the meadow, which we described earlier, in mixtures there are narrow-leaved, common and flattened types of bluegrass. They are distinguished by poor durability, i.e. after 5-7 years they require reseeding, and the decorative properties are lower (blades of grass are too hard and with a bluish tint).

The light green color of the horizontal shoots of the bent grass contrasts with the color of the main lawn grass, so the grass is not suitable for parterre lawns

Herbs with specific properties

There are certain types stunted herbs for the lawn, which are adapted to specific growing conditions. They cannot be called universal, but for certain places on the site it is recommended to plant them.

Yes, at bluegrass oak high ability grow in partial shade. Those. under garden trees and in places near buildings where light rarely hits, this plant will save the lawn from bald spots and pale cover. True, you must take into account that the oak bluegrass cannot form a dense root system, therefore it does not tolerate movement and frequent mowing.

swamp bluegrass will save the situation on lawns with high humidity, where drainage has not been carried out. It forms a beautiful green cover and develops strong roots, but is short-lived and requires frequent overseeding. It can be combined with white bentgrass, which also grows well in moist soil. But its decorative properties are lower than those of bluegrass, and the life span is about 8 years.

For parterre lawns, on which it is not planned to walk at all, you can use bent grass. This is one of the most luxurious outwardly herbs, because it has an emerald color and delicate, thin blades of grass. Such a lawn is also called "velvet", because from a distance it looks like an expensive fabric. But with all the external virtues, the plant is very capricious. It lives for about 5 years, has weak roots, grows slowly and is absolutely not resistant to trampling.

If it is important for you that the lawn looks aesthetically pleasing in a month or two, then choose a mixture that contains meadow fescue. This is the fastest growing cereal that closes its stems in 2 months. It can be used in its pure form for a temporary lawn, which is destined to grow in one place for 4 years, because the grass does not live longer. In addition, meadow fescue has weak roots that are afraid of trampling. But in the composition of the mixture, this cereal can be very useful as an addition to the main grass. For example, meadow bluegrass grows slowly, and until it comes into full force, empty places will successfully close the stems of meadow fescue.

Meadow fescue will save the owners when it is urgent to make the lawn decorative, because after 2 months the blades of grass form a continuous thick carpet

Your lawn will be dense already in the first summer, although a little motley. Meadow fescue has wide stems and light color that against the background of narrow dark green grass blades of bluegrass will look contrasting. The next year, when the main grass begins to grow rapidly, it will simply squeeze out this cereal and take its place.

Herbs unsuitable for the Russian climate

There are grasses in European mixes that should be avoided when planting on lawns because they are designed for mild climates. For example, perennial ryegrass has excellent growth, decorativeness and dense cover, but after the first winter your lawn noticeably "goes bald", although in Europe such lawns successfully turn green for about 8 years.

Perennial ryegrass (pasture) is able to surprise only in the first year after planting. Harsh winter is too much for him

Often found as an additional component of the mixture, annual bluegrass. Its peculiarity is unpretentiousness in care and rapid growth. But this cereal reproduces by seeds, so that with constant mowing the next year, it will not be able to give offspring in any way and will free up the land for the germination of weeds.

Another "two girlfriends" - soddy pike and sheep fescue- are good in all properties, except for one: they form bumps over time, and gradually your lawn will turn into a field of green mounds.

Mixing lawn herbs is like alchemy...

For various purposes - for a decorative lawn, parterre, park or sports lawn - it is necessary to choose different ratios of the main types of grasses.

• What are these types?
• What are their properties?
• When is the best time to choose a bluegrass-dominated lawn mix, and where to choose ryegrass or fescue?

You can find answers to these and other questions in this article...

Lawn mixtures can usually be purchased ready-made. In this case, you need to know well the properties of each herbal species and the composition of the mixture. Then you can decide how to choose the right lawn grass seeds for planting in the country.

In addition, grass seeds can be mixed on their own.

