Best Grass Seed: In this post, I’ll walk you through the various aspects of the best grass seeds for the money to help you make an informed buying decision.
Moreover, I’ll also discuss the important parameters that may influence your buying decision.
Lastly, I’ll answer some of the questions asked by my clientele as well as readers of this blog.
Even though you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll get all the ingredients that you’re looking for when it comes to best grass seeds reviews.
Does it make sense?
To begin with, whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced one, selecting the best grass seeds for your lawn may be a tedious task, indeed.
I hope you’ll agree with my statement if I say that too many options create confusion.
Unfortunately, the same holds true with grass seeds as well.
If you think that only narrowing down on the option is a big problem, then my dear, you’re absolutely WRONG.
In fact, there are more problems associated with it such as the response of climates and growing conditions to your grass seeds.
If you’re an experienced individual, then you must be knowing the importance of growing conditions as well as climate when it comes to selecting the best grass seeds.
I’ve come up with the top 10 best grass seeds available on the market.
But, it doesn’t mean by anyways that the rest aren’t good.
Well, we set certain parameters to decide the quality of a product, and for the best grass seeds, we’ve discussed in the “Buyer’s Guide” section, so that like us, you can also narrow down the options to make a smart buying decision.
Especially for first-time buyers, the BUYER’S GUIDE on best grass seeds would be of great help.
We’ve tried to cover the minutes of the things that you should know as a potential buyer of the best grass seeds.
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Best Grass Seed Review
| Product (Check the Current Price On Amazon) | Dimensions (Inches) | Weight (Pounds) | Uses |
| Zenith Zoysia Grass Seed | 9 x 7 x 2.7 | 2 | Home lawn, commercial landscape, golf course, sports field, roadside |
| Pennington Smart Seed | 5 x 7.5 x 18.5 | 7 | Best for areas that receive less than 3 hours of direct sunlight |
| Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue | 24 x 12 x 12 | 50 | Best for covering large areas such as large lawns, sports fields, etc |
| X-Seed Ultra Premium | 15 x 29 x 4.5 | 20.1 | Perfect for Central and Northern US climates. |
| Jonathan Green 10322 | 16 x 10 x 4 | 7.05 | Best for sandy and clay-filled soil |
| Scotts Turf Builder | 4 x 8 x 12 | 3 | Perfect for newbies, hot climatic conditions |
| GreenView Fairway Formula | 6.2 x 9.5 x 19 | 11 | Highly recommended for heavy traffic and area with compact soil |
| WaterSaver Grass Seed | 14.2 x 10.5 x 4 | 5.25 | Best for transition climate zone |
| Kentucky Bluegrass Seed | 21 x 32 x 10 | 11 | Best for high-foot traffic and compact soil. |
| Pennington Zenith Zoysia | 1 x 1 x 1 | 5.1 | Best for high-traffic |
Zenith Zoysia Grass Seed | Best Grass Seed For New And Thick Lawn
Zenith Zoysia is known for its medium texture and dark green color.
These seeds create a dense, low-maintenance, and slow-growing turfgrass, so you can use it for both residential as well as commercial purposes.
Though these grass seeds are capable of tolerating extremely hot as well as cold climates still I would recommend them for cold climates.
Moreover, if you’re a first-time buyer, then it is highly important that you follow the planting instructions that come with each package.
Since it is a slow-growing grass, so you can expect the seed germination process to take around 2 to 3 weeks.
It comes in two different bags to help you select the one best suits your requirements.
For example, a 2 lb bag can cover almost 2, 000 square feet.
Similarly, a 6 lb bag can cover up to 6, 000 square feet.
Some of the common places where you’ll find Zenith Zoysia are home lawns, parks, and sports fields.
It is also important for you to understand that the performance of these grass seeds to a large extent depends on the time you’ve seeded them.
Most of the newbies make mistakes in seeding them.
Allow me to throw some light on it.
By doing so, you’ll get enough time before you expect the first frost in the fall.
On the contrary, if you’ll plant these grass seeds late, then they will NOT get enough time to grow to an extent wherein they can survive extreme fall and winter conditions.
