PODIUM™ Perennial Ryegrass Blend offers turf quality without compromise! The cultivars averaged: top 6% for color in fertilized NTEP locations, top 4% Disease Score™, top 5% traffic & wear, top 7% 5-year poa annua & top 3% spread trait.

** Based on per cultivar average from NTEP data per the 2017-2021 Final Report for Perennial Ryegrass

Per NTEP.org data analysis, we believe PODIUM™ is the #1 performing perennial ryegrass blend on the market today.  It offers superior traffic, superior turf quality, superior color (comparable to Nightshift/Obsidian in fertilized NTEP locations), superior disease resistance per NTEP.org tables 33-37, superior self repair  (cultivars placed 1st, 3rd, and 5th of 114 for divot recovery per table 25) as well as the lowest 5-year poa annua performance (table 43 on NTEP) of any blend analyzed so far.

 

Fertilized Locations Genetic Color (Table 27)

The cultivars in PODIUM™ placed top 4%, top 5%, and top 10% for color in fertilized NTEP locations for an average of top 6% fertilized location color.  It's a pretty safe bet that consumers that like nice color will hopefully fertilize, so we prefer to exempt any unfertilized NTEP locations for performance ranking since that better aligns with best practices when performance is the goal.

 

Disease Score™

1st: PODIUM™ (86.4%)  |  2nd: Knorr* (80.4%)  |  3rd: 5-Iron* (78.7%)  |  4th: SS9000 (77.3%)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (54.7%)

(Score is based on collective ratings of stem rust, red thread, brown patch, crown rust, and gray leaf spot divided by the best possible rating of 9.0 from tables 33-37 of the 2017-2021 NTEP final report)

 

Individual Disease Performance (Tables 33-37)

Stem Rust (Table 33, MO):

1st: PODIUM™ (8.9)  |  2nd: Knorr* (8.0)  |  3rd: SS9000 (7.3)  |  4th: 5-Iron* (7.2)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (5.5)

95% confidence at a 3.0 difference (LSD)

 

Red Thread (Table 34, MD/MO):

1st: SS9000 (7.5)  |  2nd: PODIUM™ (7.4)  |  3rd: 5-Iron* (7.3)  |  4th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (7.2)  |  5th: Knorr* (7.0)

95% confidence at a 1.4 difference (LSD)

 

Brown Patch (Table 35, MN/MO):

1st: PODIUM™ (7.2)  |  2nd: Knorr* (6.8)  |  3rd/4th: 5-Iron*/SS9000 (6.5)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (6.0)

95% confidence at a 1.4 difference (LSD)

 

Crown Rust (Table 36, MN/MO):

1st: PODIUM™ (7.4)  |  2nd/3rd/4th: Knorr*/5-Iron*/SS9000 (6.5)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian: (3.8)

95% confidence at a 1.7 difference (LSD)

 

Gray Leaf Spot (Table 37, NJ):

1st: PODIUM™ (8.0)  |  2nd/3rd: Knorr* / 5-Iron* (7.9)  |  4th: SS9000 (7.0)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (2.2)

95% confidence at a 1.4 difference (LSD)

 

Traffic & Wear Score™

1st: PODIUM™ (91.4%)  |  2nd: 5-Iron** (89.1%)  |  3rd: SS9000 (88.9%)  |  4th: Knorr** (86.6%)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (78.1%)

** Score based on Tables 20 (mean quality, MA), Table 21 (2-week post-traffic quality, OR), Table 22 (2-week post-traffic quality, 2018 & 2019, VA - averaged), Table 44 (wear rating, NJ).  The scoring at these 4 locations was added together and divided by 31.3 - (31.3 = 9+9+9+ the highest recorded wear tolerance rating of 4.3)... in other words, this score is based on summary data from all available traffic and wear related locations from the 2017-2021 NTEP data, and is designed to be as comprehensive as possible as a nominal metric of overall traffic and wear performance. **

 

Poa Annua % After 5 Years, NJ (Table 43):     1st: PODIUM™: (1.1%)  |  2nd: SS9000 (1.7%)  |  3rd: 5-Iron* (2.0%)  |  4th: Knorr* (3.6%)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (20.9%)

95% confidence at a 9.1% difference (LSD)

 

Divot Recovery / Self Repair / "Spread Trait" 2017/2020 Averaged (Table 25)

** With the dying/dead Linn cultivar excluded, the 2nd lowest average score was 80.8% (Fireball).  Divots don't remove 100% of the turf to begin with, so using a scale that starts around 80% may be more helpful.

