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Best thick grass seed


The 8 Best Grass Seed Products of 2023

The winner is the Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix

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

Richard Scherr

Fact checked by Richard Scherr

Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. The Baltimore native also covered the technology scene for LocalBusiness.com and has been a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post.

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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 Amazon

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.

Price at time of publish: $87

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.

Price at time of publish: $20

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 Like

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.

Price at time of publish: $88

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 Like

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.

Price at time of publish: $25

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

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Courtesy of The Home Depot

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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.

Price at time of publish: $8

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

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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.

Price at time of publish: $32

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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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.

Price at time of publish: $30

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

The 12 Best Weed Killers of 2023

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 Seed Options of 2023

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Photo: depositphotos.com

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.

Photo: amazon.com

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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

Get Scotts Turf Builder High Traffic mix at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart.

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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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8 best lawn grasses - Rating 2022 (Top 8)

Juicy green lawn near the house is a symbol of comfortable country life. And it is not at all necessary to buy a ready-made rolled lawn. There are two alternative ways: to organize a natural lawn from already growing grasses and to sow the seeds of suitable plants yourself. The second option will give a more controlled and more aesthetic result. Our review presents the best lawn grasses - according to gardeners.

The following types of herbaceous plants are used for the lawn:

Professional landscapers prefer to sow one type, but shops often sell ready-made mixtures of herbs, which are selected depending on the purpose of the lawn:

  1. ornamental lawn - a lawn in front of a house with a flower bed or composition of conifers;
  2. sports lawn - a playground for recreation and games near a barbecue area or gazebo, characterized by increased resistance to trampling;
  3. If you choose the best lawn grass for summer cottages, then most often it will be a universal lawn - an option that combines moderate aggressiveness and sufficient attractiveness.

When choosing the best lawn grass seed mixture, more than just the intended use is taken into account. It is important to take into account such factors as the illumination of the site, the level of groundwater, evenness, type and uniformity of the soil, area and climatic conditions. The most durable and stable lawns are formed from meadow bluegrass, red fescue and bent grass, which have a powerful rhizome. A ryegrass lawn “gets old” after 2-3 years and requires overseeding or replacement. But at the beginning of growth, this plant is very aggressive and is able to suppress not only weeds, but also seedlings of other types of lawn grasses. Therefore, the maximum allowable amount of ryegrass seeds in the mixture is 25 - 30%. nine0003

Choosing the right kind of grass is part of the task. You also need not to make a mistake with the variety, which is not always indicated on the packer's packaging. Consider the types and varieties of lawn grasses most suitable for the middle lane.

Rating of the best lawn grasses

nine0055 nine0059 Shooting bent (creeping, or marsh), Agrostis stolonifera nine0055
Category Place Designation Rank
The Best Grasses for a Classic Lawn 1 Bluegrass meadow, Poa pratensis 9.9 / 10 nine0058
2 Red fescue, Festuca rubra 9. 8 / 10
3 9.6 / 10
4 English ryegrass (perennial chaff), Lolium perenne nine0058 9.5 / 10
The best herbs for a country lawn 1 White clover, Trifolium repens nine0058 9. 8 / 10
2 Monetary loosestrife (meadow tea), Lysimachia nummularia nine.8 / 10
3 Bekmania common (water, or swamp leek), Becmania eruciformis 9.7 / 10
4 Knotweed (highlander bird, or grass-ant), Polygonum aviculare 9. 7 / 10

The best grasses for classic turf

Bluegrass meadow, Poa pratensis

Our review of the best lawn grasses opens with the most suitable grass for the Russian climate for a perennial lawn. Even after harsh winters, bluegrass turns green immediately after the snow melts. The fibrous and loose root system of bluegrass forms an elastic turf. Leaves up to 30 cm long, deep green. Meadow grass meadow is not demanding on the type of soil, tolerates overconsolidation, but loves fertile soil and top dressing. After shearing, it grows evenly. Bluegrass sod strengthens the top layer of soil well, it can be sown on slopes. Suitable for sports lawns, grows and recovers quickly. nine0003

