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Best seeds to grow grass


The Best Grass Seed Options of 2022

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Many homeowners dream of a lush, green carpet of grass upon which their children and pets can frolic. Growing a lawn that makes neighbors green with envy begins with choosing the right grass seed.

There is a seemingly endless variety of different seed types and products on the market, which can make choosing the right one an involved process. Climate, shade, and foot traffic all play roles in which grass seed is right for your lawn. This guide features factors to consider when choosing the best grass seed that will turn your yard into a striking carpet of green.

  1. BEST OVERALL: Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade-3 in 1
  2. BEST BUDGET: Scotts Turf Builder Sunny Mix, 3lb.
  3. BEST WARM-SEASON: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Southern Gold Mix
  4. BEST COOL-SEASON: Jonathan Green Black Beauty All Grasses Sun or Shade
  5. BEST FOR DENSE SHADE: Pennington Seed Smart Seed Grass Seed 3 Lb
  6. BEST FOR HIGH-TRAFFIC: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed High Traffic Mix
  7. BEST KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Kentucky Bluegrass
  8. BEST BERMUDA GRASS: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass, 5 lb
  9. BEST FAST-GROWING: Pennington Smart Seed Perennial Rye Blend Grass Seed
  10. BEST LOW-MAINTENANCE: Scotts Turf Builder Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch

Photo: depositphotos. com

Types of Grass Seed

Grass seed falls into two main categories: warm-season and cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses endure hot southern climates much better than cool-season grasses. During the winter, warm-season grasses turn brown as they go dormant. Cool-season grasses grow quickly in the cool weather of fall and spring before going dormant in the summer heat. Warm-season grasses can be reseeded during the spring and summer, while spring and fall are the optimal time to reseed cool-season grasses.

Warm-Season Grass 

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Cool-Season Grass

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Grass Seed

When deciding which grass seed is best for a front yard or a backyard oasis, it’s crucial to consider several important factors, including climate, maintenance, and sun requirements. A good grass seed should thrive in the specific conditions of your yard. Check below for some of the elements you should consider when purchasing the right grass seed.

Climate

With enough determination and money, you can grow most of the above grass seeds just about anywhere in the country. It’s not uncommon to see beautiful Kentucky bluegrass lawns in the baking heat of the Southwest. But going against climate guidelines will make the job a lot harder and more expensive, requiring significant investments in irrigation systems, water, and fertilizers. Paying attention to climate will make establishing a lawn much more manageable. Consider where you live and what grass types will thrive in your region with minimal maintenance and watering.

Reseeding vs. New Planting 

How you go about reseeding a lawn versus planting a new lawn is quite different. When seeding a new lawn, you’ll be applying seed to the bare dirt you’ve prepared for new planting. For reseeding, you’ll be attempting to thicken an already existing lawn. With that in mind, you typically need about twice as much seed to start a new lawn as you need to reseed an existing lawn.

Traffic Level 

Grass types vary in how well they tolerate foot traffic. If you have kids or pets and plan to use your backyard extensively as an area for play, consider selecting grass types that can take some abuse and still keep on growing. Zoysia and Bermuda grasses are the most tolerant of foot traffic, while fescue does poorly with heavy traffic.

Required Maintenance

While some property owners enjoy fussing over their lawns, many homeowners dread long hours spent maintaining a yard. Consider which grass types require the least amount of care and how much work you’re willing to put into a lawn. Zoysia grass, for example, requires annual dethatching, while perennial ryegrass will not self-repair and requires patching. Bermuda grass, in comparison, requires very little maintenance.

Sun Exposure 

Various grasses tolerate different levels of sun exposure. Some grasses, such as Bermuda grass, demand full sun but other varieties, such as tall fescue, do well with partial shade. Assess the sun exposure of your lawn to determine a good lawn grass seed for the lighting conditions there. Some seed companies produce specific seed mixes for full shade, full sun, or lawns with shaded areas and full-sun areas.

Single Seed vs. Mix

When selecting a type of grass seed, you can choose one specific seed type or a blend that combines several different species. Go for a single seed type if you’re trying to achieve a particular look for your lawn. While single seeds are more difficult to maintain, the effect of a single species lawn can be well worth it.

