Long Island seasons are characterized by hot summers and cold winters, July being the hottest month with temperatures rising to 720F and falling to 230F in January. Rainfall is received throughout the year ranging between 4.4 and 3.7 inches on average, however March, June and December get more rain compared to other months. This pattern corresponds to the climate zones 7a and 7b.
Knowing the weather patterns in your region significantly aids in selecting the correct sod to plant. For instance, Tall Fescue and Zenith zoysia would be ideal for planting during the onset of summer in early June in zone 6a and 7b when the temperatures are between 640F to 840F since they are temperature tolerable and don’t need frequent watering. They can survive with the 100mm to 115mm monthly precipitation experienced during this season.
This paper details the finest turf seed favourable for the Long Island region. It accommodates the following;
- Top five finest grass seed for Long Island.
- Soil peculiarities to consider whilst planting grass in Long Island.
- Types of lawns in Long Island.
- When to plant sod seed in Long Island.
- Plant hardiness region on Long Island and what does it imply for opting the sod seed.
Top 5 Types of grass seed for Long Island
| Parameter | Pennington Kentucky 31 | Patten Seed Company | Jonathan green Dense Shade | Pennington Smart seed | Scotts EZ Seed |
| Types of grass | Tall Fescue | Zenith Zoysia | Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Tall and Fine Fescue | Chewings and Creeping Red Fescue | Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Ryegrass |
| Size | 25 lb | 2 lb | 25 lb | 20 lb | 20 lb |
| Coverage Area per pack in sq ft | 6,250 | 2,000 | 7,500 | 6,600 | 5,985 |
| Germination Period | 7-14 days | 14-21 days | 10-14 days | 7-14 days | 5-30 days |
| Light Requirement | 4-8 hrs | 4-8 hrs | 4-5 hrs | 4-8 hrs | 4-8 hrs |
Pennington Kentucky 31 – Perfect Lawn Seed for Long Island
Tall Fescue is an easy to manage and an economical combination of tuft category tall fescue variants. It is a combination of traditional capabilities of high fescue pasture components of new turf types which thrives best in locations where leaf texture is not deplorable. K31 offers brilliant flexibility and durability for your yard and great heat resistance capacity compared to its counterparts from other manufacturers. However, it fails in shady areas.
It endures low soil potency and has maximum infection tolerance. Mildly hard surface. It requires a temperature of between 600F to 750F and sprouts within 7 to 14 days. This sod needs a mowing height of about 3 inches and thrives best in zones 3a, 5b, 6a, and 7b which experience an average rainfall of 4.1 to 3.3 inches, conditions which perfectly describe the Long Island region.
Pros
- Resistant to dry weather.
- Resistant to infections.
- Short sprouting period.
- Coated seedling for protection
- Affordable and durable.
Cons
- Does not thrive in sheds or in low solar insolation areas
Zenith Zoysia – Top Choice Grass Seed For Long Island
Zenith is an intensely green, medium-textured shade green color. It provides a thick dense growth that creates a healthy lawn. Its dense growth property blocks off weeds. It grows in direct or mild sunlight and is tolerant to heat. Zenith Zoysia has a low water demand and considerably stands up to cold hardy.
It sprouts best in both acidic and alkaline soils and in multiple climatic zones. The package includes 100% mulch free pure seeds for extended growth area. It is best suited for temperate regions with a mean temperature of 600F or more and moderate rainfall of approximately 3.5 inches annual average, a factor which is accommodated in the Long Island climatic statistics. It is ideal for planting in spring between the months of March and May.
Pros
- Ideal as sod and seed.
- High tolerance to heat and drought.
- Can chock off weeds.
- Requires less watering
- Offers a thick dense growth.
Cons
- Cannot thrive in extremely cold weather.
Jonathan Green Dense Shade – Premium Lawn Seed Mixture for Long Island
Dense coloration turf seed encompasses a shade-tolerant hybrid of Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Tall and Fine Fescue for pasture with vast sunny tresses, shrubbery, or translucent homes. It incorporates 4 varieties of low-temperature sod species that provide notable flexibility in mild to sunny lawns. It grows first-class in soils with a pH between 6.2 to 7.0.
This grass requires a soil depth of ¼ inch and sunlight exposure of 4-5 hours when sowing. It is suitable for planting in the months of August-October when soil temperature is averagely 550F characterized by warm ground and cool nights. It is compatible with zones 6a, 6b and 7a. The hybrid pastures outlined above have useful endophytes for herbal bugs and resistance to diseases.