Now, you know the correct time to plant Zenith Zoysia seeds, I’m damn sure that, you’ll be quite inquisitive about the number of seeds that you need to plant, right?
Well, as a newbie, I also had similar questions.
I just want to share the mistakes that I did when I was starting out.
I had a decent lawn, and the first grass seeds that I ever used were none other than Zenith Zoysia.
Like most of you, I also did cost-cutting on the number of seeds which indirectly cost me a lot as I had to spend a good lump sum on watering and weeding.
So, my advice to you would be to learn from my mistakes and plant a number of seeds.
Allow me to discuss the correct way to proceed when it comes to planting Zenith Zoysia grass seeds.
First and foremost, you need to measure the areas where you want to plant the seeds.
Once you’ve jotted down the dimensions in terms of length and breadth.
In the next step, you need to calculate the square feet of seed that you’ll need.
So, how can you do that?
Well, all you need to do is to multiply the length times the width of the area measured, and then deduct the number of areas that you may use for driveways, walkways, buildings, etc.
Once you’ve deducted the aforementioned areas, you’re left with the space in which you’ve to plant the seeds.
As a thumb rule, you can use 2 lb bags for 2, 000 square feet.
So, if you have to plant seeds in 10, 000 square feet, then you’ll need five 2lb bags or one 6lb bag and two 2lb bags.
Another thing that I want to bring to your notice is that it is a great replacement for Tall Fescue.
If you’re living in a region that is prone to drought then definitely I recommend this grass seed as it is drought-tolerant turfgrass.
So, what are you waiting for?
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade | Best Grass Seed For Garden
Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade is well-known for its ability to use less water as compared to ordinary grass seed.
In fact, these grass seeds consume 30 percent less water as compared to ordinary grass seeds.
Moreover, they can cover up to 1,000 square feet.
As the name suggests, the Pennington smart seeds are good for areas with dense shade or very little sun.
These grass seeds are known to produce grasses that have fine blades.
On top of it, you don’t have to worry at all about the maintenance of the lawns, sports fields, or other areas where these grasses are grown.
At the same time, it is also important for you to know that these grass seeds are well protected by Pennington’s Penkoted technology against fungus resulting in a better chance of its growth.
If you’re hearing TWCA for the first time, then let me tell you, TWCA is an organization that was formed with a motive to promote the use of water-efficient turf grasses.
All in all, a great product that you can consider using if you’re an environment-conscious individual and wants to preserve the environment for future generation.
Before I share with you the link where you can check the current price of this product, let me tell you, the grass really grows thick and fast in an area that has less exposure to sunlight.
These grass seeds can grow in less than 10 days in areas that receive less than three hours of direct sunlight.
On the downside, these grass seeds will not germinate as per your expectation if it is exposed to direct sunlight for a longer duration.
Even these grasses may turn brown in the presence of excessive sunlight.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue | Best Grass Seed For Cows
Well, here comes the grass seed that is capable of covering approximately 10, 000 square feet.
The Kentucky 31 tall fescue comes in a 50-pound so you can expect it to cover a bigger area.
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Unlike the previous one, Kentucky 31 tall fescue is well capable of withstanding the sunlight for a longer duration.
Even in the context of drought, these grass seeds perform fairly well as compared to some other versions of cold-season grass.
These seeds are known to produce grasses that NOT only have wide leaves but also, are deep-rooted.
In short, you can say that these grass seeds are perfect for large lawns, sports fields, and parks.
I wouldn’t recommend these seeds for a smaller area as they are quite expensive.
In one of the testing cases, it was seen that crabgrass has grown along with Kentucky 31 Fescue which is definitely NOT a good sign, right?
As mentioned earlier also, you can use these grass seeds for areas where the soils are less than ideal for growth.
On top of it, the germination time of these seeds is 7 to 14 days which is definitely a good sign.
Needless to say, they will help you in the reduction of the annual maintenance cost of your lawn as well.
Lastly, I can say with confidence that you don’t have to worry about summers as they will stay green all the time.
Did you like Kentucky 31 tall fescue 50lbs grass seed reviews?