Mixes are easier to grow and maintain because companies blend the mixes for improved drought or heat tolerance. They also generally grow more uniformly with little need for patching. However, your lawn will lack the attractive uniform look of a single species lawn.

Germination Percentage

Despite your best efforts to prepare your yard for seeding, some seeds simply weren’t meant to become plants. This is where germination percentage comes into play. Germination percentage is a measure of the viability of a collection of seeds. It is calculated by dividing the number of seeds that germinate by the total number of seeds.

Given how much grass seed can cost, the higher the germination percentage the better, and it mostly relates to seed quality. Although you might be tempted to buy the cheapest grass seed on the shelf, chances are it will have a lower germination percentage, resulting in significant waste. High-quality grass seed has a 90 to 95 percent germination rate, making it worth the additional investment.

Our Top Picks

You can find grass seed for sunny areas, shade, high traffic, hot and cold climates, and more. These top-rated grass seed picks cover lots of lawn and grass types to suit various uses.

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Successfully reseeding a lawn often involves the laborious process of prepping the soil and adding fertilizer before finally spreading the seed. Scotts reduces those three steps to one with its Thick’R Lawn Sun and Shade 3-in-1 seed. This premium grass seed improves the chances that your seed will germinate, grow, and flourish by mixing the necessary components in one bag, so you can spread it on your lawn in one fell swoop.

This Sun and Shade seed includes fertilizer, organic material for improving the soil’s quality, and a mix of drought- and shade-tolerant grass seed. Simply rake, spread the seed, water daily, and let nature take its course at filling gaps in a lawn. A 40-pound bag is enough to cover a 4,000-square-foot area for reseeding.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn grass seed at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

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It’s easier to grow grass in full sun than in shady parts of your lawn, but it takes a special mix like Scotts Turf Builder Sunny Seed Mix to bring your lawn to the next level. Full sun can quickly burn out a lawn when those dog days of summer come around. This is an excellent grass seed for full sun because it’s specially formulated with a mix of heat-tolerant grass seeds.

These grass seeds are treated with Scott’s 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating, which helps the seeds absorb twice as much water as uncoated seeds. The coating also fertilizes the seed and protects it from disease, helping to speed along germination and growth. This sun-tolerant mix is designed for northern lawns. A 3-pound bag is enough to cover up to 1,200 square feet.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Scotts Turf Builder Sunny Mix grass seed at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

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Summer weather in the South can be downright brutal with scorching heat and high humidity, but Scotts Turf Builder Southern Gold Mix prevents having a lawn that quickly turns from lush green in June to dry brown by August. The seed mix features grass types that can survive the harshest summer conditions.

This seed also features Scott’s 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating. This treatment improves the seeds’ performance in drought conditions by enabling them to retain water more efficiently. It also fertilizes the seeds and protects them from disease. Scotts has designed this grass seed specifically for transition zone lawns. These yards must survive colliding climate zones of their region. Scotts Southern Gold Mix comes in various sizes with a 7-pound bag covering about 1,750 square feet.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Scotts Turf Builder Southern Gold grass seed on Amazon and at The Home Depot.

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A good cool-season grass seed blend like Jonathan Green Black Beauty All Grasses will give you a mix of grasses best suited for cooler and northern climates. The company is open about its mix, so purchasers know exactly what they’re getting in this blend.

This cold-tolerant mix includes three different types of cool-season grasses: 80 percent tall fescue, 10 percent Kentucky bluegrass, and 10 percent ryegrass. Black Beauty seed features a waxy coating that protects each seed from lawn diseases and will preserve plant moisture. A 25-pound bag will cover up to 10,000 square feet.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Jonathan Green grass seed mix at Ace Hardware.

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Most grasses grow best with a good daily dose of sunlight, and it takes a special mix like this Pennington Smart Seed Grass Seed to equally fill those shaded parts of a yard. This shade mix is intended for areas of a lawn that only get about 2 to 4 hours of sun a day. As with other Pennington seeds, the dense-shade mix has the company’s Penkoted technology that coats the seed with a special fertilizer to help it grow through those delicate seedling stages.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get the Pennington Seed Smart Seed grass seed at Walmart.

