Most grass seed comes from Oregon. They have strict laws about noxious
weeds and can produce a purer seed. Brand only matters in it may
reflect on the integrity with which they select better more expensive
seed when it is required. I look at the better brands and then buy the
cheapest that has the same contents. Usually bulk is the cheapest if you
can get it. You can make your own mix.

I am only familiar with grasses grown in the northern states. They have
some very strange grasses in the deep south: Bermuda, St. Augustine,
Zoysia, etc.

There are three main types of grass for the northern areas:

Blue grass is a nice grass but needs a lot of fertilizer and is very
labor intensive. It is best to get a mixture of several varieties in
case something comes along that kills one variety. It will not tolerate
shade, drought or poor soil.

Fescues are tougher, more shade tolerant and a little courser. Creeping
fescue is good for shady areas. Tall fescue is good for drier areas and
withstands heat the best, but is less shade tolerant and cold tolerant.
Also, fescues are the greenest grasses in winter.

Rye comes in annual which is a quick germinating grass that lasts one
season and perennial which is also a very tough but course grass. It
will tolerate shade but does not like dry conditions.

Usually one selects the mix they need such as shade mix, playgound mix,
or regular high grade blue grass. Shade mixes have more fescues.
Playground mixes have more perennial rye. Scotts mixes have more blue
grass since it requires the most fertilizer, etc.

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