![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Kentucky-Bluegrass.jpg\")
Boston is known for its Emerald Necklace, defined by the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed system of green spaces. You can have a little bit of the Emerald Necklace in your landscape with the correct selection of the best grass types for your Boston lawn. These are recommendations for seed or sod. In this article Kentucky Bluegrass […]
\n","content":"\nBoston is known for its Emerald Necklace, defined by the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed system of green spaces. You can have a little bit of the Emerald Necklace in your landscape with the correct selection of the best grass types for your Boston lawn. These are recommendations for seed or sod.
\n\n\n\nIn this article
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Ethan2039 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nWant a lawn that feels perfect under bare feet? Something soft, able to withstand kid’s play or lounging on the lawn? Kentucky bluegrass is the way to go. Although it requires a little more maintenance, Kentucky blue is one of the top choices in lawns throughout the country.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance includes regular irrigation, mowing and fertilization to retain its bluish-green good looks, even in winter. Pay particular attention to irrigation. Adequate nitrogen application is important, too. Always read and follow the label directions.
\n\n\n\nIf it gets too hot and dry and there’s no irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass will go dormant. Cooler weather, rain or renewed watering the lawn will revive it quickly, unless it went more than about six weeks without water.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass.jpg\")
Perennial Ryegrass
Photo Credit: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Unlike Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass is a good low-maintenance alternative for your Boston landscape. Perennial rye can handle foot traffic and child play, and is great for relaxing on the deep green turf.
\n\n\n\nThe blades of perennial ryegrass are medium textured rather than fine like Kentucky bluegrass. Because it germinates quickly, it sometimes is mixed in with other grass types for overseeding or to fill bare spots. Although a clump grower, it may compete with other grasses to create an odd-looking mix in the lawn. Use about a 20% perennial rye when mixing with Kentucky blue or fine fescue.
\n\n\n\nPerennial ryegrass is susceptible to fungal diseases like red thread and dollar spot. Several cultivars of perennial ryegrass contain beneficial fungal endophytes. These internal compounds help protect plants and enhance growth.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Fine-leaf-Fescue.jpg\")
Fine-leaf Fescue
Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
This type includes creeping fescue, chewings fescue and hard fescue. Each can be used alone or mixed with other grasses. Fine fescues have medium to dark green narrow leaves. They tolerate acidic or low pH soil and also tolerate shade and drought.
\n\n\n\nFine fescues do not like hot humid conditions, heavy fertilization or excess foot traffic, however. These may also get fungus disease, such as red thread. Although considered low maintenance, fine fescues do best when irrigated and mowed regularly.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Tall-Fescue.jpg\")
Tall Fescue
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
As a rough-and-tumble lawn grass, tall fescue is at the top of the list. It is rooted in lawns throughout the country and appreciated for its low maintenance and durability. It tends to grow quickly in spring and fall, especially in open, sunny areas.
\n\n\n\nAlthough slow to establish, tall fescue requires little fertilizer and resists many pests and diseases. This makes it ideal for Boston homeowners who don’t want lawn worries. The leaf color ranges from medium to dark green with a bit of a rough. texture. Newer varieties have been developed with finer textures.
\n\n\n\nThe only warm-season grass that is winter hardy in the Boston area is zoysiagrass. It is available in the market, but homeowners should give it some thought before planting it.
\n\n\n\nAlthough it has many attributes, they may not offset other zoysia habits. For instance, zoysiagrass turns brown as soon as temperatures drop and returns to medium green when the warm season returns. In cold climates, zoysiagrass tends to be brown for a longer period than it is green.
\n\n\n\nZoysia also spreads by under- and above-ground stems (rhizomes and stolons). It readily creeps out of its space to gardens and landscape beds and the neighbor’s yard. Your neighbor will hate it.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass withstands heat, drought and foot traffic, but will thin in shade. It rarely needs to be mowed. It does need regular aeration, however. Also on the plus side, its dense growing habit discourages weeds.
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses like zoysiagrass grow most actively in late spring and summer when temperatures are around 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. They perform best in the Southern United States.
\n\n\n\nA good lawn and garden center will stock the type of seed that is best for your Boston lawn, but it’s important to understand that most turf grass seed is a blend of seeds. The reason there are mixes is to get a fast-germinating seed to come on first to hold soil in place while slower-germinating seeds start to grow. Usually, a mixed seed selection can be used broadly in the landscape, from moderately shady locations to full sun. Grass seed also is sold as individual types.
\n\n\n\nBuy the best grass seed you can find. Grass is inexpensive compared to other plants in your Boston landscape. Current grass seed products are much improved over what your parents or grandparents sowed.
\n\n\n\nNewer products have been perfected with coatings that ensure good germination, such as a mini dose of fertilizer and enough moisture to get the seed growing.
