You can’t judge a bag of grass seed by its cover. That may be the only similarity between grass seed and books, but it is one that should not be taken lightly.

Ignore the mumbo jumbo on the front (“Grows in sun or shade!”) and look past the pretty pictures of lush green golf-course turf. Everything you need to know about the seed is printed on a small (usually 3- to 4-inch square) label on the back of the bag.

That little square label will tell you just what you are getting. The best turf for northeast Kansas is tall fescue, so look for seed that contains three or four different varieties of it. Avoid bags that are mixes of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass – the result will be an uneven lawn that is more susceptible to disease.

A blend of tall fescue varieties provides a broader range of drought tolerance and disease resistance while maintaining a uniform appearance.

What about K-31? This variety is great for large areas and low-maintenance areas. K-31 is coarser than the newer turf-type tall fescues and is generally more susceptible to brown patch disease. It may give the lawn a clumpy appearance. Still, K-31 is an old standby, and like any other variety, performs best with good management.

Of those newer, turf-type fescues, there is no single variety that stands out. In fact, when I have visited turf variety trials, I can scarcely tell the difference between the top 20 and the bottom 20. All that means is that 2nd Millennium performs just as well as Inferno, Plantation, Riverside, Regiment II and Apache III (in no particular order). Avenger, Wolfpack, Padre, Trooper and Finelawn Elite are at the top of the list, too, and the list goes on. Be less concerned about the names of the varieties and more concerned about how many different kinds of grass are in the bag.

Still thinking Kentucky bluegrass is a better choice in the shade? Sorry, but turf-type tall fescues still performed better in shady conditions than the bluegrass.

RTF, or rhizomatous tall fescue, is also getting a lot of press. In research trials at Kansas State University, the rhizome development in these varieties is not substantial. Research is ongoing, but at this time, specialists recommend investing your money in turf-type fescues that we know are high-quality performers.

Hybrid Kentucky bluegrasses, or Texas blues, are also new on the market. They have shown good heat tolerance in trials but have not proven themselves in drought tolerance.

I have to admit, some grass seed companies have good designers working for them, but I would rather have an old burlap bag full of the good stuff.

Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners answer questions about lawn care and gardening from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. You can reach them by calling 843-7058 or dgemg@sunflower.com.