by Nancy Heide

A grass seed analysis label will usually indicate the following six measurements:

The percentage, by weight, of pure grass seed. The label must show the percentage by weight of each seed type in the mixture. This is known as the purity of the mix.

The percentage of the pure seed that was capable of germination (sprouting) on the specified date tested. If much time has passed since the germination test, the seed is older and has likely lost some of its viability.

The percentage, by weight, of cash crop seeds in the mixture. These, like alfalfa, are undesirable species for lawns.

The percentage, by weight, of weed seeds in the mixture. A seed qualifies as a weed seed if it has not been counted as a pure seed or a crop seed.

Noxious weeds are weeds that are extremely undesirable and difficult to eradicate. The number given is usually the number of seeds per pound or per ounce of weed seeds.

The percentage, by weight, of material in the package that will not grow. In low-priced seed mixes, it includes materials such as sand, chaff, or ground corncobs. Inert material is sometimes added to make the seed package look bigger. At other times, the inert material is already present in the seed and is not removed because the cost involved would raise the price of the seed.

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