How to Blend Mismatched Patches of Grass in Your Yard

The initial excitement of sprouting grass seed often turns frustrating when you realize—often several months in—that the fresh growth doesn't blend seamlessly with the existing lawn. Blending two different types of grass isn't always easy or quick, but it can be possible.

How can you blend different shades of grasses? To get expert advice, we asked Craig Elworthy, founder of Lawnbright. "The answer on this depends on the type of grass," he shared. "I'd suggest you overseed the area every fall for two to three years and it will blend gradually over time. You don't want to rip out grass if you don't have to," shares Elworthy.

Gradual blending helps when the grass you plant is rhizomatous. Grass typically spreads through two main mechanisms:

1. Rhizomes: Some grass species have underground stems called rhizomes, which can spread horizontally underground and give rise to new grass shoots. Rhizomatous grasses tend to spread more rapidly and invasively.
   
2. Stolons: Other grass species spread via above-ground stems called stolons, which creep along the soil surface and produce new grass shoots at nodes along the stem.
   

The rate of spread for grasses with rhizomes or stolons can vary from a few inches to several feet per year, depending on the species and conditions. For example, aggressive spreading grasses like Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) can spread rapidly and may require regular maintenance to prevent them from invading unwanted areas. In contrast, cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) may spread more slowly. If you need to blend two types of grasses, it helps to establish and expand fast-spreading grasses in the affected area.

Fast-Spreading (Rhizomatous) Grasses to Try

• Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)
• Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.)
• St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)
• Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum)
• Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides)