THE BAG OF SEED I BOUGHT SAYS IT IS A MIXTURE OR A BLEND – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

A mixture is comprised of more than one species of grass. It is often advantageous to plant a mixture because of the increased range in genetic diversity and adaptive potential that is achieved. For example, in a lawn situation some areas may be shaded and others may receive full sun.

Additionally, some areas may have a droughty, course textured sandy soil and others may have a fine-textured poorly drained clay. A mixture containing Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue contains species that can adapt and become dominant in these different envi- ronmental conditions. Red fescue will dominate in shaded areas and on infertile droughty soils, while Kentucky bluegrass will do well in  full sunlight and on imperfectly drained, moist, fertile soils. The two species may also complement each other if one of the species is seri- ously damaged due to injury or  disease.

A blend is when more than one cultivar within a species are blended together.

Blends can be useful in habitats where the environment is vari- able and a number of different disease and/or insect problems exist. Blends are valid where no one cultivar is resistant to all the major diseases within a habitat. If one cultivar is available that is resistant to all of the major disease and pest problems, then the use of a blend is not necessary.