If now is the time to perk up your existing lawn or perhaps start a new one, then your thoughts may be turning to grass seed. Buying quality seed is the first step. Understanding the label on the grass seed package is key to buying the right seed for your lawn.

Every grass seed package is required to have a label listing the contents. Here are some tips to help you understand the terms.

Species and Variety
The label will list the species, or types, of grass seed in the bag by the common species name as well as by the specific variety name within the species.  For example, "Midnight Kentucky Bluegrass" is the variety Midnight from the species Kentucky Bluegrass.  A mixture of grass seed will often contain more than one species as well as more than one variety from a given species.  Check with your county extension service or the experts at your local garden center to see what species mixture is best suited for your specific lawn conditions.

Purity
The number listed next to the grass seed variety name indicates the purity of the seed. Purity refers to the percent, by weight, of each lawn seed in the mixture.  You should look for packages with the pure seed percentage totaling 90% or more. 

Germination
The germination figure on the label it indicates the percent of pure seed that has been tested and should grow when planted. The germination figure should be at least 80%. 

Crop Seed
The crop seed number refers to the percentage of the mixture that is grown as a cash crop. It is best to find seed with less than .5% crop seed, as it may lower the quality of your lawn. 

Inert Matter
The inert matter on a grass seed label indicates the amount of the mixture that is incapable of growth. Think of this as “filler.” High-quality grass seed contains little inert matter. 

Weed Seed
The weed seed that is listed on the label indicates the percentage of weeds in the package.  It is best to choose mixtures with less than .5% weed seed. Noxious weeds are extremely problematic for proper lawn growth and maintenance. To ensure quality lawns, avoid packages with noxious weeds. 

Test Date
Finally, the test date refers when the seed was last tested. It is best to choose seed tested within the past nine to 12 months.