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Top rated grass seeds


The 8 Best Grass Seed Products of 2022

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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What We Like

What We Don't Like

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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What We Like

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.

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 2022

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 2022

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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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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. Lawn 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.

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.

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.

Green Square Grass Seed Mix Universal

Green Square ® UNIVERSAL is a low maintenance mix for country landscaping that is 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.

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

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.

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.

Turf Seed Mix TurfCity Genuine Sports Turf

The broad-leaved grasses contained in the formula make the lawn thick 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.

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.

Green Corner Lawn Seed Mix Universal

Universal grass mixture is designed to create an unpretentious lawn for any environmental conditions and different types of soil.

This turf mixture is suitable for all uses. Universal lawn can be sown both on playgrounds and in adjacent territories, it is resistant to trampling and repeated mowing.

This combination of grasses forms a beautiful even green carpet and a sufficiently strong sod, which allows the use of a universal grass mixture on slopes.

Universal lawn grass can be used both in open and well-lit areas and in fairly shaded areas. This mixture is good because it is quite unpretentious and does not require regular maintenance.

types of lawn, advice on sowing and care with photos and descriptions

Nowadays, many areas are planted with various lawns. They look very stylish and beautiful. But not everyone knows that lawns come in different types. And it is worth noting that they are divided into decorative and for special purposes. Almost always, decorative ones are chosen for plots in the country. And on sports or playgrounds, sports lawns are most often installed, which are more resistant to stress.

Ornamental lawns are also divided into several types, such as: meadow, landscape gardening and parterre. To create a parterre lawn in the country, it is worth using grasses with thin stems and narrow leaves, belonging to the category of perennial plants and forming a uniform, low herbage of sufficient density from March to late autumn. Most often, grass mixtures are used to create it, which consist of meadow bluegrass, red fescue or common field grass. In addition, other types of fescue can be grown on the parterre lawn: for example, sheep's fescue and long-leaved fescue. Suitable for this purpose and bent: shoot-bearing, dog, thin. Such lawns are most often grown in the front part of the summer cottage. This is due to the fact that it is considered the most elite turf of all. Parterre lawn features:

• forms a dense, uniform green with a rich emerald hue;

• decorative;

• not intended for constant walking on it and, moreover, for children's and sports games, since trampling adversely affects its condition and, accordingly, its appearance;

• requires careful preparation of the soil for sowing and regular maintenance;

• Lawn grass seeds are used to create it, the cost of which exceeds that of grass mixtures for landscape gardening.

Picture 1

English grass is a subspecies of ground grass. It causes no less admiration, but it also has some differences: for example, the height of the herbage, equal to several centimeters; certain moisture and softness. Such a lawn should be mowed 2-3 times a week, and its care must be thorough.

By mixing leguminous grasses, you can get a lawn of beautiful flowering meadows and meadows. Most often, meadow lawn is used in areas of natural grassland. Before sowing it, the grass is mowed and only after that grass mixtures are sown. The composition of meadow lawns most often includes legumes. Leguminous grasses include red clover, horned bird, blue alfalfa, sainfoin and many others. It is worth remembering that the clover lawn exudes the scent of flowers when it blooms, which in turn attracts bees, wasps and other insects. In addition, if you want to get rid of it, you will have to make a lot of effort, as it grows quickly. The advantage is that it tolerates drought well, is easy to grow in any soil, does not need top dressing, and at the same time has a fairly rich color and beautiful appearance when flowering. However, the meadow lawn must be regularly looked after, otherwise weeds and overgrowth of tall grass cannot be avoided.

Moorish lawn can also be grown nowadays. It is also called flowering or variegated. This is due to the fact that when grown, the site will be filled with a large number of flowers that will soon bloom. Such a lawn consists of poppy, gypsophila, flax, nemesia, cornflower and various other herbs. They arrange it in parks, gardens, in glades and lawns, under fruit trees or near hedges. It has one peculiarity: it needs to be trimmed only once per season. And the Mauritanian lawn is not picky about the quality of the soil, retaining its decorative appearance on nutrient-poor soils. So it does not need frequent fertilization. Mowing this type of lawn is carried out after the flowering of plants.

Garden and park lawn grasses are often grown in parks of culture and recreation. In order to grow such a lawn, also called ordinary, they use the same herbs as for the parterre. But to create it, several other herbs are also added, such as: sheep fescue, rootless couch grass, comb-shaped wheatgrass and others.

The choice of grass mixtures depends on the climatic zone in which the site is located, the quality of the site and many other factors. Now you can immediately purchase grass mixtures that are designed for shady or sunny areas.