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Those well-trodden areas of your yard can take a real beating, and Scotts Turf Builder High Traffic Grass Seed Mix helps a lawn hold up to dogs, kids, and backyard parties. For families who use their yards for more than just show, this high-traffic mix of grass seed from Scotts will grow quickly and self-repair worn-down spots in those areas that see a lot of activity.

The high-traffic grass seed features Scotts’ proprietary 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating, which gives the seeds a boost while promoting water absorption. This mix is an excellent option for patching worn-out parts of the lawn or thickening up an entire turf area. A 7-pound bag provides enough coverage for up to 1,500 square feet.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

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Homeowners who dream of the perfect green and lush lawn usually have Kentucky bluegrass in mind, and Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Mix has a mix of the popular grass for both full sun and light shade. It’s also formulated to self-repair and endure foot traffic, making it both durable and low maintenance.

Although Kentucky bluegrass can be susceptible to drought, Scotts’ mix is designed to endure dry summers, thanks to its proprietary seed-coating technology, which provides nutrients while protecting the seed from fertilizer and enabling it to absorb water better. Scotts Kentucky Bluegrass Mix does best in northern regions. A 3-pound bag will cover up to 2,000 square feet.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky Bluegrass mix at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

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Growing grass in the southern regions of the country that see scorching-hot temperatures can feel like an exercise in futility, but Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermuda grass can weather these harsh climates. With its high tolerance for drought, intense heat, and humidity, Bermuda grass might be the answer.

The grass grows rapidly, and this Scotts mix will grow even faster, thanks to its 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating, which can absorb twice as much water as uncoated seeds. The treatment helps seedlings enter the world strong, healthy, and ready to grow. A 5-pound bag of Scotts Bermuda grass seed is enough to cover up to 1,500 square feet.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Scotts Turf Builder Bermuda Grass seed at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

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If you don’t like waiting weeks to see if those grass seeds you so carefully planted will grow, it’s best to go with a fast-growing grass seed like Pennington Smart Seed Perennial Ryegrass.

This ryegrass germinates more quickly and grows faster than other grass seeds. It also maintains a deep green color year-round—you won’t have to look at a brown lawn all winter long. Pennington’s ryegrass seed can take as little as 7 days to germinate, which is far less than other grasses that can take up to 4 weeks.

Pennington’s seeds also develop denser root systems, which makes them more drought tolerant. This fast-growing grass seed also includes its Penkoted seal, which protects the seeds from mold while enabling them to retain moisture.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Pennington Smart Seed Perennial Rye seed on Amazon and at Walmart.

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Shade, full sun, heavy foot traffic, scorching heat, cold, drought, even salt water matter little with Scotts Turf Builder Zoysia Grass Seed. This “grow anywhere grass seed” holds up well against most elements the climate or a busy lawn owner can throw at it, and it’s the easiest grass to grow in almost every climate. It even requires less mowing because it grows so slowly. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance lawn, consider zoysia grass. Although it can grow in northern regions, this variety of grass does particularly well in the South.

Most zoysia grass must be planted as plugs or turf. This mix from Scotts will grow from seed, using a grass seed and mulch combination to speed the germination and growth process. A 5-pound bag is enough to cover a 2,000-square-foot area.

Product Specs 

Pros

Cons

Get Scotts Turf Builder Zoysia grass seed mix at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

Our Verdict

For a full, luscious lawn, our first pick is the drought- and shade-tolerant Scotts Turf Builder Sun & Shade seed, which is suitable for warm seasons and reseeding, with fertilizer, seed, and soil improver included. Alternatively, for a budget-friendly option in cool climates, the Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky Bluegrass seed is suitable for new plantings or reseeding, comes with a 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating, and covers over 1,200 square feet of lawn space.

How We Chose the Best Grass Seed

We researched the most sought-after grass seed in their respective categories and discovered that the best options are determined by their type, suitable season(s), intended use, and other special features included by select brands.

The most popular types of grass seed among users is Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue for their suitability in multiple climates and their ability to grow thick, durable grass. While not as popular, Bermuda and zoysia grass types are also viable options for those who live in southern areas with a lot of sun. What’s more, these mixes can cover small or large yards depending on your needs.