The main popular types of grasses for sowing a lawn

The basis for all lawn mixtures is formed by:

• red fescue;
• bluegrass meadow;
• the bent is thin;
• perennial or perennial ryegrass.

The properties of a lawn are essentially determined by the presence and proportions of these species in the mixture of seeds.

We will consider them in more detail, provide you with extended information about each species, with Latin names certain types lawn grasses and photographs.

Red Fescue (Festuca rubra sensu lato)

Red fescue can be mowed frequently and short (from 20 to 40 mm on ornamental and sports lawns). Adapted to a moderate load.

It is the basis of all decorative lawns. This is an unpretentious type of lawn grass, in which three subspecies are distinguished: red red fescue (festuca rubra rubra) with long rhizomes, hairy (festuca rubra trichophylla) with short and hard (festuca rubra commutata) without rhizomes.

It is a low grass from deep green to grey-green. Basal leaves are narrow and long, deeply grooved, up to 1 mm wide. Stem leaves are usually wider - about 2 mm, flat and corrugated.

Peculiarities:

• Fescue is relatively undemanding to care for. Quite resistant to trampling, although inferior to bluegrass and ryegrass.
• After sowing, fescue sprouts break through within two to three weeks.
• In spring, sprouts break through early, and it is good that the grass is very resistant to adverse climatic conditions and weather changes.
• The lawn layer germinates evenly and takes root at a moderate rate.
• TOP varieties produce a dense and very soft lawn turf.
• Red fescue is not very susceptible to common fungal infections.
• It successfully resists drought when the leaves temporarily wither, but the plants themselves regenerate very well.

In Russia, 41 varieties are used to make lawn mixtures. You can learn more about the varieties in the article on this type of lawn grass.

Usage

Loose bush and rhizome-loose bush varieties of red fescue are the basis of the best ornamental lawns (in such mixtures up to 60-70%) due to dense, very delicate turf. Elite varieties of fescue are also used for golf turf.

rhizomatous varieties, give a rarer turf, but better fill gaps in the undergrowth. They are preferred in formulations for commercial and park or landscape lawns especially on poor and dry soils.

Due to its resistance to lack of light, fescue is used for sowing in shady areas, in the shade of fences, trees or bushes.

Bluegrass meadow (Poa pratensis)

You can mow bluegrass even lower than perennial ryegrass (up to a height of 10-30 mm)

Broad-leaved forms of bluegrass grow in fertile meadows and pastures, with plenty of moisture, from lowlands to the subalpine zone. The narrow-leaved form is more common in dry steppe meadows, along roads, on overgrown slopes and screes.

This is perennial with long underground rhizomes, medium height, dark green.

Peculiarities:

• Regrown bluegrass forms a dense lawn of medium softness.
• The turf is resistant to mechanical damage and perfectly regenerates due to underground shoots forming a dense underground turf.

Disadvantages:

• Bluegrass germinates very slowly after sowing, within three to four weeks.
• Sod develops and takes roots too slowly, and reaches full development in subsequent (after sowing) years.
• For some varieties of bluegrass, late spring growth can also be expected.
• It is susceptible to some foliage diseases - especially in autumn.

Usage:

Bluegrass is necessary ingredient for creation of the landscape and sports lawns subject to the increased loadings. Increases the density of the grass cover and its resistance to mechanical stress.

Its increased ability to regenerate helps to quickly overgrow damaged areas.

Elite narrow-leaf varieties can also be used in ornamental turf mixes.

Thin bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.)

Resists loads poorly if not mowed regularly and very low (5-10mm)

Low grass with short roots. The stems are thin, smooth, straight. Flat or semi-twisted leaf blades about 2 mm wide.

Positive traits:

• The main advantage is undemanding, grows on poor and dry soils.
• Forms a dense quality lawn carpet.

Disadvantages:

• Characterized by extremely slow germination after sowing (21-30 days) and slow initial growth.
• Late spring growing season.
• Requires a lot of moisture and frequent low mowing.