Pros
- Constitutes of one kind of sod species.
- Can germinate in extreme soil conditions.
- Has magnificent flexibility.
- Thrives in soil pH of 6.2 – 7.0
- High shade tolerance.
Cons
- Requires less exposure to sunlight, between 4-5 hours.
Pennington Smart Seed – Best Hybrid Sod Seed Assortment
The Smart northeastern seed mix is a multifunction assortment of cool-season meadows of Chewings Fescue and Creeping red Fescue that thrive in adverse cold weather conditions. It consists of variants of hybridized drought-tolerant grains with high immunity to pathogens and tolerance to insect attack. It wishes up to 8 hours of daily sunlight exposure. This sod type also has an exceptional shadow tolerance.
The smart seed is ideally suited for Zones 6,7 and the north-eastern portion of Zone 8 that experiences lows of 310F to highs of 700F in Spring . Its recommended prime planting time is in early Spring in March with strict adherence to the manufacturers’ guidelines provided along with the seeds. It needs a planting depth not exceeding ¼ of an inch and a mowing peak of 3-inches.
Pros
- Multipurpose.
- Can withstand unfavorable weather conditions.
- Admirable foot traffic tolerance.
- Drought and disease tolerant
Cons
- Requires extensive duration of sunlight exposure
Scotts EZ Seed – Premium Patch and Repair Lawn Seed for Long Island
Scotts EZ seed is a rare yet highly effective blend of power-perfection grain. This label is indispensable for the turf, and has a capacity to sprout in zones 4a, 5b and 6a. A tackifier helps to limit pip washing away on your yard’s inclined surface.The pack encompases a blend of the following gass species Fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and Ryegrass.
It requires frequent watering at the germination and initial growth stage until the seedling height is approximately 2 inches tall.The most appropriate time to sow the grain is in Spring or early Summer between the months of March and June as it germinates uninterrupted when the temperatures are sufficiently high 600F to 800F.
Pros
- Guaranteed growth anywhere
- Made of compost, pip, and manure.
- Curtails seed wash.
- Germinates during the high daytime temperatures.
- Constant discharge of lawn food.
Cons
- Requires abundant watering throughout early germination stages
Buyer’s Guide
Grass Types in Long Island?
The most common varieties of lawns found within this zone are Tall Fescue, Ryegrass, or Bluegrass as they have good adaptability to the Long Island 7a and 7b regions. That said it’s imperative to state that priority should be given to the turf seeds discussed in this piece and also use your zip code to know your zone and therefore the right grass to plant.
What are the soil peculiarities to bear in mind while planting pasture in Long Island?
Before the planting of pasture pip, it is necessary to conduct a soil test on your garden to determine the soil profile and its nutrition content. Most soils on Long Island are a mixture of loam and sand which permits quick penetration hence the recommended till depth should be between 6-12 inches.
Soil pH in this region is generally acidic hence requires liming to rectify the condition for an ultimate healthy grass. The drainage and aeration allows percolation of water and dissolved nutrients to the roots. These are crucial in supporting turf development.
What is the plant hardiness region on Long Island and what does it suggest for opting the grass pip?
Long Island lies within zones 7a and 7b of the USDA plant hardiness zones. The climatic stipulations of this zone help to precisely select the variety of sod that will thrive in your area.
Based on its climatic characteristics, sods that do well in areas that receive less amounts of rainfall with temperature ranges within 0 to 100F will equally sprout with minimum climatic interference, however selection of pasture seeds need to be taken with great considerations with respect to your exact locality.
When to plant grass seed in Long Island New York?
Long Island has extreme weather patterns characterized by cold winters falling to 230F and hot summers going up to 820F .The most appropriate time of the year to sow in Long Islands is in late Spring (May) and during the commencement of Summer in the month of June. Scalp the turf shallow and overseed at the recommended rates.
FAQs
Best grass seed for sandy soil Long Island?
Best grass seed for Long Island shade?
When to plant grass seed in spring on Long Island?
The most opportune time is from late May to August.
How long does grass seed take to germinate in April on Long Island?
Averagely 7-21 days depending on the variety you have sowed.
Conclusion
Taking into consideration Long Island location in the 7a and 7b USDA plant hardiness zones, pay attention to grass seed suitable for this area. It includes Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Zenith Zoysia and Ryegrass. If you’d like to have a beautiful lawn, please, plant this grass in late spring and early summer.