\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses grow most actively in early spring and fall when temperatures are around 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re well-suited to northern climates with distinct seasons and cold winters.
\n\n\n\nThe best time to sow grass seed is from mid-August to mid-September. The soil still retains summer warmth to help the seed germinate. Rains in fall also help grass seed take root and grow.
\n\n\n\nEven overseeding – sowing seed to fill in bare spots or thicken the lawn – is best down in early fall.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re a busy bee and want to save time, opt for perennial ryegrass and fescues.
Fine fescue is the best option for lawns with abundant shade.
Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass can withstand a lot of foot traffic. Zoysiagrass is also good for a busy lawn.
Fine fescue doesn’t require as much watering as other grass types. Zoysia also needs little watering.
Don’t have time to keep up with your lawn care duties? Hire a Boston lawn care pro to turn your lawn into an emerald jewel.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Unsplash
\n","title":"The Best Grass Types For a Boston Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4943960149439601,"src":"/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/1789c/Grassy-Lawn-3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/107df/Grassy-Lawn-3.jpg 320w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/293e9/Grassy-Lawn-3.jpg 500w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/f2cbb/Grassy-Lawn-3.jpg 800w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/1789c/Grassy-Lawn-3.jpg 960w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/c26c2/Grassy-Lawn-3.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/1dd6e/Grassy-Lawn-3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/67b76/Grassy-Lawn-3.webp 320w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/8df11/Grassy-Lawn-3.webp 500w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/98a65/Grassy-Lawn-3.webp 800w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/1dd6e/Grassy-Lawn-3.webp 960w,\n/static/86e6d238eeb89cef0308e3c00537bc4e/3cc96/Grassy-Lawn-3.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The Best Grass Types For a Boston Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Reseeding some bare patches in your grass or putting in a new lawn? Here are the grass types that thrive best in Boston."}}},{"node":{"id":"381bf1d6-38f1-5cb0-8625-812efc325c23","slug":"best-grass-seed-types-massachusetts","path":"/lawn-care/ma/best-grass-seed-types-massachusetts/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nicki DeStasi is a writer, author, and teacher who grew up in western Massachusetts and currently resides in the Austin area. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, reading, cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, two children, dog, and cat.","name":"Nicki DeStasi","id":"ffbf62e2-d627-5a5f-a041-4eaa9ac66924","path":"/author/nicki-destasi/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9846092d7afb2db8d0a4daa2454074f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"33c4a526-c6f7-5d9e-96d4-d1803a4d03b7","name":"Massachusetts","count":4,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ma/"}],"date":"June 2nd, 2023","excerpt":"You can do a lot in Massachusetts – get a frappe, bang a uey into Dunks, catch a game at the Garden – but the best is hanging in your yard. Gardening, sunbathing, or tossing a pigskin is even better with a luscious lawn. Whether you’re living on the Cape, the Hub, or down the […]
\n","content":"\nYou can do a lot in Massachusetts – get a frappe, bang a uey into Dunks, catch a game at the Garden – but the best is hanging in your yard. Gardening, sunbathing, or tossing a pigskin is even better with a luscious lawn. Whether you’re living on the Cape, the Hub, or down the Pike in Western Massachusetts, choose one of the 5 best grass seed types for Massachusetts for a wicked awesome lawn.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\nWith Massachusetts’ relatively mild summers and freezing winters, all but one type of turf (Zoysiagrass) is cool-season grass. In general, there are key differences between warm-season and cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses grow quickly and have high-drought tolerance. Conversely, cool-season grasses are resilient and luxurious.
\n\n\n\nBut those differences only scratch the surface. Here are some more differentiating characteristics between warm-season and cool-season grasses:
\n\n\n\nThe following grass seed types are perfect for Massachusetts’ climate and soil conditions.
\n\n\n\n![\"Close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue-Grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Aaron Patton / Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe fine fescue grass type is a combination of slender creeping red fescue, strong creeping red fescue, hard fescue, chewings fescue, and sheep fescue. Depending on the mixture, fine fescue ranges from blue-green to medium green, and the blades are soft and needle-thin. As long as temperatures stay below 90 degrees, fine fescue lawns stay green throughout the summer.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass except for creeping red fescues, which have rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate to high; prefers at least four hours of sunlight per day
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1.5-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate; can be prone to diseases like red thread and snow mold
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate resistance
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.5- 6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Dry to somewhat moist, rocky, sandy, or clay soil
\n\n\n\nOther notes: For best results, it’s recommended to plant this during late summer or early fall, but it also can be planted in early spring. During the germination process, which can take up to three weeks, it’s important to keep the soil moist.
