Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) Practice Exam

When purchasing prepackaged grass seed, one should avoid seed that contains:

1. Mixed varieties of grasses

2. Inert materials

3. Mixed species of grasses

4. Noxious weed seed

The correct answer is: Noxious weed seed

When purchasing prepackaged grass seed, it is essential to avoid seed that contains noxious weed seeds. Noxious weeds are those considered harmful to agricultural or horticultural crops, natural habitats, or ecosystem health. The presence of these seeds in grass seed mixtures can lead to invasive plant species that disrupt local ecosystems, compete with desirable plants, and increase maintenance requirements for lawns and gardens. Choosing seed without noxious weed seeds helps ensure the health of your garden or lawn over time, preventing the introduction of competitive, undesirable plants that could take over and damage other plant life. This is why the presence of noxious weed seeds in grass seed is a critical factor to consider when making a purchase. While mixed varieties of grasses, inert materials, and mixed species of grasses may have their implications, they do not pose the same immediate detrimental effect on the environment and landscape as the introduction of noxious weeds does. Thus, ensuring your grass seed is free from noxious weed seeds is of utmost importance for successful lawn establishment and maintenance.