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Perennial ryegrass
Lolium perenne
The fast starter. Germinates in 5 to 7 days and is in nearly every bag of mix sold at the big box stores, so most lawns have some.
Mow at
2.5 to 3 in
Water
1.25 in
per week, in one or two deep soakings
Light
Full sun to light shade
How to tell
- •Glossy, shiny underside of the blade
- •Pointed leaf tip with prominent veins on top
- •Grows in clumps, does not spread
- •Reddish tint at the base of the shoot
In the collar counties
Common in lawns that were seeded rather than sodded, and in anything repaired with a quick-fix patch product.
Overseed with
Turf-type perennial ryegrass, or a bluegrass blend if you want the lawn to shift toward a self-repairing stand over time
Strengths
- Fastest germination
- Wear tolerant, good for kids and dogs
- Fine texture and good color
Weaknesses
- Does not spread, so bare spots stay bare
- Can winter-kill in a hard open winter
- Shreds if the mower blade is dull