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Technically no, but they can look very similar and people often refer to the weedy grasses interchangeably. However, several differences keep these species separate. Crabgrass is often a darker color than carpetgrass and tends to sprout much earlier in spring. When allowed to grow out, crabgrass grows stems outward from the center of a stalk in a star-like pattern, which carpetgrass does not have.

The fastest growing grass seeds are Bermuda grass, which is a warm-season grass and ryegrass, which is a cool-season grass. Both of these grass types tend to germinate in five to 10 days. Other fast-growing varieties include perennial Ryegrass and fescues, all of which have unique characteristics and growing requirements.

Properly preparing the soil for planting grass seed may include applying fertilizer several weeks before spreading the seed if you plan to overseed the lawn. However, in most cases involving a brand-new lawn, spreading a starter fertilizer along with the grass seed will give it the best chance of taking root quickly and growing strong.

While hydroseeding is typically meant for bare soil, it is possible to hydroseed over an existing lawn with some adjustments. For the new seed to germinate and thrive, it needs good seed-to-soil contact. Without it, most of the seed may not take root and will die. To improve your chances of success when repairing a patchy area, mow any existing grass as low as possible and loosen any exposed soil before application. It is also recommended to use a finer mulch mixture when spraying, as this will help the seeds reach the soil and root without suffocating the existing grass.