\n\n\n\n![\"Backyard](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass is the most popular cool-season grass due to its lovely dark bluish-emerald color with soft, medium to fine texture. Its self-repairing rhizomes fill in gaps and create a beautiful carpeted lawn. But its roots are short, making absorbing essential nutrients hard. Therefore, it’s best to mix Kentucky Bluegrass with other grass types like fescue or ryegrass.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low to moderate – prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low to moderate, but recuperates well
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-3 inches – mow taller in the summer
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high – can be prone to summer patch, snow molds, fairy rings, leaf spot, dollar spot, chinch bugs, grubs, greenbugs, and bluegrass billbugs
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-drained, fertile soils
\n\n\n\nOther notes: To ensure the best growth for this grass type, fertilize twice a year (in spring and fall) and frequently mow your lawn.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerennial ryegrass is a fast-growing dark green grass with a fine leaf texture. While it can easily stand alone, it’s often used as a companion (nurse grass) for other grasses and seed blends because of its low maintenance, hardiness, and resistance to pests and diseases. However, while still lovely, its bunched growth habit doesn’t typically create a dense carpet-like lawn.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type (tillers)
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low – prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low – goes dormant in dry summers
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: High – needs frequent cutting
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Prefers fertile, well-drained soils but adapts to many soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: The best time to fertilize perennial ryegrass in Massachusetts is in the early spring or early fall, providing optimal conditions for nutrient uptake and promoting healthy growth.
\n\n\n\n![\"Close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Aaron Patton / Purdue’s Turfgrass Science Program
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTall fescue is fast-growing with shiny, wide, ribbed, dark green coarse leaves. With excellent cold tolerance, it can survive our cold winters. Due to its bunched growth, it’s best as a stand-alone grass. When mixed with other grass types, your lawn grows patchy and unattractive. It doesn’t require dethatching or a lot of fertilization but may require overseeding.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass – it has vertical shoots called “tillers”
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate – can’t recuperate easily
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate – prepare to mow often due to its fast growth rate
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-4 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.5-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Best on clay soils high in organic matter but adapts to many soil types.
\n\n\n\nOther notes: For optimal growth and vibrancy of your lawn, apply fertilizer once during the fall months, preferably in September or November.
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Russbach at the English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is slow-growing but forms a beautiful, dense light to emerald green lawn with fine blades. It’s the only warm-season grass recommended this far north, but it will go dormant in the winter (it hides under the snow). Due to its appearance, excellent erosion control, and high foot traffic tolerance, it’s a common choice for parks, golf courses, and other public places.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High – although it needs supplemental watering during dry periods
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate resistance – common diseases include leaf spot, fairy rings, brown patch, powdery mildew, rust, large patch, spring dead spot, root decline, and dollar spot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate resistance
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows in most soil types but prefers well-drained soils
\n\n\n\nOther notes: It’s best to fertilize Zoysiagrass during the late spring or early summer.
\n\n\n\nPlanting grass seed in Massachusetts is a relatively easy DIY project if you follow the proper steps.
• Choose the right time: It varies by region and grass type. But in Massachusetts, homeowners usually plant grass in the fall.
• Prepare the site: Remove dead grass and grade it if needed. Also, rake where you plan to plant.
• Prepare the soil: Test your soil, then fertilize it as needed.
• Choose the best seed: Consider your lawn’s soil, sun, and foot traffic, as well as the amount of time you have for maintenance.
• Plant the seed: Using a spreader, distribute grass seed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Water appropriately: Varies by grass type. Understand your grass types’ water needs, or you could have lawn problems.
• Monitor seed establishment: Growth will take five to 21 days, depending on the grass type. Watch for bare spots as grass comes in. Reseed bare spots.
• Mow and maintain: Mow and maintain according to grass type needs.
Early fall is the best time to plant grass seed in Massachusetts. During this season, the days are cool with intermittent rain, but the ground is still warm enough for germination. This combination ensures that newly planted seeds won’t dry out.
Perennial ryegrass is known for its excellent traffic tolerance, making it a popular choice for high-traffic areas in Massachusetts. Its ability to withstand foot traffic and recover quickly from damage makes it an ideal grass type for lawns that experience heavy use.
Several grass types grow well in Massachusetts’ sandy, acidic soil, but each has pros and cons. When choosing your grass seed type, think about your soil’s microclimate – soil, sunlight, water–and how much time you can devote to maintenance.
\n\n\n\nIn the end, your choice will still depend on your specific needs and preferences. If your kids or pets spend a lot of time outside, go with Perennial ryegrass. If you want to mow less often, try Zoysiagrass. Plant Kentucky bluegrass if your goal is simply a dense, beautiful lawn. Or you might want a combination of grasses to achieve a balance of desirable traits.
