This question may initially seem straightforward; however, the answer depends on the context of the word best. Is this word supposed to refer to the top grass seed for a particular sport? Or the longevity of the athletic field seed mix? What about the turnaround time once the grass seed is laid? Or even the most geographically expansive sport field grass seed? One question has suddenly become at least four. But do not fret; you can find the answers to all these potential inquiries right in this brief post!
To begin, let us examine this question from a climatic perspective. If you live in a northern region, you will most likely want to opt for one (or a combination) of these athletic grass seeds:
However, if your athletic field needs to endure a southern climate, you have two standout choices:
- Bermudagrass
- Zoysia grass
For a transitional climate, the variety of bermudagrass known as Latitude 36 or tall fescue is a perfect cold-tolerant option.
Now, if your primary concern is how fast the field grass seed mix germinates and recovers, your rankings and grass seed ratios may shift. Perennial ryegrass takes the leaderboard with its unmatchable germination and establishment speeds. Kentucky bluegrass is the slowest of the trio, but it far exceeds perennial ryegrass when it comes to repairing itself and growing densely. Meanwhile, turf-type tall fescue stands the test of time with its noteworthy wear tolerance, color durability, and greater adaptability to drought and higher temperatures than perennial ryegrass and KBG. Bermudagrass has a similar heat tolerance and wear resistance to TTTF, and it can withstand heavy foot traffic due to its speedy recovery rate.
But which athletic field lawn seed is recommended for a particular sport? Generally, the answer is a blend of the grass seeds described previously. For football fields, the most common grass seeds are KBG, TTTF, and perennial ryegrass in the North, bermudagrass in the South, and TTTF in fluctuating climates. The ideal northern grass seed ratio for football fields is 80% KBG and 20% perennial ryegrass. The top grass seed contenders for tennis courts are either a blend of 70% perennial ryegrass and 30% creeping red fescue or 100% perennial ryegrass. Creeping bentgrass is also sometimes selected, and bermudagrass is the go-to in Southern regions. For golf, the choice of grass seeds is even more critical, variable, and specific. For fairways and tees, popular types of grass seed include perennial ryegrass and KBG, as they can both withstand short mowing heights and boast speedy recoveries. Once again, in Southern regions, bermudagrass outcompetes the rest as both a fairway grass and on the green. The other athletic grass seeds sometimes found in golf courses are bahia grass, fescue, zoysia grass, buffalograss, and St. Augustine grass. For other sports, including soccer, cricket, baseball, lacrosse, and rugby, you need durable grass seeds that can quickly bounce back despite high traffic. The grass seeds used for these sports are still typically Kentucky bluegrass in the North and bermudagrass in the South. However, blends that include 10-20% perennial ryegrass are excellent choices for these sports given their high recovery rate.
I bet we’d agree that there is much new information to consider when deciding which athletic field grass seed to purchase. So, please do not hesitate to contact us today with any athletic field grass seed questions. We can help provide clarification to ensure you make the right choice for your field. Additionally, we offer the leading selection of athletic field grass seeds, so whichever one you choose will already be a stellar choice.