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X-Seed Ultra Premium Quick and Thick Lawn Seed Mixture | Best Grass Seed For Cows
Well, if you’re looking for a seed option that could grow very fast then definitely, X-Seed Ultra Premium could be a great option.
These seeds are known to germinate quite rapidly as well as fill in for a thick turf.
The company goes a step ahead and claims that they offer 100 percent grass seed mixtures and no coating or fillers.
Let’s have a quick look at the mixture composition.
The majority of the mixture comprises Turf-type Perennial Ryegrass (55%), followed by Fine Fescues (30%), and a small percentage of Improved Kentucky Bluegrasses(15%).
With the experience and knowledge that I’ve acquired over several years, I can assure you that these mixed compositions work really well in climatic conditions similar to Central and Northern US climates.
Nonetheless, if you look at these seeds carefully, you’ll realize that they have an interesting fact attached to them.
However, if you’re overseeding, then you can expect these seeds to cover around 700 square feet per pound, astonishing, isn’t it?
The X-SEED performs extremely well in case they are exposed to 7 to 9 hours of filtered sunlight on a daily basis.
The grass blades are fine and you can expect them to tackle a good amount of traffic.
Whether your pets are naughty or your kids spend lots of time on your lawn, the X-SEED is meant to deal with such situations in a better way than its counterparts.
You can expect them to grow in less than 10 days, so whenever you’re looking for a grass seed that can cater to your needs without taking much time in growing, simply go for X-SEED, it has delivered high-performance time and again.
On the flip side, these grasses are slightly less dense as well as thinner as compared to other mixture versions, so never opt for X-SEED if your top priority is highly dense grasses for your lawn.
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Jonathan Green 10322 Black Beauty | Best Grass Seed For Goats
To help you experience the best in the class, Jonathan Green’s Black Beauty Grass seeds come with an idiosyncratic blend of Black Beauty Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Perennial Ryegrass.
Each bag weighs 7 pounds and is capable of covering approximately 2,800 square feet which is considered a good coverage area, indeed.
Definitely, the grass is good at preserving moisture as well as resisting different diseases, and it was made possible by coating these grass seeds with an invisible wax-like coating.
The wax coating has other benefits as well.
For example, these grasses are drought resistant, thanks to the wax coating for preserving moisture.
Even these grass seeds have performed tremendously well when in adverse situations such as difficult soil areas with sand and clay.
From my experience, I can say that these grasses grow into a superlative forest green shade with little to no maintenance cost, and is fairly resistant to insect infestations.
The grown-up grasses are dense and beautiful, and without any doubt, these grasses will add value to your lawn.
Though these grasses are a bit expensive still I would recommend them if you’re looking for the best grass seeds for sandy and clay-filled soil.
Since the roots of these grasses are capable of growing up to 4′ deep, you can expect them to perform really well in full sun as well as partial shade.
So, what are you waiting for?
(Read customer’s reviews on Amazon before making any decision)
Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun and Shade Mix | Best Grass Seed For Animals
Well, before we review Scotts Turf Builder, let me ask you a simple question, are you ready for it?
Tell me, is the requirement of a beginner the same as an experienced lawn owner?
Let me know your view in the comment section.
(Click to Check the current price on Amazon)
So, cutting a long story short, Scotts Turf Builder is definitely one of the few grass seeds known to be beginners’ friendly.
Without any second thought and with confidence I can say that these grass seeds are probably the best option for individuals who are new to the growing grass.
So, you may be inquisitive, about why I am making such a strong statement, right?
As a newbie, you’re not well-versed with different types of diseases, insects, etc that can damage your grass seeds and prevent them to grow to their full potential, right?
The good thing about this grass seed is that it is a versatile mix of Wendy Jean Creeping Red Fescue, Fenway Creeping Red Rescue, Citation Fore Perennial Ryegrass, Silver Dollar Perennial Ryegrass, Moonshine Kentucky Bluegrass, Abbey Kentucky Bluegrass, and Right Kentucky Bluegrass which definitely gives it an upper edge as compared to its counterparts.
And, the good news is, it flourishes extremely well in hot climates.