Many of the grass seeds are also capable of fixing patchy areas on existing grass or growing new plantings for your whole lawn. Plus, many of these options are mixes, which makes them easy to maintain without intense labor. For added convenience, select grass seeds included in our list come with protective coatings to protect them from disease and to aid in water retention or have fertilizer built in.

FAQs

If you’re still wondering what product is best for you, read on for answers to your most pressing grass-seed questions.

Q: What month is best for planting grass seed?

The best month for planting grass seed is September for cool-season grasses and May for warm-season grasses, although this can vary depending on where you live. For cool-season grasses, you want a combination of warm soil, moderate temperatures during the day, and cool temperatures at night. Warm-season grasses should be planted when temperatures eclipse 80 degrees during the day and remain warm through the night.

Q: How do you seed a lawn?

Once you’ve purchased your seed, you’ll need to prepare the soil. If reseeding, cut the grass to a height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Lightly rake the area to break up the soil’s surface, so it can receive the seeds. For new lawns, prepare the ground, making sure to even out the surface. Use a spreader to distribute the recommended amount of seed for reseeding or planting a new lawn.

Q: How do you prepare ground for grass seed?

If possible, use a soil test kit to determine the pH of your soil. Depending on the results, you might need to add organic matter such as lime, compost, topsoil, or peat moss to your soil. Once you’ve completed that step, break up the top ½-inch of the earth with a rake. The soil needs to be loose to accept the seeds.

Q: Can you mix grass seed with topsoil?

Mixing grass seed with topsoil is not a good idea. By combining the two, it’s difficult to spread the seeds evenly throughout the yard. It also might cause some seeds to be buried too deep into the soil to germinate and grow. For better results, spread the seed after mixing topsoil into the yard.

Q: Do you need to cover grass seed?

It’s best not to cover the grass seed with topsoil. Grass seeds are not strong enough to push through heavy earth after germinating. Covering the seeds with topsoil suffocates them, preventing them from growing.

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The 8 Best Grass Seed Products of 2022

By

Theresa Holland

Theresa Holland

Theresa Holland is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, cleaning, and bedding.  She shares her favorite life hacks on her blog The Taboo Textbook.

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Updated on 05/18/22

Reviewed by

Barbara Gillette

Reviewed by Barbara Gillette

Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

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Fact checked by

Sarah Scott

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Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.

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The Spruce / Laurey W. Glenn

Grass seed can grow a lawn from scratch, make existing turf thicker, or target unsightly bald patches and brown spots. We researched and tested grass seed from the top brands, evaluating ease of use, effectiveness, and formulation. 

Our top pick, the Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix, is a versatile blend that stands up well to drought and disease and can seed up to 8,000 square feet of lawn—an eighth of a football field. 

Here is the best grass seed for sprucing up your yard.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Scotts Turf Builder Sun & Shade Mix at Amazon

Best for Shade:

Pennington One Step Complete at Amazon

Best for Full Sun:

JB Instant Lawn Sunny Lawn Seed at Home Depot

Best for Cool Season:

Barenbrug Winter Wonderlawn Grass Seed at Home Depot

Best for Warm Season:

Water Saver Lawn Seed Mixture at Amazon

Best Fast-Growing:

Vigoro Fast Grass at Home Depot

Best Bermuda grass:

Sta-Green Bermuda grass Seed at Lowe's

Best for Heavy Traffic:

Jonathan Green Heavy Traffic Grass Seed at Amazon

In This Article

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Who else recommends it? Bob Vila also picked Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun and Shade Mix.

What do buyers say? 82% of 29,000+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix thrives in scorching sunlight or densely shaded conditions, making it our top choice. This fine-bladed grass mix can even hold up in droughts and cold winters. It begins to grow in five to ten days; you can mow it after blades reach three inches in height. For optimum growth, water your lawn twice daily for three weeks. 

Each individual seed, wrapped in a special WaterSmart Plus coating, absorbs twice the amount of water as its uncoated counterparts. The coating also protects your seedlings from various lawn diseases, and feeds them essential nutrients to jump-start growth. Although this mix tolerates extreme weather changes, Scott’s does not recommend using it in Southern states.