\n\n\n\nOnce you’ve established your lawn, don’t forget to add the best native plants to make your landscape pop. Whether in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, Lowell, or somewhere in between, Wikilawn can connect you with a highly-rated lawn care pro who can help keep your grass healthy.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Boston Common / Shiyang Hu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n","title":"5 Best Grass Seed Types for Massachusetts","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.509433962264151,"src":"/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/1789c/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.jpg","srcSet":"/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/107df/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.jpg 320w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/293e9/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.jpg 500w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/f2cbb/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.jpg 800w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/1789c/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.jpg 960w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/c26c2/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/1dd6e/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/67b76/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.webp 320w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/8df11/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.webp 500w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/98a65/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.webp 800w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/1dd6e/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.webp 960w,\n/static/a3fa1900403ca6eba39c73b36120f936/3cc96/People-under-tree-in-Boston-Common.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"5 Best Grass Seed Types for Massachusetts | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"There are 5 best grass seed types for Massachusetts, including fine fescue, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and Zoysiagrass."}}},{"node":{"id":"9cb6cb3a-49dc-53d2-90c0-41ba85f7f475","slug":"best-native-plants-for-massachusetts","path":"/lawn-care/ma/best-native-plants-for-massachusetts/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nicki DeStasi is a writer, author, and teacher who grew up in western Massachusetts and currently resides in the Austin area. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, reading, cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, two children, dog, and cat.","name":"Nicki DeStasi","id":"ffbf62e2-d627-5a5f-a041-4eaa9ac66924","path":"/author/nicki-destasi/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9846092d7afb2db8d0a4daa2454074f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"33c4a526-c6f7-5d9e-96d4-d1803a4d03b7","name":"Massachusetts","count":4,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ma/"}],"date":"June 6th, 2023","excerpt":"Massachusetts may be one of the smallest states in the union. But with its rich history, an abundance of universities, and breathtaking fall foliage, this state has got it going. And don’t forget about the native plants. From wildflowers to perennial trees, the Bay State has tons of beautiful native plants. So if you want […]
\n","content":"\nMassachusetts may be one of the smallest states in the union. But with its rich history, an abundance of universities, and breathtaking fall foliage, this state has got it going. And don’t forget about the native plants. From wildflowers to perennial trees, the Bay State has tons of beautiful native plants. So if you want a stunning landscape, choose one of these 12 best native plants for Massachusetts.
\n\n\n\nChoosing native Massachusetts plants for your landscape has several benefits, including:
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen Red Sox spring training rolls around, you should start thinking about which plants you want in your garden. Here are 12 of the best native plants for your Massachusetts landscape:
\n\n\n\n![\"Wild](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/beach-plum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: KenWiedemann / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nPart of the rose family, the beach plum naturally grows along the East Coast – from New Brunswick down to Virginia. It prefers the salty soil near the beach but happily grows further inland into western Massachusetts. You can propagate it from soft-wood clippings, but it also can be grown from seed using cold stratification.
\n\n\n\nThis dense, rounded shrub with glossy, dark green leaves attracts various pollinators, including bees. Blooming from April through June, it produces small, white flowers that can be single or double. These flowers have multiple long anthers, giving them a somewhat fuzzy appearance. And from August to October, the shrub produces dull purple to crimson fruits that attract wildlife.
\n\n\n\n![\"Black](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/black-chokeberry.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Stefan Sutka / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nA small and mound-shaped shrub, the black chokeberry has dark green, finely toothed leaves that turn a vibrant crimson in the fall. From March to June, the shrub produces five-petaled white flowers with pink anthers, followed by blackish-purple berries. The black chokeberry features multiple stems adorned with reddish-brown bark. This suckering plant tends to produce multiple base shoots, which require regular trimming to maintain its desired shape.
\n\n\n\nNative to regions east of the Mississippi River, excluding Florida, the black chokeberry thrives in its natural habitat. While its berries are too tart to be consumed raw, they can be cooked to create jams, jellies, and even wine. If you want to cook these berries, harvest them as soon as they ripen, or birds will steal them.
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Milkweed-Asclepias-tuberosa-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nA staple in many home gardens, the butterfly weed has a distinct yet beautiful flower structure. Its petals gracefully arch backward, creating a stunning display that showcases the vibrant center. While the flowers are typically bright orange, some varieties produce red or yellow blooms.
\n\n\n\nAlso known as pleurisy root or orange milkweed, butterfly weed finds its roots in the New England region, stretching all the way down to Florida. It attracts butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, native bees, bumble bees, and honey bees. Note, though, that butterfly weed attracts aphids and ladybugs. But they can be removed with a soapy water spray.
\n\n\n\n![\"dark](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American_elderberry_Sambucus_canadensis1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rison Thumboor / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThe common elderberry is an interesting large shrub with many long thin shoots that sprout from the base. A very fast grower, it will need to be pruned regularly. The leaves are flat, egg-shaped, narrow-toothed, dark green, and up to 12 inches long. Its tiny white clustered flowers bloom from May to July before becoming black to dark purple berries in late summer.
