if you want to go down a rabbit hole just look up NTEP tests on each of the cultivars you are considering. You will see info on darkness, spring green up, disease resistance, among other attributes.

If you arent real concerned and just want a new healthy lawn, any of those cultivars from reputable dealers is going to suffice for the average joe. You just want 0% weed and 0% other crop, that is the biggest key between reputable dealers and say big box bags of seed.

the reason for mixing same type (multiple TTTF cultivars), as well as mixing different types (bluegrass with rye, bluegrass with TTTF) is to help prevent disease and other plant related issues. There are plenty who do a monostand lawn but you risk more if something comes in and starts to wipe you out.

Many mix KBG in because of the spreading and "self repair" aspect of it.

 

I would always mix it up with TTTF just for variety in case of a fungus hits less of a chance of a wipeout then just a single seed choice.

 

Check out Newsom Seed and Chesapeake Valley for local options. I used Newsom this year for my front yard renovation and have been very happy. All the popular seed suppliers are great and I've had success with all of them. I won't pay SSS prices anymore, although they are very convenient. I feel like it's really just splitting hairs at the end of the day since we have a ton of great suppliers, so definitely shop around for a good deal, they all carry good stuff.

 

I'll second Newsom, I had a great/easy experience with them and at least at the time (before the recent supply chain issued) was less expensive than SSS for the 50# bag of 4th Millennium i bought from them. Even though I'm in a neighboring state, didnt add to the shipping cost and arrived in less than a week

 

Thanks for the help/input everyone!

So those advantages you discussed to doing a mix of variants or species makes sense. Are there any advantages to doing a monostand?

Does it look better? I have heard that different variants or species may grow at different rates, and germinate at different speeds (thus maybe some germinate and shade the seeds of the other). Are those valid concerns?

 

Mono stands are more common in KBG then in TTTF. I think because TTTF is more a chance of fungus pressure then in KBG. Mono stands is a more uniform look which is very visually appealing. With a mono TTTF you better know your fungus identification and have different fungicides on hand to combat quickly. I prefer a blend or mix more forgiving until you really know what you're doing. At that point you really know what you're doing go for the mono stand KBG lawn renovation and be the the lawn king of the neighborhood

 

I went through this process last year, narrowing it down to TTTF but then getting lost in the weeds and always second-guessing everything. First, I listed the top three attributes I was looking for (in my case shade tolerance, fine texture, and dark color) and then went to a bunch of online seed retailers (United, Hogan, SeedSuperstore, etc) and looked for cultivars that were marketed toward those attributes. That really narrowed it down, so then I was able to focus better looking at the NTEP data.

HOWEVER, after going through all that work, I'm pretty much of the opinion that it really doesn't matter what elite cultivar you go with (within reason). Most of the NTEP data between the top seeds differ by less than a point or two, which is pretty much undistinguishable. In any case, your lawn will be an order of magnitude better than your neighbors' Scotts or K31 lawn!

 

Thanks a lot for all the info!

Is there any weight to the idea that it is easier to start mono stand because it is much easier to go mono stand --> poly stand then the reverse? That is, say I did a reno and went all exactly one variant of TTTF. The following year I decided that for whatever reason this wasn't working out. Maybe shade or patchiness or fungus or something. Couldn't I then overseed with a TTTF mix or even a TTTF/KBG mix and easily move my lawn to a poly stand? Whereas if I start with a mixture it would be near impossible to later decide to go mono stand?

That may be total nonsense, idk.

 

I used to live in NOVA, still work there, but now I'm down by Culpeper. Last year I used a mix of 4th Millennium, Raptor III, and threw in some Midnight KBG. I like the look and texture, and it held up well with using irrigation throughout the summer. I did have a couple fungus issues that occurred this summer when I was away for a week and it got a bit too long with the heat, humidity, and water from irrigation, but I was able to knock both of them out early with disease-x.