Dr. Grow: Labels give grass seeed specifics

By checking the label on a bag of grass seed, the consumer can be sure of the quality of the seed mix.

A few days ago, a friend of mine said he had gone to all of the stores in town that sell grass seed. His purpose was to find the cheapest K31 fescue he could, because he needed a lot of seed for a new lawn. He found a wide discrepancy in the prices. He asked me, "Is there any difference between seed at different stores?"

To answer his question, I had to explain grass seed labels. Because I have been asked this question several times, I thought you might also like to know the answer.

State law requires a label be attached to each bag of grass seed sold. Very specific information is required on this label. Label information listed is from tests run by the grass seed vendor. It must be accurate. The Missouri State Department of Agriculture employs seed inspectors who gather samples from vendors and then test seed to make sure that the results are the same as those listed on the label. If the results are different, a stop seed sale order is executed.

Each seed label must identify the variety or species of grass seed found in the bag. If a mixture or blend of grass seed is found in the bag, then each variety or species must be listed. A mixture contains different grass seed species, while a blend contains different varieties of the same species.

In addition to the different species or varieties found in the bag, the label must also list the percent of each variety found by weight. Each species of grass seed has seed that is of different size and different weight. For example, K31 fescue seed is much larger and weighs more than blue grass seed. If a label says that the bag contains 50 percent bluegrass and 50 percent K31 fescue by weight, the percent actual seed count may be 80 percent bluegrass and 20 percent K31 fescue.

The label must list the percent purity of grass seed found in the bag. When grass seed is harvested, a lot of dust and other weed seed finds its way into the combine hopper. Seed vendors clean the seed before it is bagged and shipped to the ultimate point of sale. Some vendors clean seed better than others. For example, most K31 fescue seed I see on the market is 98 percent pure. Yet at other times, I have seen cheaper seed that is only 90 percent pure. Seed that is cheaper yet only 90 percent pure instead of 98 percent pure may actually be costing the consumer more because he is paying for a lot less seed.

In addition to purity, the next information to look at is the germination percent. Grass seed is a viable, living entity. If stored properly, it can maintain its viability for many years. If stored improperly it can lose its viability over a short period of time. Most seed found on the market has a germination percent of at least 80 percent. this means when planted, 80 out of 100 seeds will germinate and become new grass seedlings. If you buy seed that has a germination percentage less than 80 percent, even though it is cheaper by the pound, it may cost you more money per actual seed that germinates.

As I indicated above, if seed is not stored properly, some of it dies and the germination percent decreases. Therefore, look at the date the seed was tested. If should have been tested less than 10 months from the date you are buying it. If the test date is longer than 10 months ago, the seed is considered out of test and cannot be sold legally.

Grass seed out of test date can be retested. If it is retested and the test results are okay, then a new label is placed on the bag.

The label also identifies the percent of inert matter. This constitutes dust and other nonliving material that is found in grass seed lots. Inert content results from residue not eliminated during the cleaning process.

The next information found is the percent of weed seeds int he bag. I have never seen a field of grass that does not have some form of weeds growing in it. When the grass seed is harvested, weed seed may also be harvested. If the weight and size of the weed seed is similar to that of the grass seed, it will be hard for the cleaning operation to separate the weed seed from the desired grass seed. Therefore a few of the weed seeds remain in the grass seed bag. The label tells you how much of the seed is weed seed.

When you add up the percent grass seed, the inert percent and the weed seed percent, the total should be 100 percent. You now have some good information to use to determine the quality of the seed you are buying.

One other consideration you need to be aware of. Know what each type of grass seed is used for. Do not be swayed by information printed on the bag. One fellow showed me a whole pickup load of inexpensive grass seed he bought. He had a five-acre lawn to put in and was tickled because he had found a bargain.

Printed on the grass seed bag was the statement -- quick start lawn seed. I looked at the label on the bag. It was the quick start lawn seed, annual rye, which does germinate very rapidly. Unfortunately, this grass lasts only one growing season. When I pointed this out to him, he was embarrassed. He would have had to sow the lawn again. His bargain seed was not a bargain after all.

When buying grass seed, one must consider more information than just price. Look at the label and compare information. The price difference may or may not be justified.