\n\n\n\nElderberry shoots were used to craft flutes by boring the spongy white center. Later, Native Americans used the plant for several medicinal purposes. And today, it’s used to make jelly and wine. This perennial shrub attracts butterflies, bees, birds, small mammals, and deer. It grows best from cuttings but can grow from sulfuric-acid-treated seeds.
\n\n\n\n![\"Eastern](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/eastern-bluestar.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Andyworks / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nAs the common name suggests, eastern bluestar is notable for its five-petaled, star-shaped, tubular blue or purple flowers. The lance-shaped dark green leaves turn golden yellow in the fall. It’s native to the Southeast, from Massachusetts down to Florida. They typically grow from seeds but won’t flower until the second year.
\n\n\n\nAlso called blue dogbane, eastern bluestar provides the perfect habitat for beneficial fauna. Blooming from March to May, the flowers provide a nectar source for carpenter bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. Moreover, it’s resistant to most pests, diseases, and deer.
\n\n\n\n![\"Ripe](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/highbush-blueberry.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PatrikStedrak / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nOne of nearly 150 species, the highbush blueberry has an abundance of stems and thin green and red branches that create a sizable dense shrub. In the early spring, leaves blossom with a reddish-green hue that turns blue-green in early summer and red, yellow, orange, and purple in fall. The white or pink, dangling, bell-shaped flower clusters bloom from March through June.
\n\n\n\nIn late July through mid-August, yummy blueberries will ripen for the picking. Plant it in your shade garden so you and your loved ones can pick the berries to munch on or add to your favorite baked good or treat. The highbush blueberry supports wildlife – deer and rabbits eat the twigs and leaves, while birds, bears, and small mammals eat the berries.
\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/new-england-aster-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: pxfuel
\n\n\n\nNew England aster is a big aggressively-growing flowering plant with a dense array of hairy, clasping leaves on thick stems. The abundance of bright, beautiful flowers has orange-yellow centers that bloom from the ends of the leafy branches. Its flowers vary in color, from blue or lavender to pink or white, and blooms from August to November or until the first frost.
\n\n\n\nThis perennial is a host to several butterfly larvae species, while its nectar attracts bees, butterflies, and moths. This plant repels most pests but attracts beetles and is susceptible to powdery mildew. Its edible flowers can be used in salads or teas.
\n\n\n\nAdditionally, the stems and roots of New England aster have medicinal properties. They can be made into poultices, with the root being used for diarrhea and fever and the whole plant for respiratory issues.
\n\n\n\n![\"New](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/new-jersey-tea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Silviu Carol Cenusa / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nA low-growing shrub, New Jersey tea has small green, spade-shaped leaves and 2-inch oval flower heads. Its tiny white flowers bloom in March and April. However, young leaves are grayish, giving the plant a smoky hue. While the base is woody, the upper portion is herbaceous with lovely spreading branches.
\n\n\n\nAs its name suggests, the dried leaves of this deciduous shrub make an excellent decaffeinated tea. During the Revolutionary War, it was popular for treating fevers, asthma, bronchitis, and coughs. This nitrogen-loving plant’s nectar attracts bees and butterflies, and its seeds attract turkeys and quail.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Pearly-Everlasting.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Franco Folini / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nExcept in the Southeast, pearly everlasting grows throughout the United States and Canada. The bushy, cottony clusters of small white flowers with yellow centers grow at the top of the stem, which is decorated with long narrow green leaves with wooly-white undersides. They’re often used as supporting characters in flower arrangements.
\n\n\n\nPearly everlasting is a popular flower for pollinators, particularly the painted lady butterfly, which uses the plant as a host for its eggs. Medicinally, it has many uses, such as tea for excessive mucus, sore throat, and wet cough, and poultices for stiff, rheumatic joints, wounds, and blisters. It’s also used for digestive issues, including ulcers, food poisoning, and diarrhea.
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Red_maple_leaves.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Heng Wang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nRed Maple is a popular ornamental tree in North America due to its breathtaking fiery fall color. In spring, leaves bud red before maturing to dark purplish green. In the fall, they turn shades of yellow, orange, and purple. The leaves are 3 or 5 lobed, separated by V-shaped angles. Seeds are encased at one end of a paper-thin wing that becomes helicopter-like when they fall.
\n\n\n\nA young red maple has smooth silvery bark that ages into a dark gray with vertical cracks. This shade-giving tree is a great shelter and food source for birds, squirrels, rabbits, and deer. The hardy, quickly-growing red maple is popular in lumber production due to its smooth grain pattern, durability, and light, creamy color.
