For a cricket square, choose an amenity perennial ryegrass blend that suits close mowing. The cultivars need to work with the square’s maintained height, while compatible loam and careful preparation help produce the playing surface.
Hurrells CR1 and Hurrells CR3 are my two Hurrells choices. CR1 is its four-cultivar square mixture; CR3 is the lower-priced three-cultivar alternative. Choose the cultivar blend that suits the square and its mowing regime, then compare current prices at Hurrells.
👉 Use discount code FORMBY10 for 10% off at Hurrells Seeds.
Best square-seed options by specification and budget
| Mixture | Current composition | Buying reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hurrells CR1 | 25% each Eventus, Penelope, Duranova and Barprium perennial ryegrass | Four-cultivar square specification |
| Hurrells CR3 | 30% Turfgold, 35% Esquire and 35% Fancy perennial ryegrass | Lower-priced square-specific option |
For a square renovation needing only one or two bags, I give the desired cultivar specification more weight than a small saving on seed. Check the current CR1 and CR3 prices at Hurrells when planning the order.
Both are close-cut square mixtures. Before ordering, check that the current cultivars suit the height at which your groundskeeper maintains the square; Hurrells can confirm that against the mixture being supplied.
👉 Check the CR1 square blend or compare the lower-priced CR3. Use discount code FORMBY10 for 10% off.
Why square seed differs from outfield seed
The square is managed to create prepared cricket strips within a closely maintained area. The surrounding outfield has a different mowing and use pattern, and can accommodate a broader species mixture. Hurrells CR2, for example, includes red fescues and Highland bent alongside ryegrass; it belongs in the cricket-outfield comparison.
Using 100% perennial ryegrass does not make all bags equivalent. Cultivars vary in fineness, shoot density, growth and response to wear. The BSPB lawn and summer-sport tables compare cultivars at 10–15mm. A match strip is cut more closely, so use those results alongside the groundskeeper’s requirements for the square.
Ask the groundskeeper to name the exact mixture on the order. That avoids a contractor or volunteer having to choose between bags simply labelled “sports seed”.
Best time to buy for end-of-season work
Arrange delivery before the final fixtures so the seed is ready for end-of-season renovation.
The GMA’s September maintenance guidance includes cricket-square renovation and protection of moisture for new seed. Plan the actual sowing date around soil warmth, moisture and the final fixtures.
Book the contractor early and keep the bags dry until the ground is ready. If the weather changes, review the sowing date with the groundskeeper.
How much grass seed does a cricket square need?
Measure the square or strips that will actually be treated. Do not use the total cricket-ground area, and do not assume every strip is receiving the same work. CR1 and CR3 publish 20–35g/m² for overseeding and 35–70g/m² for new sowing.
For an illustrative 500m² treatment area:
| Overseeding rate | Seed required | 20kg bags |
|---|---|---|
| 20g/m² | 10kg | 1 |
| 25g/m² | 12.5kg | 1 |
| 35g/m² | 17.5kg | 1 |
The whole-bag purchase is the same in this example, but the amount applied is not. Weigh out the planned quantity and retain the surplus; do not empty the bag merely because it is open. At 1,000m² and 35g/m² you need 35kg, so two 20kg bags provide 5kg spare.
For substantial bare-ground work, use the new-sowing specification and the renovation plan. For a rebuild, agree the surface preparation, loam and sowing rate with the groundskeeper before calculating the order. Our seed quantity guide takes you through the calculation.
Seed contact, loam and existing grass
Remove loose debris so seed can reach the prepared surface and take up water. Agree the preparation and dressing with the groundskeeper, using loam compatible with the existing square.
Check the existing sward as well. Overseeding introduces new plants among what is already there; one application does not instantly replace the old grass population. If unwanted grasses or surface problems are widespread, agree how to tackle those as part of the renovation.
For the biology behind establishment and growth, see our perennial ryegrass guide. It shows how new shoots develop around each plant and why bare patches need fresh seed.
Compare the complete renovation quote
Ask for the exact cultivar recipe, the intended sowing rate, the number of bags and any proposed substitution. Separate seed cost from preparation, loam, application and aftercare. The cheapest seed line may be a very small part of the complete renovation cost.
Keep square and outfield seed on separate lines, even when ordering them together.
Ask the supplier to quote for Hurrells CR1 with its four-cultivar recipe, or Hurrells CR3 if its lower-cost blend meets the groundskeeper’s requirements. Use our commercial bulk buying guide for order and delivery checks, and keep the outfield seed purchase on its own line.
