How to Read a Seed Label

The label on the seed bag is a valuable tool when selecting grass seed. It contains important information that indicates its level of quality. Always review the label before purchasing grass seed to make sure you're getting the right type of grass, with as few weeds as possible, from a reputable source. Here's an example of a seed label with tips on how to decipher it.

PURITY: Purity is the percentage of seeds of a certain type of grass in the bag that you're buying. Our sample bag contains approximately 50 percent Kentucky bluegrass, 30 percent perennial ryegrass and 20 percent creeping red fescue. The purity numbers by themselves don't add up to 100 percent, but they should when added to the crop, inert and weed seed percentages.

LOT: This identifies which farm the seed came from, similar to a license plate. If any problems occur with the seed, this is an important documentation number. Don't buy seed without a lot number - the source is questionable.

GERM: Germ stands for germination percentage. This represents the number of seeds that will germinate based on the tested date. Germination percentages will naturally decrease as the seed ages. Improper storage in wet and humid conditions will ruin seed as well. If the rate is 85 percent, 85 out of 100 seeds planted will germinate. Your seeding rate can be adjusted slightly if you know what to expect from the germination on the seed label.

"Midnight" Kentucky Bluegrass: This is one of the grasses in the mixture. Each species and/or variety of turfgrass must be listed on the label. Kentucky bluegrass is the species in this case and "Midnight" is the variety. A variety name is very specific to a turfgrass species.

Creeping Red Fescue: This is another species in the bag of seed. Because no variety name is listed it is considered to be a "common" variety. Common means either 1) the seed is a common variety that has not been improved and may not be of the highest quality; or 2) it is a named variety that failed inspection (i.e., high weed content) and was therefore classified as "common." Either way, there's a high risk that the seed is not high quality and should be avoided.

CROP: Any seeds in the bag that are not turfgrass or weeds are classified as crop seeds. These are annual crop seeds, such as winter wheat and rye, that may have entered the bag through harvesting or cleaning equipment. They probably won't germinate in your yard or will be removed when you begin to mow.

INERT: This refers to materials in the bag that will not germinate. It could be dead seed, parts of seed or stalk, or dirt. Do not buy seed that contains more than 3 percent of inert material.

WEED: This is the percentage of weed seeds in the bag. The higher this number, the more weeds you are buying. If you find an inexpensive bag of seed, check this number because chances are it's quite high. High quality seed will not contain more than 0.2 percent weed seed.

TESTED: This is the date the germination test was performed. Avoid buying seed more than one year old. Remember, germination percentages decrease with age. The purity and weed seed percentages will not change over time.

By carefully reviewing the label before purchasing seed, you can ensure you're getting a high quality product. Although premium seed may cost a little more up front, it will save time and money in the long run.