Sun Tolerance: Dense Shade to Full Sun | Climate: Drought, Cold Winters | Size: Up to 8,000 square feet | Grass Texture: Fine

Courtesy of The Home Depot

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Pennington One Step Complete blends the brand's Smart Seed with mulch and professional-grade fertilizer, allowing the lawn to thrive in densely shaded areas. This all-in-one grass seed sprouts seedlings in as little as two weeks, even in the tricky corners of your lawn that don't see more than two to four hours of direct sunlight a day. Whether you're growing a lawn from scratch or just looking to patch up sparse areas, this ultra-absorbent mixture is a quick and easy solution for achieving a lush, spot-free yard.

Sun Tolerance: Dense Shade | Climate: Cool-season | Size: 125 square feet | Grass Texture: Medium

Courtesy of Lowe's

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JB Instant Lawn's Sunny Blend is formulated for direct sunlight. It loves clear skies and flourishes in non-shaded areas with daily sun exposure of six or more hours. The brand's signature perennial ryegrass seed produces thick, sod-quality lawns with fine blades and a deep green hue. You can plant it with your existing grass, or use to grow a lawn from scratch with a germination period of seven to ten days.

Sun Tolerance: Full Sun | Climate: Cool-season | Size: 1,000 square feet (max overseeding coverage area), 600 square feet (max new seeding coverage area) | Grass Texture: Fine

Courtesy of Tractor Supply

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What We Don't Like

For the chillier season, keep a bag of Winter Wonderlawn on hand. Containing a blend of Italian and perennial ryegrass, the mixture is ideal for overseeding your lawn during the coldest months.

This grass seed establishes quickly and germinates within four days, even in fall and winter. After a few weeks, expect a dense growth of fine-bladed grass, with a deep green color.

Sun Tolerance: Full Sun and Partial Shade | Climate: Southern | Size: 2,500 square feet | Grass Texture: Fine

Courtesy of The Home Depot

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What We Don't Like

Water Saver contains a mixture of turf-quality tall fescue and RFT (rhizomatous tall fescue) seeds. The blend has a gorgeous color, a nice texture, and stands up to various diseases.

This lawn seed establishes quickly, roots deeply, and retains water, allowing it to tolerate high temps and drought conditions. It thrives in the sun or shade, and thanks to its deep roots, you can mow it shorter than other varieties.

Sun Tolerance: Full Sun and Partial Shade | Climate: Hot and Dry | Size: 1,000 square feet | Grass Texture: Coarse

The 6 Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers of 2022 | by The Spruce

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Anytime you need speedy ground cover, erosion control, or want to repair patches in your yard, this is your best bet. Vigoro Fast Grass Mix germinates impressively quickly, and sprouts in as little as three days.

The seed works in sunny and shady areas, and produces lush, green grass with semi-fine blades and virtually no weeds. It's ideal for temporarily filling in bare spots and, depending on when and where you plant it, you might see continued growth.

Sun Tolerance: Sun and Shade | Climate: Any | Size: 750 square feet | Grass Texture: Fine to Medium

The 8 Best Lawn Aerators of 2022 | by The Spruce

Courtesy of Lowe's

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Bermuda grass is a warm-weather perennial, meaning it flourishes in spring and summer, and grows back annually. This grass seed from Sta-Green contains a premium blend of 99 percent weed-free Bermuda grass.

The germination period is longer than other species (about two to three weeks). But thanks to a special QuickGrow2X coating, the mixture grows faster than other Bermuda grasses and resists disease. Soon enough, you can expect a beautiful lawn, with medium-textured grass that's dense, lush, and feels good between your toes.

Sun Tolerance: Full Sun | Climate: Southern, Dry | Size: 5,000 square feet (max overseeding coverage area), 2,500 square feet (max new seeding coverage area) | Grass Texture: Fine to Medium

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Don't Like

If you have kids, pets, or an otherwise busy household, we recommend Jonathan Green Black Beauty. The brand's Heavy Traffic Premium Mixture contains a healthy blend of fescue and perennial ryegrass seeds. Fescue emits an amino acid that naturally acts as a herbicide, so it curbs emerging crabgrass and broadleaf weed seedlings. Not only that, but this reliable formula stands up to abrasion and naturally resists insects.