\n\n\n\n![\"Spotted](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/spotted-wintergreen.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Holcy / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nEndangered in Canada, Illinois, and Maine, the spotted wintergreen is found in mesic habitats of the Eastern United States and Canada. The evergreen sword-shaped leaves are dark green with white veins. It has small clusters of round, drooping, waxy flowers atop the stem. Blooming from June to August, its flowers are white but sometimes have a pink, blue, or purple hue.
\n\n\n\nA member of the shinleaf family, spotted wintergreen has a delicate smell rather than a minty one. Its leaf tea can treat gallstones, kidney stones, rheumatism, inflammation, and stomach problems. Crushed leaves can create a poultice for sores and wounds. The herb attracts insect pollinators, primarily bumblebees, but is deer resistant.
\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/800px-Lonicera_sempervirens_close_up_bloom.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Biosthmors / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThe trumpet honeysuckle is an excellent climbing or groundcover vine, perfect for trellises and arbors. Semi-evergreen leaves are smooth, glossy ovals with short pointed tips. Above the leaves are two to four showy, trumpet-shaped flowers with red outsides and yellow insides. With an orange-brown papery bark, this vine blooms from March through June and produces red berries.
\n\n\n\nThe trumpet honeysuckle’s nectar attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while the berries attract various birds. Its berries can cause an upset stomach, but the leaves have several medicinal uses – chewed leaves for bee stings, smoked for asthma, or tea for sore throat and cough.
\n\n\n\nThe Bay State may be small, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t diverse. With the ocean on one side and the Appalachian Mountains on the other, planting conditions can have significant differences within a few miles.
\n\n\n\nKnowing that the USDA hardiness zone in Massachusetts ranges from 5a to 7a can help you decide which plants to choose. But if you want native plants to thrive on your landscape, you must understand your lawn’s microclimate, including soils, average rainfall, and temperatures.
\n\n\n\nIn the eastern coastal regions, a wealth of native plants thrives, adapting to the unique blend of sea breezes, wetlands, and well-drained soils. Embrace the coastal beauty by incorporating beach roses, bayberry, and seaside goldenrod into your garden. These resilient plants are accustomed to the challenges posed by salty air, sandy soil, and the following factors:
\n\n\n\nCentral Massachusetts offers a diverse landscape with rolling hills, forests, and fertile soils. Native plants that flourish in this region include mountain laurel, flowering dogwood, highbush blueberry, and red maple. Embrace the natural charm of the area by considering the following factors:
\n\n\n\nAs you venture westward, the landscape of Massachusetts transitions to picturesque mountains, lush valleys, and pristine woodlands. Native species like sugar maple, eastern hemlock, northern maidenhair fern, and mountain ash find their home in this region. Embrace the majestic beauty of western Massachusetts by taking into account the following factors:
\n\n\n\nWhile there are differences between Eastern and Western Massachusetts soils, most of it is Paxton soil – named after the town of Paxton (just north of Worcester). Paxton soil is coarse sandy loam with mineral deposits from various rocks, primarily schist, gneiss, and granite. It’s also loaded with rocks–great for drainage but challenging for landscaping.
\n\n\n\nAlthough you may live in one region, several factors, like construction, prior treatments, or weather, can make your soil different from the surrounding ground. The only way to understand your soil type and, therefore, the best native plants for your garden is to have your soil tested.
\n\n\n\nWhile waiting for your results, discover the best grass seed for your Massachusetts lawn and when to plant it.
\n\n\n\nThe ideal time to plant flowers in Massachusetts depends on the type of flowers you wish to plant. Massachusetts experiences a range of climates, with varying temperatures and frost patterns across the state. Generally, the planting season for flowers in Massachusetts begins in late spring and extends through early fall.
Here are some guidelines based on the different categories of flowers:
● Annuals: Annual flowers, such as petunias, marigolds, and zinnias, should be planted after the danger of frost has passed, typically in late May or early June.
● Perennials: Perennial flowers, like coneflowers, daylilies, and hostas, can be planted in spring or fall. Spring planting allows the plants to establish their root systems before the summer heat, while fall planting gives them a head start for the following growing season.
● Bulbs: Spring-blooming bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, are planted in the fall, usually between September and November. On the other hand, summer-blooming bulbs should be planted in the spring.
Native plants have evolved to adapt and thrive in the local ecosystem, developing relationships with the climate, soil conditions, wildlife, and other native species. Massachusetts has tons of native plants, according to UMass Amherst. But most native plants in the Bay State have the following in common:
● Grows in acidic soil: This is crucial since all of Massachusetts has acidic soil, some areas more than others.
● Cold tolerant: With the state’s average yearly temperature of 59.2 degrees Fahrenheit, plants must be able to tolerate the cold.
● Pest and disease resistance: Native plants resist common diseases and pests because they have developed natural immunity.