The process of germination doesn’t take much time and you can expect them to germinate in as little as 5 days which is definitely something to brag about, isn’t it?
On top of it, these grass seeds have really performed well against the problems such as CRABGRASS.
Moreover, their performance doesn’t degrade when we tried them in drought-prone areas.
The quality of the grass is good and you can expect thick, lush grasses from these seeds.
And you know what, all these come at a price which is less as compared to similar mixed seeds options.
No need to believe my words rather check the current price on Amazon.
On the downside, it may contain a small number of weeds.
GreenView Fairway Formula Grass Seed Perennial Ryegrass Blend | Best Grass Seed For Overseeding
If you’re like me and always looking for an all-rounder product, then I’m sure your quest will definitely end here.
GreenView Fairway Formula Grass Seeds are known to contain 100 percent ryegrass grass seeds negating the chances of having any sort of filler, dirt, or even mulch.
Well, I simply didn’t say it was an all-rounder grass.
There is a reason associated with it.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
As expected, these grass seeds performed extremely well in sunny areas and also, tackle heavy traffic in an efficient way.
The appearance of these grasses is highly appealing as they have the best contrast of green color.
The grass is able to tackle the traffic effectively just because it is hard and resilient.
On top of it, you don’t have to wait for a long period of time to see them germinating.
Within a week, they will start germinating and you know what, they really grow fast.
On the downside, these grass seeds don’t perform well in extremely dry climates.
In terms of coverage area, it covers around 3,000 square feet while seeding the new lawn and covers almost twice the area while overseeding the existing lawn.
The company claims these grass seeds to be 99.9% weed-free as well as drought-resistant.
All in all, an excellent choice for seeding an area that comprises compact soil.
If you’re one of those who love achieving a mowing pattern on their lawn, then definitely, I would suggest, you should give these seeds a try.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
WaterSaver Grass Seed Mixture With Turf-Type Tall Fescue | Best Grass Seed For Sandy Soil
WaterSaver Grass Seed Mixture is one of the best green grass seeds when it comes to attributes such as high-quality, low maintenance, etc.
It is a unique blend of quite a few features that will definitely blow up your mind.
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Moreover, it comes with mindboggling self-repairing features that will NOT only knit the lawn together but also, fill the damaged as well as open spots with new shoots of grass.
As the name suggests, WaterSaver will come to your rescue when it comes to dealing with drought-prone areas as well as dealing with transition climatic zone because of its ability to anchor quickly in the soil as well as the deep root system that it possesses.These grasses are capable of withstanding even the worst of climatic conditions without losing their green color.
Not only that, but it is also capable of combating different types of insects, and diseases.
If we talk about the coverage area, then it covers around 1,000 square feet.
All in all, a great product to consider if you’re looking for the best grass seeds for dry climates as well as transition climate zone.
(Check current price on Amazon)
Kentucky Bluegrass Seed | Best Grass Seed For Shade
Kentucky Bluegrass Seeds are definitely one of the best options for the humid climate if NOT the BEST.
It comes in a ten-pound bag and can cover up to 2,000 square feet.
You can expect Nature’s Seed to be completely free from inert matter or fillers species which you may find in some big brands.
What I personally love about Nature’s Seed is that it uses ONLY those lawn seed varieties that have been top-rated by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program.
The seeds are of high quality and the credit goes to the ways they are sourced or acquired.
These high-quality seeds are collected from an extensive network of wildland seed collectors as well as growers.
Moreover, they don’t totally rely on the third party.
In fact, they do have their own production fields.
Though you may use these grass seeds in different conditions still I would recommend them for high foot traffic and compact soil.
In layman’s terms, you can use these grasses for your backyards, parks, sports fields, etc.
If you don’t know what Rhizomes are, then let me tell you, they are nothing but the stems that grow under the soil.
After they are fully grown they will send up the other plant.
At the same time, it is really important to water them properly while they are growing else you will not find them growing back after high traffic, freezing, or drought.
Unlike other grass seeds, you don’t have to frequently fertilize them.
The company comes with a hands-on experience of over 20 years.