Sun Tolerance: Partial Sun | Climate: Hard Wear | Size: 1,200 square feet | Grass Texture: Coarse

The 12 Best Weed Killers of 2022 | by The Spruce

Final Verdict

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix is the best grass seed overall. The seeds' special coating makes them more absorbent, allowing your turf to thrive year-round in sun or shade. However, if you have pets or kids and want something that can grow with heavy foot traffic, Jonathan Green Black Beauty Heavy Traffic Premium Grass Seed Mixture might be a better choice.

Climate

One of the most important things to keep in mind when buying grass seed is the climate, as some blends do better in certain regions. For instance, Bermuda grass is native to the southern hemisphere, so it thrives in the South and the Southwestern United States.

That being said, some grass species (such as fescue and ryegrass) can grow in a variety of climates. Be sure to check the product description before purchasing grass seed to confirm it can grow where you live.

Sun Exposure

Another thing to consider is the level of sun exposure your seedlings get. Species such as Bermuda grass and some types of ryegrass need at least a few hours of sunlight a day to thrive, whereas fescue can grow in densely shaded areas.

Some mixes are formulated to grow in sun or shade, any time of year. Check the product information before buying grass seed to make sure it's suitable for the amount of sunlight your yard gets.

Maintenance

If you're in the market for low-maintenance grass seed, look for an option that contains fertilizer. That way, your seedlings have the nourishment they need to grow quickly and flourish. Some blends also contain mulch, which helps keep the soil healthy, retains water, and prevents weed growth.

Speaking of weed growth, you may consider grass seed that specifically indicates it's a weed-free (or 99 percent weed-free) formula. Additionally, some seeds are individually coated with a special substance that makes them more absorbent, meaning you don't need to water as often, and disease resistant.

FAQ

The Spruce contributor Theresa Holland is an experienced commerce writer, with several years of experience covering home improvement. She's spent countless hours researching yard care and landscaping products, not only for the content she writes but also for personal use. You can see more of her home-related stories on MyDomaine.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. The Best Grass Seed for the Northeast of 2022. Bob Vila. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-grass-seed-for-northeast/

  2. "BERMUDAGRASS," Clemson University Cooperative Extension

  3. "Fescue, A Common Lawn Grass, Use Natural Herbicide To Controls Weeds" Science Daily

  4. Petrikovszki, Renáta et al. The Effect of Organic Mulching and Irrigation on the Weed Species Composition and the Soil Weed Seed Bank of Tomato. Plants (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 66, 2020. doi:10.3390/plants9010066

  5. Rocha, Inês et al. Seed Coating: A Tool for Delivering Beneficial Microbes to Agricultural Crops. Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 10. pp. 1357, 2019. doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01357  

The best grass for hay - which grasses are best, how to grow grass for hay

Planting and growing forage grasses yourself is the most convenient and cheaper alternative to buying in bulk. After the herbage has grown enough, it remains only to cut and dry. About what is the best grass for hay will allow you to make enough high-quality blanks, let's talk right now.

Which grass is best for hay?

Own forage base is obviously a profitable solution for farms. Purchasing grass feed from third party vendors does not guarantee product quality. The following best grass varieties can be sown for hay:

In addition, a special grass mixture can be planted for forage. This option is even more suitable for farms, since the sprouted grass mixture forms a perennial and quickly recovering cover. Also fodder grass mixtures are more resistant to any aggressive environmental factors. Another benefit of planting mixed feed is their beneficial effect on soil fertility.

Planting grass mixtures with legumes and cereals in the composition will prevent competition between plants.

Methods and timing of planting forage grasses

There are seven methods for growing grasses for hay:

The timing of hay planting depends on several factors. The best time is spring (April and May). But you can plant both in summer and autumn, and sometimes even in winter (in the southern regions). If the seeds are planted in the summer, then it is better to do this in June or July. You should choose a period after precipitation: so the soil will be sufficiently moist.

In autumn, sowing is carried out only until mid-October. It is advisable to sow the grass mixture.

Growing grass for hay

Step by step we will figure out how to sow grass for hay and collect a rich and high-quality harvest.

Ground preparation

Low-lying areas that used to be swamps are suitable for sowing. Such lands have high fertility, optimal moisture content. These factors will only contribute to a rich harvest. If the pasture will be irrigated, areas with nearby water sources should be selected.