● Wildlife food source: Native plants are a source of food, shelter, and nesting sites for butterflies, bees, birds, and other wildlife.
Choosing native plants for your Massachusetts landscape offers numerous benefits, including reduced maintenance needs, enhanced resilience to local conditions, and support for local wildlife.
Massachusetts is a welcome place for pollinators, and homeowners can choose from a lot of blooming species. The following are just a few native plants that can attract pollinators in Massachusetts:
● Serviceberry
● Rhododendron
● New England aster
● New Jersey Tea
● Swamp milkweed
● White baneberry
Always find an ethical source like nurseries and garden centers if you want native plants in your landscape. Never remove plants from the wild. Transplanting wild plants into your yard disturbs wildlife and their habitats. It also can introduce pests and diseases to your landscape.
Once your garden is bursting with beautiful native plants, don’t neglect your lawn. Whether you’re in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, Lowell, or somewhere in between, Wikilawn can connect you with a highly-rated lawn care professional to handle lawn care for you.
Main Photo Credit: OlegAlbinsky / Canva Pro / License
\n","title":"12 Best Native Plants for Massachusetts","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/1789c/massachusettes-home-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/107df/massachusettes-home-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/293e9/massachusettes-home-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/f2cbb/massachusettes-home-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/1789c/massachusettes-home-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/c26c2/massachusettes-home-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/1dd6e/massachusettes-home-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/67b76/massachusettes-home-1.webp 320w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/8df11/massachusettes-home-1.webp 500w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/98a65/massachusettes-home-1.webp 800w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/1dd6e/massachusettes-home-1.webp 960w,\n/static/6dd5e489ad6317d97b1abbb7c714feff/3cc96/massachusettes-home-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"12 Best Native Plants for Massachusetts | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Discover the 12 best native plants for Massachusetts and why they’re key to a healthy garden and landscape."}}},{"node":{"id":"90c69ec4-f8f5-5fd8-97b7-23873bde68b8","slug":"when-to-plant-grass-seed-in-massachusetts","path":"/lawn-care/ma/when-to-plant-grass-seed-in-massachusetts/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nicki DeStasi is a writer, author, and teacher who grew up in western Massachusetts and currently resides in the Austin area. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, reading, cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, two children, dog, and cat.","name":"Nicki DeStasi","id":"ffbf62e2-d627-5a5f-a041-4eaa9ac66924","path":"/author/nicki-destasi/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9846092d7afb2db8d0a4daa2454074f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"33c4a526-c6f7-5d9e-96d4-d1803a4d03b7","name":"Massachusetts","count":4,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ma/"},{"id":"b2017967-36f8-5ac9-b071-8e4cd20e8690","name":"Uncategorized","count":1,"path":"/category/uncategorized/"}],"date":"June 6th, 2023","excerpt":"With its picturesque landscapes and prestigious institutions like Harvard and UMass, Massachusetts boasts a wealth of luscious green lawns. However, certain challenges can arise amidst this verdant beauty, from pests and diseases to unpredictable weather and irregular maintenance practices, leading to damage and the need for reseeding. To achieve a vibrant and resilient turf, it […]
\n","content":"\nWith its picturesque landscapes and prestigious institutions like Harvard and UMass, Massachusetts boasts a wealth of luscious green lawns. However, certain challenges can arise amidst this verdant beauty, from pests and diseases to unpredictable weather and irregular maintenance practices, leading to damage and the need for reseeding.
\n\n\n\nTo achieve a vibrant and resilient turf, it becomes imperative to master the art of timing – knowing when to plant grass seed in Massachusetts. By understanding the optimal windows of opportunity, you can have a thriving lawn that will be the pride of your property.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"Raindrops](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rain-on-grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Johannes Plenio from Pexels / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nIn the Bay State, the best time to plant grass seeds is early fall – specifically from late August to early September (Aug. 15 – Sept. 15). Fall offers several advantages for successful grass seed germination and establishment.
\n\n\n\nException: Zoysiagrass is the only warm-season grass that grows in Massachusetts, and it’s an exception to the fall planting rule. If you plan to use this grass type for your lawn, plant seeds after the last frost, usually in late spring or early summer. This is the optimal seed germination time for Zoysiagrass, and once grown, it thrives in hot weather.
\n\n\n\n![\"Snow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/snow-in-massachusetts-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: DenisTangneyJr / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nWhile fall is generally the most recommended time for seeding lawns, there are specific reasons why the other seasons may not be optimal for seeding. Here’s a breakdown of the challenges associated with each season:
\n\n\n\nSpring may be your second-best ideal time for planting due to milder temperatures and increased rainfall. But inconsistent weather patterns and fluctuating temperatures during these months, especially during early spring, will make you think otherwise. Plus, soil temperatures aren’t warm enough until April or May, and the air temperatures get very high by the end of May or early June.