Bluegrass is one of the best grasses for amateur garden lawns, it visually smooths out microrelief defects. Due to the slow development at the beginning of the growing season, bluegrass seeds are mixed with bent shoots, meadow fescue (inferior to red fescue in stability and durability, but starts faster) and ryegrass. In mixes, the proportion of bluegrass is 50 - 60%. The most common lawn varieties of bluegrass meadow: Platini, Connie, Broadway, Boutique, Sobra, Panduro, Balin.

nine0002 Main advantages:

  • durability (up to 50 years)
  • early regrowth in spring
  • heat resistance
  • high winter hardiness
  • high decorative effect
  • excellent resistance to trampling

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    Cons:

    • slow growth in the first year
    • shade intolerant

9. 9 / 10

Rating

Reviews

All blades of grass stick up, and you can mow evenly with a mower. I keep a height of 5 cm. In the first two years, I had to tinker with watering, top dressing and weeds. But when the lawn began to grow, it turned out to be a real soft carpet. At least go barefoot. nine0003

Red fescue, Festuca rubra nine0133

Widespread grass grass for universal parterre perennial lawns, which forms a dense turf with a thickness of 12 to 20 cm. The leaves are narrow, their color varies from bright green to bluish-gray depending on the variety. Forms a dense herbage of varying degrees of hardness. In the year of sowing, the lawn develops slowly, the site turns green only after 2-3 months. But already in the second year it shows a dense and decorative cover. nine0003

The plant is resistant to adverse soil-climatic and weather factors: toxins in the soil, shade, sunshine, drought, flooding, low winter temperatures. It grows well on poor soils, does not require frequent watering. The low regrowth rate is both an advantage (no need to mow often) and a disadvantage (poor recovery after damage). In mixtures, red fescue is often combined with bluegrass meadow and bent grass. The following varieties are included in the register: Ryder, Livista, Casanova, Jevelin. nine0003

Main advantages:

  • frost resistance and winter hardiness
  • resistance to urban conditions
  • high decorative effect
  • shade tolerance
  • durability

Cons:

  • on heavy over-compacted soils gives a superficial sod
  • develops slowly in the first 2 to 3 years
  • medium resistance to trampling

9. 8 / 10

Rating

Reviews

I got a Spartan lawn out of red fescue - it tolerates a lack of top dressing, interruptions in watering, and irregular mowing. For her, only one thing is critical - the loose structure of the soil.

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Shooting bent (creeping, or marsh), Agrostis stolonifera

Continues our rating of the best lawn grasses bent grass - a cereal herbaceous plant with low creeping above-ground shoots. The leaves are very narrow, soft, bluish-green. It grows quickly and aggressively displaces weeds, can invade flower beds and beds. The lawn of bent grass is the most controversial in the community of landscapers. With due attention, it has no equal in decorativeness, but once it is launched, difficulties will appear both with restoration and breeding. nine0003

The plant responds well to regular feeding, is sensitive to lack of moisture (additional irrigation in summer is mandatory), does not develop in the shade. It strikes with its vitality: shoots that have turned yellow from drought, with good watering, eventually sprout new shoots. It is used for lawns of extra-class, maintains very low mowing. Due to short stature, novice lawn owners mistakenly believe that bent grass can rarely be mowed. With unlimited growth, the shoots overlap each other, and the lower layers begin to turn yellow. As a result, after mowing, yellowed bald spots are exposed. Specialized golf lawns are mowed daily to keep the herbage ventilated. nine0003

Bentgrass is used for turfing orchards, in this case it is grown without mowing during the growing season. One low mowing in winter is enough to comb out yellowed shoots. In the spring, the turf is pierced for aeration and mineral fertilizers are applied. The bent grass seeds are very small, their sowing rate is lower than that of other grasses.