Preparatory measures before planting hay is to check the soil for the reaction of a specialized solution. Preparatory processing is divided into pre-sowing and directly main. Before the main tillage, the plot is fertilized with:

Also, don't forget about the application of mineral fertilizers. This also applies to old, unproductive lands.

Fit

How to sow hay depends on the type of crops planted - annual or perennial. So, annual varieties are planted in a coverless and undercover way. And perennial crops are planted in an ordinary or scattered method. As usual, perennials are planted with a garden seeder.

Care

Forage maintenance procedures include:

Collection

There are several rules for collecting hay crops:

The purpose of growing crops for fodder is to ensure an even distribution of tubers and seeds. This guarantees a bountiful harvest.

Best indoor cannabis strains

(Average rating 4.13 Total 91 ratings) 5

The selection of indoor cannabis strains is especially relevant at the moment as the 2017 outdoor season draws to a close. Most home growers prefer cannabis seeds that produce short to medium height plants that don't have a strong scent, but with the right preparation, growth and scent requirements fall short of the main criteria of reliability, fertility, and psychoactivity. Based on these three characteristics, based on grower reviews, our editors have compiled a list of the best cannabis seeds for indoor cultivation.

What is important to consider when growing indoors?

In order - the main points.

Grove in the ground or hydroponics

For the first time using marijuana seeds for indoor cultivation, it is recommended to grow cannabis in a more natural way, in the ground. The hydroponic method is much more productive, the development and maturation of plants in hydroponics is almost 1.5 times faster, the harvest has a more powerful effect on consciousness. On the other hand, soil-grown flowers have a clean and pleasant taste, and the success rate for a novice grower with a careful approach to business is 100%, which cannot be said about hydroponics.

Don't forget about the smell

Sometimes a beginner cannabis grower tends to overlook the ability of cannabis to give off a very recognizable scent when it blooms, because they don't have a realistic idea of ​​the ability of a scent to spread around an apartment. It is better not to grow cannabis seeds in the apartment without a hood with a carbon filter that brings air from the growbox to the street - the smell of flowering plants will be heard already in the entrance, even if you take the landing to a back room. No amount of incense can override the healthy amber of hemp flowers.

Keep out of the heat

The optimum temperature for cannabis development is 21-26°C. Even heat-tolerant indoor cannabis strains can suffer in the current heat. Let's say the air temperature in your apartment is 30°C - in such conditions, cannabis is not yet stressed, but if the included lamp raises the temperature in the grow box by another 5°C, the bushes are unlikely to be able to not get sick and mature fully. The heat is especially harmful to flowering cannabis, since the elevated temperature destroys the trichomes and the cannabinoids themselves in the inflorescences. If your home is hot, it makes sense to set aside the “daytime” cannabis time for the night time of the day, i. e. turn off the lamp early in the morning and turn it on in the evening.

Train your plants

Don't let grow run its course: the natural "Christmas tree" shape of plants is designed by nature for their most likely fertilization. In terms of productivity, it is much more important to evenly illuminate all tiers of the bush, as well as monitor its growth so that the growbox space is used rationally. Pruning plants stimulates the development of side shoots and slows down the upward growth of cannabis. Various bending methods (LST, SCRoG) make it possible to turn half of the bush into a solid cola - while the original structure of the plant disposes the cannabis to have only one full cola at the top. 21%
60 cm
60 days
400 g/m2
Strong

What is better?

The only possible answer to this question is: depending on the quality of your care. The facts are that outdoor plants feel more confident and tend to grow larger. However, in order to grow to it, they still need to not die from local insects or animals that love to eat fresh plants. In addition, at home, planting cannabis will certainly receive more attention - in other words, indoors increases your chances of identifying and neutralizing a problem that has arisen, as well as correcting the direction of growth or helping the plant with training.

What is the difference between autoflowering and photoperiods?

Indoor photoperiod cannabis varieties will start flowering the moment you tell them to. This allows you to extend the vegetative stage and achieve the desired size and shape of plants. The advantage of autoflowering is that you don't have to think about when to end the growing season. In addition, the lifespan of autoflowers is shorter. Because of this, autoflowers give less yield, but you get it sooner. In other words, for low-budget compact planting, from which the result is required in the shortest possible time, autoflowers are more suitable.

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