I completely agree with Donn, growing grasses in plugs or small pots is better than direct seeding. Once you plant the plugs, it's easier to keep the area weed free while the plugs gain in size. You didn't say, but I'm assuming this is a sunny site. You also didn't mention if you wanted a taller grass or a low growing one. If low growing, and if you don't care that the grass may reseed then I would also suggest Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca). This one is tough as nails, and if you let the self sown seedlings grow, then you can just pull up and toss the older plants in 3-4 years instead of lift and divide. These are a snap to grow from seed, put on a lot of growth in the first year and are full size and blooming in the second year. For taller grasses, Panicum virgatum is hardy for me, although blooms too late to really enjoy the blooms much. Calamagrostis brachytricha has also proven hardy for me. I grew it from seed and in the second year they were full, well-developed plants reaching about 4'. These, too, don't bloom until late August although the blooms are beautiful and hold up thru winter. Deschampsia is proving to be a favourite of mine and is a great suggestion. If you're set on growing from seed then the following won't apply, but I cannot recommend Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster enough. It is an amazing grass for cold zone gardeners. It has tall growth by June followed by blooms and reaches about 5'. The blooms go thru many stages and colours and hold up well thru winter snows. You can't grow it from seed though, but it's widely available at the nurseries come spring, one gallon plants usually about $5, well worth it, I think. Another plant that I grow but I know a lot of gardeners hate is Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea). This is a rampant spreader, but if your area is surrounded by mown grass or bordered in some way then the plant may work. It is also very hardy, blooms out at about 4' and doesn't seed out (I've never found a seedling). I don't find it difficult to keep the runners in check, they pull up very easy in my soil. I have it in a number of places, one area is bordered by mown grass so the runners just get mown down - no problem. In another area I have the pink/green variegated (this is really beautiful in the early spring - emerging shoots are really, really pink before they take on the variegation). It's a clump in the middle of an area that gets a lot of foot traffic around it and although the clump has gained in size, it is not spreading out of control. Most gardeners would advise against this plant but I've not had any great trouble with it at all. You can't grow it from seed (that I'm aware of) but I'm sure any gardener would be more than willing to give you some if they have it, or if you purchase a 1 gallon container of it, you'd be able to split it up into several plants. I found dried heads of Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) last year in a ditch and I really like the look of them. I think the plant, though, really had little in the way of foliage and that which was there wasn't very appealing. The problem with any type of pasture, or forage grass is that they are really meant for animal foraging, they don't grow into huge clumps and aren't strong stemmed plants. They're generally grown for the green to feed cattle/horses, and not for the bloom or ornamental value. In any case, some do have nice blooms, like Orchard Grass, or another is Phleum pratense, aka Timothy grass. I'm sure both will self sow readily but I'm also fairly certain they're short lived, relying on reseeding instead of longevity. But if you're looking for more of a natural or meadow look instead of clumps of grasses spaced at intervals, then the Orchard Grass, perhaps mixed with another (like the Timothy grass which blooms out later and has more foliage) would be a good pick. Hope this helps.

You've missed the season for starting the seed from direct sowing. That should be done in Spring, right after last frost. You'd be better off starting them in seed-starting containers, like 21-cell trays, and then planting out the starts in early fall. It'll take time to prepare the hell strip anyway.

kimberely, I have both. Don't cut either one down at all. They need a great deal of water, if you have sandy soil, i am not sure what your soil is like. You might want to put down a drip hose to make sure they get enough water. My blue fescue really never did very well. It is still alive, it is a cool season grass, which means it loves the cooler weather in the winter. I personally wouldn't plant it in the front of my house, but see if it turns blue this winter and if you like the look of it. I wasn't impressed with the pink muhly grass, but that is just my opinion. I planted red head grass, it is awesome. I also planted silver Miscanthus grass, also awesome, and I water the silver grass constantly in the heat. I also planted Mondo grass, which was a dud. i think a small little bit is still alive, but don't buy it. I gave it 4 years, and it is almost gone. I love grasses, but some grasses really need alot of water, and some are quite drought resistant. Hit or miss.

Growing grasses can be a slow process. Some grasses stay tiny the first year. I collect seeds from grasses that I like that I see. If one does that, one should wait till the seeds are getting ready to shatter and drop. If one is more impatient their is always buying small starts of them. Santa Rosa Gardens Nursery is a good source and they have a good fall and spring sale. People always abbreviate them to SRG around here. It is good to know what grasses do well where you live.