PDFWAC 16-302-410
Washington standards for sod quality seed.
(1) Sod quality seed must first meet Washington state certification standards found in WAC 16-302-385. Except for ryegrass sod quality seed, seed standards for sod quality grass seed are as follows:
Variety | Purity Sample Size, grams (a) | Pure seed Minimum % | Germination Minimum % | Other Crops (b) Maximum % | Weeds (c) Maximum % |
Bluegrass, Kentucky | 25 | 97.00 | 80.00 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
Fescue, red | 50 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
Fescue, chewings | 50 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
Fescue, tall | 50 | 98.00 | 85.00 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
(a) | Requires testing of noxious all weed all crop exam and a germination test. |
(b) | Must be free of ryegrass, orchardgrass, timothy, Agrostis sp., black medic, Poa trivialis, brome, reed canarygrass, tall fescue, clover, and meadow foxtail. Maximum allowable Canada bluegrass 0.02%. When the base sample is one of these kinds, the species will not be considered a contaminant (i.e., tall fescue in tall fescue). |
(c) | Must be free of Big, Canby and Sandberg bluegrass, dock, chickweed, crabgrass, plantain, short-awn foxtail, annual bluegrass, velvetgrass, weedy Festuca spp., and noxious weed seeds as listed under WAC 16-302-100 and 16-302-105. |
(2) Seed standards for sod quality ryegrass seed are as follows:
Variety | Purity Sample Size, grams (a) | Pure Minimum % | Germination Minimum % (b) | Other Crops (c) Maximum % | Weeds (d) Maximum % |
Ryegrass (e) | 50 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
(a) | Requires testing of noxious all weed all crop exam and a germination test. |
(b) | 85% minimum germination allowed on ryegrass varieties as designated by the breeder or variety owner. See list maintained by the seed program. |
(c) | Must be free of black medic, orchardgrass, timothy, Agrostis sp., Poa trivialis, brome, reed canarygrass, tall fescue, clover and meadow foxtail. Maximum allowable Canada bluegrass 0.02%. |
(d) | Must be free of Big, Canby and Sandberg bluegrass, dock, chickweed, crabgrass, plantain, annual bluegrass, velvetgrass, weedy Festuca spp., short-awn foxtail, and noxious weed seeds as listed under WAC 16-302-100 and 16-302-105. An additional 0.07% of weedy Bromus spp. will be allowed. |
(e) | Maximum fluorescence levels as determined by breeder or variety owner. |
(3) A sod seed analysis certificate is the basis of determining if a lot meets sod quality standards. This certificate is issued by the certifying agency and represents a purity analysis.
(4) In addition to a seed certification tag, seed meeting sod quality Certified seed standards will be tagged with a special "sod quality seed" tag.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, [15.49].021, [15.49].310, [15.49].370, 15.140.030, and chapter 15.49 RCW. WSR 25-09-035, s 16-302-410, filed 4/9/25, effective 5/10/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3), and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 14-20-050, § 16-302-410, filed 9/25/14, effective 10/26/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.310 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 06-15-137, § 16-302-410, filed 7/19/06, effective 8/19/06. Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.49 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 03-18-072, § 16-302-410, filed 8/29/03, effective 9/29/03; WSR 02-12-060, § 16-302-410, filed 5/30/02, effective 6/30/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. WSR 00-24-077, § 16-302-410, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]