Ordinary lawns can be used for playgrounds, as they are very resistant to trampling and frequent mowing, and do not need careful maintenance. The advantages of garden lawn also include:

• durability;

• good winter hardiness and shade tolerance;

• lower cost and easier germination of the grass seeds used to create it compared to those used for parterre turf.

The disadvantage of an ordinary lawn is that in the period from the end of spring to the end of summer, the latter needs frequent mowing - this is due to the rapid growth of grass. However, when using a lawn mower with a cylindrical blade that leaves beautifully alternating dark and light stripes on a green surface, this disadvantage loses its significance.

Recently, the lazy lawn is gaining more and more popularity. In its appearance, it resembles a field covered with wild herbs. This type of lawn is called lazy for a reason: it needs almost no maintenance, and its creation requires minimal effort and time. In order to obtain it, you only need to rid the site of weeds and plant plants suitable for your area, as well as seeds of ryegrass, fescue, bent grass and bluegrass, in the ground. The lazy lawn is mowed twice a month.

Picture 2

Special purpose lawn is divided into two types.

The first type is called sports, it is mainly used in stadiums or football fields. Its main characteristics are:

• high resistance to trampling, mechanical damage, as well as constant and prolonged loads;

• formation of a dense, uniform, elastic green cover that does not impede movement;

• the need for frequent mowing and regular maintenance.

Grasses for the sports turf are selected according to the type of sport to be played on it.

The second type of lawn grass is designed for steep slopes. After planting a lawn for steep slopes, it is best to cover it with something. This is done so that the seeds do not scatter when exposed to wind. Also, when sowing, the soil should be fixed with plastic nets or geogrids. In order to prevent wind and water erosion of the soil, it is recommended to sow a lawn for steep slopes with a special grass mixture for slopes. It differs from ordinary lawn grass in its unpretentiousness, the ability to tolerate various adverse weather conditions, and the presence of a strong root system; the formation of a dense, powerful soddy layer. The composition of such a grass mixture includes reed fescue, meadow timothy grass, perennial ryegrass, yellow sweet clover.

A few words should also be said about urban and shady lawns. The city is unpretentious, because it consists of herbs that do not need regular care, frequent haircuts and have excellent frost resistance. He is not at all afraid of trampling. To create an urban lawn, the use of a grass mixture is optimal, the components of which are perennial ryegrass, fescue and meadow timothy grass. The ratio of these plants is 1:1:2.

As for the shady lawn, its purpose is to decorate an area immersed in the shade of a house or tall trees. Of course, the creation of such a lawn involves the use of shade-tolerant grasses. Red fescue is ideal in this sense. It should be more than other plants in the grass mixture.

Picture 3

The most important thing to remember is that when growing any type of lawn, a lot of time and effort will be spent, as well as initially deciding on the type of lawn grass.

Sowing lawn grass

How to choose lawn grass? There are only two types of decorative lawn - it is rolled and directly sowing. Each of them has a lot of fans, and you will have to choose on your own, trusting your own preferences. Lawn grass does not necessarily require planting, today it can also be laid out as a special rolled carpet, but this service will cost much more. But you will save time and energy. Plants in a rolled lawn take root almost 100%, are highly drought and frost resistant, and do not require complex care.

If you have chosen the usual method, it is worth getting a little more familiar with how lawn grass is sown, how exactly to care for the sprouts, and how to sow correctly.

Before planting lawn grass, you need to get rid of debris, weeds, it is desirable to remove the roots of plants as much as possible. For this, special herbicides of full action are used. Alternatively, in order to free the soil from weed seeds, the entire area is loosened.

At the first stage, it is very important to prepare the place for the future carpet in the best possible way - after all, after sowing, not uprooted plants will actively begin to germinate and thereby spoil the whole overall picture. If your plans include obtaining a lawn with high decorative properties, you will need to level the lower soil layer, which will inevitably entail the removal of the upper soil layer and then returning it to its original place after carrying out the appropriate manipulations. In the case of a lawn on a steep slope, it is advisable to use a lawn grid.

Ground preparation is of particular importance. Lawn grasses love sandy light soils. Therefore, when sowing them in a clay substrate, sand should first be poured onto the top layer of soil. Sandy soil is enriched with lowland peat. After the soil is dug up, as a result of which it acquires the desired qualities. In addition, this event creates better drainage.

At the stage of zonal planning, they decide how to properly plant lawn grass so that it divides the space into the right areas.