1st: PODIUM™ (92.65%)  |  2nd: Knorr** (90.6%)  |  3rd: 5-Iron** (90.35%)  |  4th: SS9000 (89.5%)  |  5th: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (82.3%)

 

Low Input Score™ (see Specialty Performance Data sheet for formula):     SS9000: (6.5920)  |  PODIUM™: (6.5122)  |  NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian: (5.9720) 

Knorr & 5-Iron (unable to score due to older cultivar)

 

Seedheads (Table 20):     1st: Knorr* (6.40)  |  2nd: 5-Iron* (6.16)  |  3rd: NIGHTSHIFT/Obsidian (5.70)  |  4th: PODIUM™ (5.67)  |  5th: SS9000 (5.53)

95% confidence at a 1.1 difference (LSD)

 

Pink Snow Mold (Tables 24 & 38):     1st: Knorr* (5.86)  |  2nd Obsidian/NIGHTSHIFT (5.83)  |  3rd: SS9000 (5.60)  |  4th: 5-Iron (5.57)  |  5th: PODIUM™ (5.24)

 

Climate Specific Performance

See images (ideally on a desktop or tablet) for location specific performance per 2017-2021 NTEP data.  Email to request printable NTEP performance summary sheets in PDF form for free, or you can "purchase" the printable files instantly on the SEED-BOSS website for $0.50 to more clearly review performance in the PNW, areas with cold winters, or in the Northeast.  Our custom blend part number may also be helpful for looking at the comparative cultivar by cultivar performance of our perennial ryegrass seeds.

NOTE: to establish the best climate definition for your city simply Google YOUR CITY NAME + CLIMATEand look for average monthly lows for January and average highs and lows for July.  Be advised that these climate definitions are based on arbitrary numbers that were observed to be loosely in line with NTEP locations data.

 

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Seed germination basics:
  • Bare dirt is ideal (or at least no thatch)
  • Adhere to proper seed rate... too little seed means increased weed pressure and increased erosion risk, and too much seed can mean lesser color and increased risk of disease.
  • Rake seed in w/ a Groundskeeper 2 rake (or slit seed if you can)... grass seed sitting on the surface will be unlikely to germinate
  • Keep soil moist and never dry or soaked until germination... several light waterings per day are usually necessary... I physically touch the dirt prior to watering most of the time... often soil is already moist and more hours can pass before water is needed.
  • Water for enough days to germinate your slowest germinating seed.
  • A germination rate of 50% starts around 50° soil temps for most cultivars... seeding before soil is warm enough may reduce germination.  I like to aim for 50-55° soil temps for spring seeding (slow germination but better summer hardiness) or let soil dip to about 60-65° (or when regular light rain is expected).  It's important not to seed too late for fall seeding especially on bare dirt because if soil cools too much grass seed won't germinate at all.
• For spring seeding, regular early nitrogen is extra important to maximize establishment prior to summer conditions.  1/2# of N per 1,000 square feet at seeding as well as 1/2# of N about every 3-4 weeks for at least a few months can get the grass off to a good start (Note: 1.09# of urea dissolved in water / 1,000' = 1/2# of N).  The larger the droplets the better... I like a TeeJet TTI11004 spray tip for applying fertilizer.
• After germination has concluded, the grass only needs to be watered to the point of survival... 1 fairly light watering every day or two is likely enough water.  If you see the grass start to wilt more water is needed.
• Once the grass is a few weeks old, not enough water is usually better than too much, since disease loves excess water!  We recommend owning a soil probe; If you aren't sure if you should water, simply pull a soil core or two... cores should be quite dry before water is actually needed.  Water between 0.5"-0.62" per watering with at least a few dry down days between waterings for best results.  Time of day matters with water... watering should be concluded around the time that sunlight first hits an area (often some time before 8:00AM).  Evening & night watering maximizes disease pressure and watering during daylight hours can be much less efficient due to excessive evaporation prior to percolation.
• With rare exception, I recommend avoiding potassium, micronutrients, and phosphorus like the plague and just apply nitrogen to get the best possible turf quality with the least amount of problems and work.  Foliar iron is ok, but I personally don't use it.  Before you assume a soil applied product is going to improve your soil, we recommend taking a cold shower, slap yourself in the face (if necessary), and then binge Turfgrass Epistimology study reviews on YouTube until the urge to purchase a given product subsides.
• I believe in full renovations rather than overseeding when a major upgrade is desired.  Overseeding yields comparatively poor germination rates and the original (generally less desirable) grasses will largely survive and water down your results.  The value for time with full renovation is there in my experience.

• Observe the 1/3 rule with sharp blades.  An All American Sharpener style grinding jig is great if rotary mowing, and a flat file can be used to push the burr off for that last bit of sharpness.  The 1/3 rule is per day or two... not per pass.  If you can't mow frequently enough to observe the 1/3 rule, bringing the height of cut up allows more time between mows.  1/3 of 4" allows more growing time than 1/3 of 2".

• If the ground is mushy to the touch, try to wait for a dryer day to mow if possible.  Most compaction happens when ground is too wet.  The easiest way to cure compaction is often to prevent it, but of course, sometimes compromises have to be made to keep grass height under control.

• Where there's lots of shade, mow higher or consider TTTF or fine fescue.

• Where there's traffic, more nitrogen is needed.  Where there's shade, less nitrogen is needed. 