This mixed seed is the result of continuous research and constant feedback from the customers, so you can expect the seeds to be of high-quality and best-in-class genetic color.
On the flip side, I don’t recommend these grass seeds to individuals who are suffering from asthma because they may aggravate the problem.
I wouldn’t say that these grass seeds wouldn’t flourish in drought-prone areas still I would like to refrain from recommending them for those areas because they need a good amount of water on a regular basis especially when they are in the growing stage.
So, it’s better that you use these grass seeds in wet conditions.
It goes without saying that these grasses possess genetic color and are pest and disease resistant as well.
Lastly, if you’re serious about keeping your environment clean then I’ve got a piece of good news for you.
These seeds come in bio-degradable bags which will definitely help you in keeping your surroundings clean.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Pennington Zenith Zoysia Mulch | Best Grass Seed For Dry Soil
The Pennington Zenith Zoysia Mulch is a unique blend of Zyosis grass seed and Mulch.
The coverage area that one 5 pounds bag can give is approximately 1,000 square feet.
The best time to plant these grass seeds is the early summer or spring season.
The Pennington Zenith Zoysia Mulch produces dense and enticing grasses that are capable of withstanding high-traffic levels.
These grasses stay longer as compared to their closest competitors.
However, these grasses may take some more time for germination as compared to their counterparts.
Mostly, they can germinate in almost two weeks.
On the downside, you may find some bags having mulch in higher proportion as compared to the seed.
Even in cold conditions, these grasses perform fairly well.
Once you’ve planted these seeds you don’t have to worry at all about the thin areas and bare spots because these grasses will spread in such a way that they are filled to give a superlative appearance.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about drought and weeds because these grass seeds are capable enough to tackle such problems.
(Check the current price on Amazon)
Best Grass Seed – Buyer’s Guide
Definitely, a lovely lawn can beautify your yard as well as add enormous value to it.
However, it is not the ONLY thing that a lash lawn does.
Some of the other benefits that you can expect from high-quality grass seeds are reduction of soil erosion, help in the filtered groundwater, Enhance the quality of air in the vicinity, and also, absorbs excess rainfall.
On top of it, the grass can also absorb dust and other particles which is extremely important for healthy living.
It wouldn’t be wrong if I say that selecting high-quality grass for your lawn is key to success.
Whatever may be the reason, it is important that you don’t compromise on the quality of the grass because the selection of inferior quality can expose you to a large number of problems such as soil erosion, difficulty in filtering groundwater, etc.
It goes without saying that there are numerous factors such as climatic conditions, types of soil, etc that can influence the performance of the seeds.
For example, some version of seeds is great at growing a lawn from scratch while other works well in filling the dead spots.
Some high-quality grass seeds perform really well when it comes to recovering from foot traffic than their inferior counterparts.
So, here comes into the picture the best grass seeds buying guide which will update you about the relevant information to help you make an informed buying decision.
After going through the buyer’s guide thoroughly, you’ll not only be able to make a smart decision but also, guide others in selecting the best grass seeds for them.
Are we on the same page?
First and foremost, you need to ask a couple of questions with yourself so that you could be clear about what you’re looking for.
- Will I be planting a new lawn or reseeding empty or bare spots?
- What is the budget that I’m willing to spend?
- How much time can I take out from my busy schedule to allocate to my lawn maintenance work?
- What is the intensity and duration of sunlight my lawn receives?
- Would I be interested in a single-seed version or a mixed version?
- What is the amount of traffic my lawn is exposed to?
Well, finding the answer to the aforementioned questions will definitely help you in narrowing down the options.
Different Types of Grass Seed | Tips for Planting | Tips for Selecting Your Favorite Seed
This is the section specially dedicated to the newbies and the ones who are interested to know in-depth about the various aspects of the grass seeds.
As mentioned earlier also, the success of the turfgrass depends on a large number of parameters such as climatic conditions, duration of sunlight, foot traffic, drought-prone region, etc.
However, a sound knowledge of types of grass can help you in selecting the best grass seed.
Type of Grass
Well, we’ll try to cover almost all the types of grasses, so that you can make an informed buying decision.