Main advantages:

  • high decorative effect
  • long life, self-renewal
  • low mowing resistance
  • fast site filling
  • high winter hardiness

Cons:

  • strongly spreads beyond the lawn
  • labor-intensive care
  • low resistance to stress
  • does not grow in the shade

9. 6 / 10

Rating

Reviews

Shooting bent grass forms a dense and soft lawn, it is pleasant to walk on it. I mow it rarely, 3-4 times per season. While young, yellow bald spots do not appear. nine0003

English ryegrass (perennial chaff), Lolium perenne nine0133

The fastest growing lawn grass that forms a dense, glossy carpet already in the first years after sowing. It is characterized by aggressiveness, easily displaces weeds from the site, does not get along well with other types of lawn grasses. But at the same time it often falls out after winter, quickly degenerates, forms bumps. Therefore, ryegrass is rarely used in monoculture. Ryegrass is added to get a quick effect, so that by the time it degenerates, companions (bluegrass and bent grass) have gained strength. But if you make a mistake in the proportions, the ryegrass will have time to “strangle” the companions as well. Landscapers also recommend ryegrass-dominated mixtures for temporary and sports lawns. nine0003

A lawn dominated by ryegrass sometimes has to be mowed twice a week (depending on soil and watering). Mowed grass is quite rough, which is something to consider if you plan to walk barefoot or play on the lawn with young children. In the temperate climate of the middle zone, ryegrass manifests itself as a moderately viable crop; without snow cover, it tolerates frosts down to -18. Ryegrass is a moisture-loving and light-loving plant, but does not tolerate waterlogging. In the middle lane, resistance to diseases is weak. The most resistant varieties in our conditions: Vesuvius, Promoto, Eurodiamant. nine0003

Main advantages:

  • high vigor of growth in the first year
  • fast regrowth after mowing
  • active rhizome growth
  • resistance to trampling

Cons:

  • bald spots appear after 2-3 years
  • forms tussocks as a result of tillering
  • requires frequent cutting

9. 5 / 10

Rating

nine0002 Reviews

Ryegrass lawn is valued for its durability. But at the same time, you need to constantly look after him: watering, fertilizing, sowing, cutting. And even with proper care, I had to completely re-seed the lawn after 4 years.

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The best grasses for country lawn

White clover, Trifolium repens

Continues our review of the best lawn grasses for giving white clover - a perennial undersized creeping plant. Forms a dense and soft carpet of numerous light green, delicate leaves of the original form. It withstands low mowing at a height of 3–4 cm, but the herbage 10–12 cm high looks spectacular. A white clover lawn does not require careful maintenance and frequent mowing. It should not be heavily fed - only twice a season with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. White clover is well adapted to the climatic conditions of the middle belt, winters safely, but in very snowy and mild winters it can swell. The bald spots that appear are quickly tightened. Does not like shade and waterlogging. Blooming clover attracts bees and bumblebees. It will not be possible to restrain flowering by low mowing - the flower stalks are shortened, and small flowers appear close to the ground. nine0003

Main advantages:

  • unpretentiousness to soil types
  • high winter hardiness and drought resistance
  • high decorative effect
  • forms a very soft cover
  • good regeneration ability
nine0002 Cons:

  • attracts bees
  • slippery surface
  • aggressive and invades neighboring cultivated areas

9. 8 / 10

Rating

nine0002 Reviews

One of the few lawns that can be mowed with a conventional trimmer. They sown it first as a temporary weed cover, and then they liked it so much that they left the lawn near the house.

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Monetary loosestrife (meadow tea), Lysimachia nummularia

Perennial groundcover with creeping creeping stem. The leaves are small, light green. It is used to create a flowering lawn: twice a season it is densely covered with bright yellow small flowers. Despite the abundance of flowering, it spreads mainly by rooting shoots. Since the grass is short (up to 5 cm high), the lawn does not need to be mowed. It grows well throughout Russia. Mature plants can tolerate short-term drought, but in arid regions, a lush lawn needs watering. Very often loosestrife is sown with a companion - speedwell filiform. They complement each other well and do not compete. nine0003

Main advantages:

  • high decorative effect
  • excellent shade tolerance
  • resistance to waterlogging
  • minimal maintenance

Cons:

  • sensitive to lack of moisture

9. 8 / 10

Rating

Reviews

Loosestrife lawn should be thoroughly combed in spring and watered in severe drought. Beyond that, just admire. Well, I make sure that I don’t get into other areas. nine0003

Bekmania common (water, or swamp leek), Becmania eruciformis nine0133

Alternative grass for specialist turf. In its natural habitat it is found along river banks and in marshy meadows. Forms a long, sprawling rhizome. Leaves 5 - 7 mm wide, yellowish-green, hard.