• Nitrogen rate should match growth potential.  If it's growing slowly due to heat or cold, lower rates should be applied or none at all.  Avoid medium or heavy nitrogen applications in summer to reduce disease.  In the most mild of areas sometimes the highest growth potential (and the most N) happens during summer.  If you see dollar spot, red thread, or rust, those will generally improve when nitrogen is added as long as temperature or light isn't the limiting nutrient.  Heat loving diseases that prefer high nitrogen include brown patch, pythium, and leaf spot.  Try to take nitrogen timing and rate seriously to reduce disease pressure.  We do offer a customized nitrogen schedule service here if interested... such might be cheaper than extra fungicides and also offer nice color and better drought performance in my experience.

• This product will almost certainly contain some annual rye... we recommend not allowing field conditions (keep it mowed) until after all seed heads are cleared to ensure annual rye is not a reoccurring annoyance each year.

• Perennial rye has unusually nasty woody seed head stocks that can leave a yellow hue to your lawn for months and months if not addressed.  An annual "seedhead reset" can greatly reduce the effects of this undesirable trait of ryegrass (see below).  A seedhead reset is moderately stressful to the lawn and ideally should not be attempted under times of high disease pressure or other major stresses.

How to do a seed head reset:

1. Once the annual seed head stage starts each year, mow at the usual mowing height for about a month
2. Then, mow often (with very sharp blades) and gradually reduce the mowing height over the next few weeks to cut as much of the seed head stock off as possible, but make sure you stay above the crown of the plant to ensure less stress while the plant regenerates.
3. About 1 week before the last mow, apply approximately  .3# of nitrogen and make sure the lawn is receiving around 1" of water per week via rainfall and irrigation (early AM water is efficient and minimizes disease pressure... around 1/2" of water every 3-4 days is an approximation for most areas during drought.)
4. Return to your original cutting height.  The seed head stocks should be hidden below soft new blades of grass and the straw colored  seedhead stocks should be well hidden from view.

 

*  The performance of one older cultivar in this blend has been translated by sorting the 2011-2014 NTEP trial data into a percentile among all cultivars in that trial on a trait by trait basis.  The rating of the cultivar at the same percentile per the 2017-2021 data was then assigned to the older cultivar trait by trait.  No deduction was made for 7 years of breeding with the Infusion (AKA: JR-178) cultivar for the 5-Iron blend or the Pangea cultivar in Ryan Knorr's Elite Rye.  These numbers are intended to estimate performance as accurately as possible but it should be considered an estimate only.

**  Slightly older infusion cultivar exempt from averaging for 5-Iron and the slightly older Pangea cultivar exempt from averaging for Knorr for this performance trait due to difficulty of translation.

 

Common overseeding seed rates:  4-5 pounds per 1,000' (175-220 lbs / acre)

Common bare dirt seed rates: 8-10 pounds per 1,000' (350-440 lbs / acre)

Disclaimer: For any details relevant to decision making related to grass seed, we recommend referencing NTEP directly when possible.  This resource is intend as a user friendly supplement to NTEP data (NOT A REPLACEMENT).  Comparative gaps beyond LSD (least statistical difference) on NTEP offer a 95% confidence level.  When LSD is not available, no specific confidence level is possible or implied... these are simply the raw numbers.  In general the higher the gap, the higher the confidence and small gaps should be considered as equals in most cases.  This website is constantly being improved for accuracy to the best of my ability... if you notice an error or inconsistency or don't understand where certain came from, please don't hesitate to bring it to my attention via email or text.  This website almost certainly does contain unintentional typos or errors and possibly out of date information (for example: when brands change the cultivars in their blends).

Seed-Boss makes no guarantee of performance in your climate or under your management practices.  Minimizing stress on the grass tends to create the healthiest and best looking grass - which means food (occasional nitrogen), an occasional 1/2" water during drought, sun light, sharp blades, observing the 1/3 rule, etc.  All grass seed sold has been tested for germination of at least 85%, and typically at least 90%... if the grass seed does not germinate the buyer acknowledges improper seed to soil contact, improper soil moisture during germination phase, and/or inappropriate soil temperatures and agrees to not blame seed (that was tested as good).

Blend performance averages based on the following cultivars:

PODIUM™: Mystique, Zoom 2, SR4750 (Test name: 236/3546)

Knorr Elite Rye: Electra GLR, Paradox GLR, Pangea*

SS9000: Grand Slam GLD, Stellar 4GL, Slugger 3GL

5-Iron: Apple 3GL, Fastball 3GL, Slugger 3GL, Stellar 4GL, Infusion* (JR-178 testing name)

NIGHTSHIFT: Fireball, Hatrick

Obsidian: Fireball, Hatrick (note:  Tee-Me-Up cultivar was also in the blend formerly)

 

If you notice anything inaccurate or that could be improved for accuracy, please email us at SUPPORT@SEED-BOSS.COM.  Our aim is the highest degree of accuracy possible and that process includes peer review.