Best Grass Seed for Iowa
High-quality grass seed is essential for a strong, healthy lawn. For information about the best grass seed to plant in Iowa, the best time to plant, and how to care for your lawn, look no further than Jonathan Green.
Grass Seed Recommendations
Three of Jonathan Green’s most popular grass seed mixtures are:
- Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed is most similar to what is found on sod farms. The mixture possesses species diversity and contains exclusive, elite varieties of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. These grasses grow a naturally dark-green and beautiful lawn with excellent heat and drought tolerance. Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed germinates in about 14 days.
- Black Beauty® Fall Magic Grass Seed is formulated for successful fall seeding and contains several grass types, including Black Beauty® tall fescues. It is ideal for planting a brand new lawn or repairing a sparse, damaged lawn. Black Beauty® Fall Magic Grass Seed can be used in sunny and shady lawn areas and germinates in 10 to 14 days.
- Fast Grow Grass Seed is an excellent choice if you want a new lawn fast. Thanks to the annual ryegrass included in this mixture, which is the fastest germinating grass seed variety, you can expect this seed to germinate in 7 days. It is designed to fill in troubled areas in lawns or grow an entirely new lawn quickly.
The Best Time to Plant
The best time to seed cool-season grasses in Iowa is late summer/early fall (ideally mid-August to mid-September). The soil temperatures and moisture at this time of year promote optimum seed germination, and the cooler air temperatures are better for grass growth.
When you choose Black Beauty turfgrasses that are so deeply rooted (up to four feet deep) and drought tolerant, you can still enjoy great success by planting grass seed in the spring (March to mid-June) but may have to contend with crabgrass and other weeds.
Fortunately, Jonathan Green Veri-Green Weed & Feed Lawn Fertilizer kills dandelions, clovers, chickweed, and over 250 other broadleaf weed varieties, as well as smaller, less leafy weeds. It has a three-way action that kills weeds down to the root and feeds desirable grasses for up to three months, while weeds gradually disappear from the lawn.
Prepare the Soil
Before you lay any seed down, the soil must be at the correct pH and be aerated and loosened to allow for proper root growth.
MAG-I-CAL® Plus is specially formulated to quickly raise or lower your soil to the ideal pH range of between 6.2 and 7.0. For pH that falls below 6.2, use Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Acidic & Hard Soil. For pH that is above 7, use Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil. (You can purchase a Soil pH Test Kit for Lawns from us or any local hardware or garden supply store.) MAG-I-CAL® can be applied the same day as the grass seed is spread.
Once you’ve corrected the soil pH, loosen and aerate it for best root growth. This can be done with Love Your Soil®. This innovative soil treatment activates the microbes within the soil. Once activated, the microbes allow for nutrients to be easily absorbed by the grass roots, resulting in stronger, heartier grass. Both of these products can be applied right before laying down new seed.
Mentioned Products
Discover the best grass seed to plant in Iowa, as well as lawn care tips for growing a thick, dense, dark green lawn. Visit Jonathan Green online or your nearest independent retail store for advice.