Choosing the right grass seed can make all the difference when it comes to lawn care. You can start by researching what types of grass will work best for your climate area and lifestyle. Next, you’ll start seeding those bare areas where you want grass to grow. With proper maintenance your grass will be sprouting beautifully in no time. Using some of the best grass seed can really elevate your curb appeal too. Besides, who can resist strolling barefoot across a plush green lawn on a beautiful day?
In fact, a recent survey finds more than half of American parents believe their kids aren’t spending enough time playing outdoors. A survey of 5,000 parents of children between ages five and 13 — split evenly by state — finds that 57 percent worry their kids aren’t as excited about playing outside as they were when they were young. Those parents have to tell their kids to play outside an average of four times a week. Thirty-five percent of parents polled also encourage their children to play outside in order to positively impact their mental health – as well as have some quiet time for themselves.
Results from another study emphasize the importance of spending time in green spaces. Research from the University of Plymouth notes, just seeing greenery on a day-to-day basis can put us in a better mindset and reduce harmful cravings for substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, and junk food.
Remember, you reap what you sow…literally! We’ve searched ten expert websites to find the top four best grass seed mixes for nourishing a luxurious lawn. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Grass Seeds, According to Lawn Care Experts
1. Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix
This grass seed mix from Scotts scores high marks for its versatility in both sunny and shady areas. Reviewers also note it blends in nicely with existing grass. Better Homes & Gardens points out, “each seed in this mix is wrapped with a coating which keeps seeds moist for twice as long as uncoated seeds, and it includes a fertilizer to allow the grass to grow more quickly. It also helps protect the seed against disease.”
“If you’ve got a humble little space of around 3000 square feet (or around 250 – 300 square meters), this pack of grass seed should be enough for your needs. It’s got enough seeds to completely cover the area in beautiful grass. What’s more is that the grass grows in even the most extreme conditions, whether it be sun or shade,” according to Garden Gate Magazine.
Wondering what it’s made of? “The exact breakdown of the seed is 1% shade-master 3 creeping red, 0.17 defender perennial ryegrass, 2% Wendy-Jean creeping red fescue, 0.5% Majesty 2 perennial ryegrass, 2% silver-dollar perennial ryegrass, 0.5% avalanche KBG, 1% green star Kentucky bluegrass, 4% poly-s, and 89% oasis mulch. The Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed – Sun and Shade are perfectly mixed with a mulch that is known to be extremely compressed, which will help the water to be retained and will keep the area well moist,” notes Sumo Gardener.
2. Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra Grass Seed
If a rich, dark green turf is what you desire, Jonathan Green has you covered. “This effective combination of Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue creates a robust, cool-season lawn with a resilient root system. Mixing grass strains also generates a natural and vigorous resistance to pests and disease,” according to The Yard and Garden.
You Had Me At Gardening also highlights the seeds’ disease protection, adding, the “disease resistant and drought tolerant and the blades have a waxy coating that preserves moisture in hot weather. Roots reach 4 inches. The 7 LB bag provides coverage for 2800 square feet.”
As for the drawbacks? This grass seed is on the more expensive side and isn’t really suited for Southern (warmer) growing areas. “Once established, it’s tolerant of high foot traffic and heat, and it’s fairly disease-resistant and drought-resistant, as well. But like other cool-season grasses, this mix can go dormant in the highest summer temperatures, as well as the lowest temperatures of winter,” notes The Spruce.
3. Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Seed
If your lawn is more shady than sunny, this seed mix from Pennington could be what you’re looking for. “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,” according to Bob Vila.
“The Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade grass seed will have a mix of both Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue to work in a shady area,” adds Today’s Homeowner.
You can expect to see results in one to two weeks. Gardening Journey points out it’s, “also relatively drought resistant and seems to work pretty well in less than ideal soil conditions. The seed is specifically formulated to outperform other mixes and is customized to grow well in different regions and climatic zones.”
4. Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun and Shade
Looking for a quick fix for those thin, patchy areas? Consider this option. BestReviews calls Scotts EZ Seed, “a vibrant mix of mulch, fertilizer, and seed, helps ensure this grass will sprout under nearly any conditions.”
“Another good thing about these seeds is that they are perfectly formulated to ensure that they are kept in place even if they are planted on hills,” points out Sumo Gardener.
While You Had Me At Gardening adds it, “includes a tackifier that helps to prevent seeds from washing away. The product releases nutrients into the soil and germinates quickly.” One note, this mix isn’t meant for regrowing your entire lawn. However, it can work nicely in those more difficult areas to maintain.
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- Better Homes & Gardens
- Garden Gate Magazine
- Sumo Gardener
- The Yard and Garden
- You Had Me At Gardening
- The Spruce
- Bob Vila
- Today’s Homeowner
- Gardening Journey
- BestReviews
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
Most of the grasses outside of Black Beauty are coated seeds meaning 50-75% of the bag you are paying for is recycled paper product with seed thrown, with a little dye for color.
This is a marketing ploy to extract profit and raise prices while trying to hide it from consumers. These seeds are generally old from sitting in box stores. I would recommend buying seed from an actual seed manufacturer not a company that buys their seed and them puts their label on it.
While it make seem more expensive upfront the quality of seed and the actual quantity of seed will be far superior.
Most of not all these seed varieties contain Weed Seeds. I will not buy any grass seed that contains weed seeds. Even 0.1% weed seed is 10’s of thousands of weeds. Stay away!!!
If you want to throw your money at these companies for something other than grass seed then buy them all.
Your buying by the weight of the bag and all those fillers and coatings and gimmicks are so you buy them. Seed is seed. So go to your local Reputable garden supply distributor and ask for bulk raw seed that’s good for where you live. They will know if they are Reputable.
Jonathan Green is the only solid choice here. On what planet would the other three be even remotely close to blends from Seed Superstore, GCI, or even Teammaters Plus SiteOne for that matter?
Wow, this is the worst review/study that I have ever seen. As mentioned in the previous reviews, these seeds, with the exception of Jonathan Green is mostly filler and less seed. The costs and value for what you get from Scotts and Pennington is HORRIBLE. Any consumer would be much better off with a private label product like Vigoro from Home DEpot or Ace Hardware brand. Even the Schultz product from Menards is much much better. Besides the quality of the products being poor the cost is way too high.
This was a very bad study.
This product is the worst I have ever used , did exactly what direction said and got nothing . All these reviews are are correct this product is junk
Tried many grass seed for years. Hands down the very best I found is Ground Works LANDSCAPER grass seed mixture. Not the most expensive or the biggest company best and I tried them all but the unmistakably the greatest.