\n\n\n\nThese conditions can make it challenging for newly seeded grass to establish strong root systems before the onset of hot summer weather. And since weeds tend to thrive during spring, they can compete with the newly germinated grass for resources and hinder its growth.
\n\n\n\nDue to cold temperatures and frost, this time of year is not suitable for seeding. If your yard is covered in snow, it would be impossible to seed your lawn. And even without snow on the ground, new seeds require consistent soil temperatures above a certain threshold for germination to occur.
\n\n\n\nMost lawns in the state have cool-season grasses, which tend to go dormant when temperatures rise. Therefore, planting in the summer leads to poor seed germination and death of the seedlings.
\n\n\n\nAdditionally, the high temperatures and increased evaporation rates during this season can lead to soil drying out quickly, making it challenging to keep the seedbed consistently moist, which is essential for germination.
\n\n\n\n![\"Seed](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seed-spreader.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jon Rehg / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nIn Massachusetts, planting grass seeds is relatively easy. For a beautiful lawn, follow these simple steps:
\n\n\n\n![\"Installing](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/sod.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ikostudio / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nPlanting grass seed isn’t hard, but sometimes the seed doesn’t take, and that’s frustrating. Before you pull your hair out, try these grass seed planting tips:
\n\n\n\nOnce your lawn is established, mow it often to stimulate root and tiller growth. And remember to follow the 1/3 rule.
\n\n\n\n![\"Kingston,](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/8401010173_5c22d918a5_k-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Doug Kerr / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nMassachusetts has sandy, acidic soil, which can be a challenge for some grasses. To cut down on maintenance, choose one of the five best grass seed types for Massachusetts.
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fine-Fescue.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Paolinio / Pixabay / License
\n\n\n\nFine fescue is one of the best grass seeds you can plant on your Massachusetts lawn due to its exceptional adaptability to the region’s diverse environmental conditions. With its tolerance for shade, drought, and poor soil quality, this cool-season grass thrives in various settings. Unless temperatures soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, fine fescue lawns stay green all summer long.
\n\n\n\n![\"green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/5552536384_1bc90958b3_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ferran Pestaña / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nWith its exceptional durability and moderate tolerance to foot traffic, Kentucky bluegrass creates a lush, dense turf that can withstand the harsh New England winters. It can easily recover from damage and fill in bare spots. However, its short roots can make absorbing essential nutrients and water challenging, so it’s often mixed with other grass types like fescues or ryegrass.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lolium_perenne_TK_2021-06-26_1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: T. Kebert / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nPerennial ryegrass creates an aesthetically pleasing turf with its fine texture and vibrant green color. It’s highly resistant to pests and diseases and boasts exceptional tolerance to cold temperatures and foot traffic. This cool-season grass has rapid germination and establishment speed, making it an excellent option for overseeding lawns. It’s also used as a companion or nurse grass to steady delicate grass types.
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tall-Fescue.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nTall fescue is unique from other popular Massachusetts grass types because of its shiny, wide, ribbed, dark green coarse leaves. With its excellent cold tolerance, it can survive frigid winters. But because of its bunched growth, it’s best used as a stand-alone grass. If mixed with other grass types, your lawn becomes patchy. It may require overseeding but not dethatching.
\n\n\n\n![\"green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-3.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nWhile this warm-season grass may not be the best grass seed choice for planting in Massachusetts due to the state’s cooler climate, some homeowners still opt to use it. It thrives in regions with long, hot summers and mild winters, prefers full sun, and requires high temperatures to grow and establish properly. Hidden under snow, it will go dormant in the winter.
\n\n\n\nNot all grass seed is blue, but blue grass seed has a chemical coating. The coating helps seed germination, reduces the amount of needed water, and protects the seed from disease.
If you let the grass grow, seed heads will form at the top of a long thin stem, similar to crabgrass or wheat. Each grass type has different-looking seed heads, but they all form similarly.
Technically, yes. But while you can toss grass seeds onto your lawn, using a spreader is better for more even and successful seed distribution. Tossing seeds by hand can result in uneven coverage, leading to patchy or sparse areas of grass growth.
With a spreader, the seeds have a better chance of germinating and establishing a healthy, uniform lawn. It also helps control the amount of seed applied and prevents over-seeding or under-seeding in certain areas.
Once you’ve established your new lawn, keep it healthy by following these tips:
\n\n\n\nIf you want a healthy, robust lawn but don’t have the time to maintain it, you’re not alone. It’s hard work, so many homeowners turn to highly-rated lawn care professionals to handle lawn maintenance. Whether you’re in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, Lowell, or somewhere in between, Wikilawn can help you.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: DenisTangneyJr / Canva Pro / License
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