Grass value in adaptability to waterlogged loams and wetlands. Does not grow on dry steppe soils. It is used for sodding park forests, landscaping small shaded areas. In the first year it develops at an average pace, but by the 2nd year it gains strength and forms a strong turf. Intensively spreads over the site, recovers well after mowing. It is often found in the composition of herbal mixtures for suburban lawns. nine0003

Main advantages:

  • High frost resistance and winter hardiness
  • resistance to waterlogging
  • Salt and shadowiness
  • Stability to trampling
  • GOLD ATTENTION
  • Early Vegetation 9000
nine0002 Cons:

  • medium durability (up to 8 years)
  • narrow use

9. 7 / 10

Rating

nine0002 Reviews

Landscapers do not recommend the use of fodder grasses, to which Bekmania belongs, for seeding the lawn. But I have a very wet and cold soil, on which only weeds grow well. Beckmania has helped tidy up the property and keeps it clean and beautiful.

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Knotweed (highlander bird, or grass-ant), Polygonum aviculare

For a country lawn, you can also use mist - a very hardy annual plant with a lying stem. The leaves are small, oblong, juicy green, soft. Flowering inconspicuous, continues throughout the summer season. It produces abundant germinating seeds, which is why many consider knotweed to be a perennial herb. In the wild, knotweed is widely distributed throughout the world. It is not considered a potential weed plant, as it does not like loose cultivated soils. Grows noticeably better in compacted areas with a high load. A strong tap root helps the plant survive drought, but a truly fluffy, beautiful knotweed lawn can only be grown with good watering. Seeds germinate in early spring and quickly cover the soil with greenery. Knotweed lawn can be mowed with a trimmer every 2 to 3 weeks. nine0003

Main advantages:

  • unpretentiousness
  • high adaptive qualities
  • resistance to trampling and compaction
  • high decorativeness
  • rare mowing

Cons:

  • expensive seeds
  • high aggressiveness to competitors

9. 7 / 10

Rating

nine0002 Reviews

Ever since childhood I remember the feeling when you run barefoot on a soft cool carpet of grass-ant. But not only nostalgia persuaded to sow knotweed for the lawn - it is the most unpretentious and tenacious, while beautiful and durable (self-renewable).

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When choosing the best lawn grass for your dacha or home, you need to consider that both traditional and amateur lawns require attention: modern watering, moderate top dressing and mowing as they grow. Perennial lawns manifest themselves for 2-3 years, and before that they need protection from weeds and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. Annual plants quickly form a dense grass stand, but are also more easily displaced by sod-forming grasses.

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Top 10 Best Lawn Grass Seeds for Summer cottages: 2022 ranking

Introducing the top 10 ranking of the best lawn grass seeds in 2022. We have selected the best blends from the best manufacturers. The best varieties of lawn grass, selected according to experts and customer reviews. This rating will help you choose and buy the best lawn grass seeds for your site.