The lawn should not only look well-groomed, but also be in harmony with the general theme of your site, decorate the area in front of the house. And after you have decided on the problem of which grass to choose, you can additionally add elements of landscape design to the lawn. In any case, it is better to plan their placement in advance.

Drainage is recommended in areas prone to standing water after irrigation, snowmelt or heavy rainfall. To do this, brick chips or coarse gravel about 15 cm thick are poured under the removed fertile soil layer during the soil leveling procedure. After tamping, a layer of sand or small pebbles is laid on top. Then the top layer of the earth is returned to its original place.

To increase the fertility of the soil, starter fertilizer can be spread over the surface of the soil prepared for planting immediately before sowing the lawn grass. It should contain phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.

Figure 4

The next step is landing. This step is key. An error at this step can spoil the whole subsequent picture.

The scope of the right time is not very strict - from the end of spring to the beginning of autumn. The first option will be an excellent period when it is better to sow lawn grass. But in general, you yourself can choose the most suitable month from your point of view and land. The simple and effective tips below will help you with this.

How to plant lawn grass - here are a few basic rules that will work for both beginners and experts in this field. So, at the previous stages, we prepared the soil, applied fertilizers - which means that we can proceed to the main part of the work.

1. Before sowing, lawn grass seeds must be thoroughly mixed, and for a more uniform penetration into the soil, it is desirable to compact the top layer of soil.

2. It is very important when and under what weather conditions you plant lawn grass. Planting should be carried out strictly in dry and calm weather, since the seeds themselves are very light and they will simply scatter over the entire area with the wind.

3. There is one interesting opinion that the answer to the question “how to sow lawn grass?” is to mix it with earth or sand. But this is not quite the right way, since a novice gardener, due to his ignorance, can pour in much more land than the seeds themselves - which is why this is not such a necessary measure.

4. We have already decided when to plant, now we will clarify exactly how to do it. You can sow in one direction, but for a better germination effect, it is better to sow along and across. You will need only 25-50 g of material per 1 square meter. Seeds are sown either by hand or with a special seeder.

5. After the grass mixture has been introduced into the soil, the seeds are planted with a rake, simply by leveling the ground. At the same time, the sowing depth should not exceed 1 cm. After planting the seeds, you can sprinkle them on top with a layer of earth (this event is called "grounding") and lightly roll the soil - for example, with a lawn roller. In this case, grass mixtures are guaranteed not to be threatened by either the wind or hungry birds. An important detail: rolling can only be done on absolutely dry soil.

5. Lawn grass care includes the obligatory abundant watering immediately after planting and in the first few days. This will ensure good germination of greens - even very high-quality seeds will germinate for at least 7 days. It is optimal to use the sprinkling method for irrigating crops, and to irrigate the soil itself in the early morning and evening.

Lawn care

Many summer residents put a lot of time and effort into growing lawns on their plots. In order for it to last longer, in the first year it is better not to walk on it and not trample it. It is also best that pets do not run on it, as they can spoil the beauty of future grass. The most important moment in courtship is a haircut. When shearing, weeds are destroyed that interfere with the development of grass.

Mowing your lawn gives it a stylish and well-maintained look. The grass begins to form additional shoots. But it is worth remembering that you should not remove more than one third of the height of the stem, otherwise the grass may die. The very first mowing of the lawn should be done in the spring. This is done after the soil dries out a little and the grass grows at least ten centimeters.

Do not cut the lawn grass more than one centimeter the first time. It is worth noting that the knives need to be sharpened very strongly in order for them to be sharp. Then gradually you need to lower and mow more and more. On hot summer days, due to the slowdown in grass growth, it is enough to mow the lawn once every 2-3 weeks, and then only superficially. At the same time, the lawnmower basket can be detached to allow the cut greenery to spread over the lawn. You will get a good natural fertilizer and high-quality mulch, which reliably protects the soil from excessive evaporation of moisture and the burning rays of the sun. If the lawn was planted in the fall, then it should be cut in the spring, as this is the most favorable time of the year. In order for the lawn to always look beautiful, it must be allowed to rest.

Mowing should be carried out only in dry weather, following the golden rule: it is better to cut grass less and cut more often. This is important because excessively short lawn mowing has the adverse effect of drying out the soil and exposing plant roots. Too long haircuts are also bad: they provoke a weakening of the herbage.

Spring lawn care includes:

• lawn scarification, which involves clearing the area of ​​moss and dry grass;

• removal of weeds;

• repair of sagging and "balding" areas by sowing fresh grass;

• registration of lawn borders;

• leveling the surface of the site;

• mulching procedure with sand and earth mixture.