Lawns with a large proportion of bent grass are prone to the formation of lawn felt, they require verticulation - cutting the turf to a shallow depth.

Usage:

The thin bentgrass is suitable in a mixture with red fescue for nurturing the best decorative lawns. Used in golf lawn mixes.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

Pasture ryegrass requires frequent mowing. But, attention! Do not mow it too low (minimum 25-30 mm)

The grass, also called English ryegrass or pasture ryegrass, is one of the finest perennial herbs.

It is a dark green, low dense growing species. It has straight, reddish stems, leaves with blades up to 6 mm wide.

Peculiarities:

• It also grows on heavier soils with a compacted surface.
• Demanding for sufficient moisture and nutrients.
• Perennial ryegrass is a fundamental component of English turf mixes.

Advantages:

• Of all lawn grasses, it is the fastest to sprout and grow. Soft, resilient turf develops and takes root in the year of sowing.
• Very resistant to mechanical stress and perfectly regenerates after damage.
• Competes well with weeds.

Disadvantages:

• Sensitive to temperature changes, ideal for mild climates, unsuitable for continental. Prone to freezing. After a snowless winter, your lawn may "bald".
• susceptible to fungal infection. Especially in areas where snow lies for a long time, it is affected by snow mold.
• Does not tolerate extreme drought.

Usage:

Perennial ryegrass is the basis of mixtures for sports and park lawns in which it provides resistance to heavy loads and rapid regeneration of damaged areas.

It is also included in mixtures designed for the rapid renewal of green areas and regenerative crops.

Due to its vitality, mixtures must be formulated so that in the early stages of lawn development it does not crowd out other slow-growing grass components.

Additional types of grasses for lawn mixtures

You can add grasses that feel confident in our region to the main composition of the lawn mixture.

Requirements for them:

• Good frost resistance.
• Unpretentiousness in care.

Shooting bent grass (Agrostis stolonifera)

• Grows fast.

• Creeping shoots may be somewhat lighter than the main green of the lawn. From this, the glade turns out to be motley.

For a classic lawn, this is an undoubted marriage, but for a country lawn it’s absolutely not scary.

Bluegrass narrow-leaved (Poa angustifolia), common bluegrass (Poa trivialis), flattened bluegrass (Poa compressa)

• Fast growth.
• Good area occupancy.

• Fragility - will have to be transplanted after 5-6 years.
• A plant with an uneven bluish color, therefore it is suitable only for "dacha" use.
• Shoots are too harsh. Walking on it will not be very comfortable, so it is more suitable for "visual beauty".

Bluegrass oak or upland (Poa nemoralis)

• Feels great in shady areas. It is logical to plant it where there is little light: under a fence, near buildings, under garden trees.

• This plant has a weak root system, so trampling and frequent mowing is contraindicated for it.

Marsh bluegrass (Poa palustris)

• Grows well in areas with high humidity. Therefore, if you have a lawn on the site without prior drainage, bluegrass is what you need!
• It grows into a dense green carpet with powerful roots. Hence the conclusion - it will withstand repeated mowing.

• The life expectancy of this herb is a maximum of 4-5 years. It has to be constantly sown.

Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis)

It can be planted as a temporary lawn, although it will last a minimum of 4 years.

• Fast growth - 2 months and the lawn is ready!
• An excellent addition to the main grass: while it is gaining strength, fescue will close empty spaces.
• Already in the first season, a dense green carpet will delight the owners.
• But next year, the main grass will get stronger and gradually displace, replace this cereal.

• Weak roots that are afraid of trampling, so this grass should be planted as an additional one.

Dog bentgrass (Agrostis canina)

There are not only lawns on which you can walk, but also the so-called parterre or English, exclusively decorative.
Here for the latter, a dog bent is perfect.

• The name may not be very attractive, but the grass has an absolutely amazing emerald color.
• The external velvety of delicate blades of grass from a distance resembles a good-quality fabric.

• Lives no more than 5 years.
• Weak roots do not tolerate trampling.
• It grows quite slowly.