Content

  1. Lawn Seed Mix Liliput slow growing
  2. Lawn Grass Seed Canada Green "PREMIUM" (Lazy)
  3. Lawn Seed Mix LawnCity Universal Real Lawn
  4. Lawn Seed Mix Green Square Universal
  5. Lawn Grass Seed Green Meter, Lawn Grass Seed Mix Mix "Sustainable"
  6. Lawn Seed Mix City Lawn Real Shade Tolerant Lawn
  7. Lawn Seed Lawn City Fescue 100% Bright Lawn
  8. Lawn Seed Mix Lawn City Real Low Growth Lawn
  9. Turf Seed Mix TurfCity Real Sports Turf
  10. Lawn Seed Mix Green Corner Universal

Lawn Seed Mix Liliput Slow Growing

Liliput is a turf grass mix consisting of slow growing, low maintenance varieties . Used to create high quality lawns in parks, gardens, around cottages and country houses. Differs in unpretentiousness to soil fertility and climatic conditions. nine0003

Lawn grass seeds Canada Green "PREMIUM" (for the lazy)

Able to tolerate up to -45C, does not require frequent mowing, forms a very powerful turf. It recovers quickly even after very intensive use. Does not allow weeds to grow. Stays green even under snow.

Lawn Seed Mix LawnCity Universal Real Lawn

Lawn Seed UNIVERSAL from the Real Lawn series is a grass mixture for creating a beautiful and dense lawn in areas with different growing conditions. nine0003

The combination of different types of grass makes the lawn unpretentious and able to grow in different conditions due to the fact that each type of grass has its own range of advantages. Thus, when adverse conditions occur, the strengths of some herbs compensate for the weaknesses of other herbs.

The Real Lawn seed series is specially designed for easy and understandable lawn selection according to its intended purpose. The compositions contain seeds that are well acclimatized to growing in Russia, and the right proportions of the appropriate types of grass allow you to create a beautiful and dense lawn in various climatic zones. nine0003

Green Square Grass Seed Mix Universal

Green Square ® UNIVERSAL is an easy-to-make suburban landscaping mix that's ideal for creating lawns. A versatile seed mix that can be used to create lawns almost anywhere and in any climate.

Green Meter Lawn Grass Seeds, Lawn Grass Seed Mix Eco-Grass Mix

Eco-Friendly Grass Mix will perfectly ensure the complete recovery of the soil. The seeds contained in the composition ensure the destruction of erosion. Lawn seeds consist of a variety of hardy plants and can also be used for animal feed. nine0003

The grass mixture can also be used as green manure. Lawn grass mixture is best used on soil that has lost its fertility due to human agricultural activities. Suitable for any region of Russia. It can be used on contaminated lands and dumps. Lawn seeds form a dense cover, thereby crowding out weeds. The seeds are also suitable for use in biological reclamation.

Lawn Seed Mix LawnCity Real Shade Tolerant Lawn

The full growth of the lawn even in conditions of lack of sunlight (under trees and in the shade of nearby buildings) is achieved due to the predominant content of fescue and festulolium species, which are resistant to growing in shady places, and fast-growing ryegrasses, which are responsible for the supporting growth function .

The Real Lawn seed series is specially designed for easy and understandable lawn selection according to its intended purpose. The compositions contain seeds that are well acclimatized to growing in Russia, and the right proportions of the appropriate types of grass allow you to create a beautiful and dense lawn in various climatic zones. nine0003

Lawn Seeds LawnCity Fescue 100% Bright Lawn

Decorative thin-leaved emerald-colored lawn, drought and winter hardy, resistant to temperature extremes. Dense, with strong and dense turf.

Lawn grass variety 100% FESCUE is designed for growing in areas with unstable climate. Tolerant of temperature fluctuations and growing in the shade.

Lawn Seed Mix LawnCity Real Low Growth Lawn

The combination of low-cut festulolium and bushy side shoot ryegrass makes the lawn thicker, while meadow grass makes the lawn especially graceful and decorative.

The Real Lawn seed series is specially designed for easy and understandable lawn selection according to its intended purpose. The compositions contain seeds that are well acclimatized to growing in Russia, and the right proportions of the appropriate types of grass allow you to create a beautiful and dense lawn in various climatic zones. nine0003

Turf Seed Mix TurfCity Genuine Sports Turf

The broad-leaved grasses contained in the formula make the lawn dense and dense, preventing rapid trampling. If damage does appear, the creeping rhizomes of ryegrass “tighten” the bald spots, and meadow fescue leaves are able to grow to the soil, performing the function of self-healing.

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