Picture 5

It is also necessary to pierce the sod, this is done so that the soil receives air. There are several ways to pierce the turf, this can be done using a special roller or simple ordinary pitchforks. If the area is very large, then you can use an aerator. The aerator helps to get rid of the moss that accumulates in the soil.

In summer, it is not necessary to water the lawn, as there is sufficient rainfall. But if there is not enough rainfall and a drought begins, then you should use a hose and water the lawn yourself so that it does not wither. If the soil began to dry out at a depth of ten centimeters, then this is the first sign that it is time to water the lawn. Experts advise installing an automatic irrigation system. This is very convenient for the owner, and has a better effect on the soil. Automatic watering allows you to program the watering time. You will also need a lawn mower, a fan rake and a very large number of different devices. They can be purchased at specialty stores.

To maintain an attractive appearance of the lawn, at least three top dressings are carried out per season: respectively in spring, summer and autumn. Fertilization increases the viability of the grass, and the development of weeds, on the contrary, is inhibited. At the same time, for spring and summer top dressing, the purpose of which is to activate the growth of green mass, it is necessary to use concentrates rich in nitrogen. In autumn, it is better to focus on the application of fertilizer containing more potassium and phosphorus - this will help to strengthen the roots of plants and normal wintering.

Autumn lawn care is similar to spring lawn care in many ways. The only difference is that some events that are mandatory at the beginning of the season can be ignored in the fall. We are talking about the repair of bald spots and the design of the edges of the lawn. But during the period of autumn processing, one cannot do without cleaning the lawn from fallen leaves, which must be carried out regularly. Leaves can be shredded and then used as mulch or for compost. As far as lawn mowing is concerned, as the air temperature drops, the height of the grass should be kept as high as possible.

When caring for lawn grass in winter, there are a few rules to follow. First of all, before the snow settles in a large layer, it is necessary to clear the lawn of fallen leaves, branches and other debris. If moles and mice have settled on the site, measures must be taken to eliminate them before the onset of winter. Lawn grass will not suffer in winter if it is covered with a small layer of snow, without heavy crusts of ice. In this case, it is useful to pierce the icing areas for a little air access.

Why does lawn grass turn yellow?

Yellowing of lawn grass is usually associated with improper care. We will talk about the main causes of this problem and how to deal with it.

Planting Problems

How closely you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for planting seed will determine how your site will look. Often people think that the more seeds you put in, the thicker your lawn will be. However, this is not true. Lawn grass becomes denser by the second season, so if you sow the seeds too thickly, the root sod will be too dense and the plants will start to suffocate. If you made such a mistake, it is recommended to carry out the aeration procedure.

Water accumulation

This problem is common in clayey and loamy soils, as well as in areas where there are lowlands. Water accumulates on the surface, forming puddles, oxygen is not supplied to the roots, and the plants begin to turn yellow and die. In this case, you can also do aeration. It is important to organize proper watering, if possible, level and dry the site.

Wrong watering

Too much water is just as bad as too little. With a lack of moisture, the grass will begin to dry and turn yellow. With an excess, the roots will begin to rot, and you will get a bald patch. It is not recommended to water the lawn during the day in sunny weather. Drops of water in the sun act like lenses, and the sun's rays, passing through them, will leave damage on the leaves of the grass. It is best to water in the morning or evening.

Improper use of fertilizers

Here, as in the third paragraph, the lack of microelements negatively affects the appearance of the site, and an overabundance is dangerous because the grass can “burn out”. Read labels carefully and follow all manufacturer's recommendations. Special complex mineral fertilizers are best suited.

Animals

Prevent animals from urinating on your lawn. The discharge of pets provokes the appearance of yellow or red spots with jagged edges. Small rodents are also dangerous. They can gnaw through the roots of plants and make ugly bumps on the surface. It is quite difficult to control their appearance, but you can, for example, install ultrasonic repellers.

Diseases

The most common problems of lawn grass diseases are:

• Red thread

Appears in places where moisture accumulates, usually in autumn and during heavy fogs, as well as when there is a lack of nitrogen. The grass first acquires a yellow tint, and then becomes straw-colored. The leaves seem to be entangled with a red thread, hence the name of the disease. Treatment is with chlorothalonil. For prevention, it is necessary to carry out aeration, combing the lawn, and applying nitrogen fertilizers.

• Powdery mildew

Usually develops in rainy weather. It looks like the grass is sprinkled with flour. Treatment is with fungicides. Prevention, as in the first case, consists in combing and aeration, but nitrogen fertilizers must be limited, and watering must also be reduced.

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