Lawn Care Rate Reference
Sourced nitrogen, seeding, and mowing-height charts by grass species — the same tables TurfDial's calculators run on, in one citable place.
Every TurfDial calculator carries a sourced data table under the hood — a per-species nitrogen rate, a seeding rate, a mowing height range. Those tables normally only surface once you run your own numbers through a calculator. This page pulls them out into one static reference, so the numbers themselves are easy to find, quote, and link to directly.
Annual nitrogen rate by grass species
Pounds of actual nitrogen (N) per 1,000 sq ft per year.
| Species | Annual lb N / 1,000 sq ft | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 2–4 | — | Virginia Tech; UGA; Purdue |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2–4 | — | Virginia Tech; Purdue |
| Perennial ryegrass | 2–4 | — | Virginia Tech |
| Fine fescue | 1–2 | — | Virginia Tech |
| Bermudagrass | 2–4 | higher in deep south | K-State; UGA |
| Zoysiagrass | 1–3 | — | MU Extension (1–2); UGA (2–3) |
| St. Augustinegrass | 2–4 | 3–5 sandy/Gulf | UGA; UF; The Lawn Institute |
| Centipedegrass | 1–2 | low feeder | Virginia Tech; UGA |
| Buffalograss | 1–2 | do not exceed 2 | Nebraska Extension |
Per-application caps: 0.7 lb N/1,000 for quick-release, 0.9 lb N/1,000 for slow-release (≥15% water-insoluble N), 1.0 lb absolute ceiling regardless of source (Virginia Tech VCE; Purdue). Use the Nitrogen Rate Calculator to turn a species and product label into an exact per-application rate.
Seeding rate by grass species
Pounds of seed per 1,000 sq ft. Overseed rates run roughly half the new-lawn rate.
| Species | Season | New lawn (lb/1,000) | Overseed (lb/1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | Cool-season | 2–3 | 1–1.5 |
| Turf-type tall fescue | Cool-season | 6–9 | 3–4 |
| Perennial ryegrass | Cool-season | 6–8 | 3–4 |
| Fine fescues | Cool-season | 4–6 | 2–3 |
| Common bermudagrass (hulled) | Warm-season | 1–2 | 0.5–1 |
| Zoysiagrass (seeded types) | Warm-season | 1–2 | 0.5–1 |
| Centipedegrass | Warm-season | 0.25–0.5 | 0.25–0.5 |
| St. Augustinegrass | Warm-season | Sod only | — |
| Hybrid bermudagrass | Warm-season | Sod only | — |
Sources: Colorado State University Extension; UGA Extension; NC State Extension; Penn State Extension; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Use the Grass Seed Calculator to scale a rate to your lawn's actual area.
Mowing height by grass species
Recommended mowing height range, plus overall maintenance and water demand.
| Species | Mowing height | Maintenance | Water need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall Fescue | 2–3 in | Low–Moderate | Moderate |
| Fine Fescues | 3–4 in | Low | Low–Moderate |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 3–4 in | Moderate–High | Moderate–High |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 1–3 in | Moderate | Moderate |
| Bermudagrass (seeded) | 1–2 in | High | Low |
| Bermudagrass (hybrid) | 0.5–1.5 in | High | Low |
| Zoysiagrass | 1–2 in | Low–Moderate | Low–Moderate |
| St. Augustinegrass | 2–3 in | Moderate–High | Moderate–High |
| Centipedegrass | 1–2 in | Low | Low |
Source: UGA Extension Bulletin 1533-1, "Lawns in Georgia: Selection and Species" (Waltz, 2020). Use the Grass Species Selector for a ranked shortlist matched to your region, sun, and traffic.
Sources
- UGA Extension Bulletin 1533-1 (Waltz, 2020) — species selection traits, mowing height, maintenance and water demand ratings.
- Virginia Tech / VCE Soil Test Note 17 — lawn fertilization formula, per-application burn-risk caps, nitrogen rate ranges for cool-season species.
- Purdue, K-State, MU Extension, Nebraska Extension — corroborating and species-specific nitrogen rate guidance (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, buffalograss).
- Colorado State University Extension — "Seeding Colorado Lawns" (GardenNotes series) — primary seeding-rate source for cool-season species.
- NC State Extension, Penn State Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — corroborating seeding-rate guidance for cool- and warm-season species.
Informational only — not professional agronomic or pesticide advice. Always read and follow product label directions. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much nitrogen does my lawn need per year?
It depends on the grass species. Cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass typically need 2–4 lb of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year; low-input species like fine fescue and buffalograss need as little as 1–2 lb. See the full table above, or use the Nitrogen Rate Calculator to turn a species and maintenance level into an exact per-application schedule.
How many pounds of grass seed per 1,000 sq ft do I need?
New-lawn seeding rates range from about 0.25 lb/1,000 sq ft for centipedegrass up to 6–9 lb/1,000 sq ft for turf-type tall fescue — the rate is driven by seed size and tillering habit, not a universal rule. Overseeding rates run roughly half the new-lawn rate. See the table above for your species, or use the Grass Seed Calculator for an exact range scaled to your lawn's area.
What mowing height is right for my grass species?
Recommended mowing height ranges from about 0.5–1.5 in for hybrid bermudagrass up to 3–4 in for Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue — cool-season grasses generally want to be mowed taller than warm-season grasses. See the table above for your species' range, sourced from UGA Extension Bulletin 1533-1.
Where do these numbers come from?
Every figure on this page is pulled from the same sourced data tables that power TurfDial's calculators — university extension bulletins and land-grant agronomy publications, cited by name (and linked where a stable publication URL exists) in the Sources section below. These are the same tables the Nitrogen Rate Calculator, Grass Seed Calculator, and Grass Species Selector use internally.