Bahia
Bahiagrass is highly known for outstanding drought as well as heat tolerant features.
These idiosyncratic features help it to thrive in a location wherein most of the other high-quality grasses have failed.
Unfortunately, it is used in only limited regions such as the southeastern United States for lawn purposes.
These grasses are low-growing, low-maintenance, and durable.
Moreover, if you want to get the maximum out of the bahiagrass, then I would highly suggest that you should cross-check whether your lawn goals, locations, and soil complements Bahia’s natural preferences or NOT.
Well, if it does then definitely Dahiagrass could be a great option.
Bermuda
Bermuda grass is known for its aggressive growth. Like the previous one, it can also handle foot traffic and is also good at handling the drought.
The scientific name of Bermuda grass is Cynodon dactylon.
They are also known as Couch Grass and are considered a type of weed that originated from African Savannah and India.
So, you may be wondering why is it named Bermuda Grass, right?
Since it was first introduced in the United States from Bermuda.
For these grasses to flourish in your lawn, you need to provide an adequate amount of sunlight.
Some of the areas where Bermuda grass can grow well are tropical, sub-tropical, and transition zones like in Southern US, South America, Australia, Africa, India, etc
The thing that I really admire about these grasses is their ability to grow in extreme climatic conditions because of their extensive root system.
These dark green grasses can also grow well in coastal areas and are known to have a great tolerant capacity against insects and diseases.
Bluegrass
Bluegrass is another turf grass that needs cold climatic conditions to flourish well.
These grasses are quite popular in the cool north areas of the United States.
They have great color and texture if given favorable conditions to grow.
From favorable conditions, I mean high-quality soil, adequate amount of sunlight, and watering them on a regular basis.
Nonetheless, even though Bluegrass is NOT native to the United States it can be grown all over the East Coast as well as in the West with irrigation.
Centipede
So, if you’re looking for a turfgrass then definitely, your quest ends here.
Centipede is a low-growing, low-maintenance tough turfgrass and is known to grow well primarily in the Southeast part of the United States.
I can bet that if you reside in the Southeast region of the United States then definitely, Centipede, a low-maintenance grass, would be a great fit for your lawn.
The only problem that I see with the Centipede is their specific climate and soil requirement which limit the use of this low-maintenance grass.
This low-maintenance grass grows really well in acidic soil.
To add to it, as compared to most turfgrasses, it has a rough texture.
Fescue
Fescue is a group of grass that is known to flourish well in cold regions such as the United States and Canada.
In terms of uses, they have a wide wavelength.
They can be used for sports fields, parks, commercial lawns, pasture grass, backyard lawns, etc.
Well, the primary use of this grass was for pasture purposes, but now the scenario has totally changed.
In fact, nowadays, you can find many varieties of Fescue grass seeds that you can use for commercial lawns and for many other purposes.
Perennial Ryegrass
The Perennial Ryegrasses are known to germinate at a rapid rate and are also resistant to foot traffic as well.
In fact, throughout the United States, Perennial Ryegrass is used as turf grasses as well as high-quality pasture grasses for livestock.
Unfortunately, the Perennial Ryegrasses aren’t drought resistant. In such situations, you need to water them else they may lose color or become dormant.
These grasses grow well in the temperature range of 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Needless to say, Perennial Ryegrass doesn’t grow well in summer, and if you want it to grow well in summer, then you need to provide enough moisture and shade.
St. Augustine
These grasses are blue-green in color. It flourishes well in warm weather where the sandy soil is widespread.
The good thing about St. Augustine grass is that it has a considerable tolerance to humidity and heat.
St. Augustine can be considered a perfect choice for coastal yards because of the reason that it is adjustable to saline soil.
The bluish-green blades develop very fast into dense turf.
Buffalo
Again, I’ve come up with low-maintenance grass and tough grass that will definitely beautify your lawn.
Buffalo was first used as a turf grass in the 1930s.
Buffalo is native to North America and is only the native grass that is also used as lawn grass.
These drought-resistant grasses are warm-season turf.
Moreover, Buffalo can establish well with seed, sod, or even plug, and are adaptive to very low moisture areas as well.
Cool Season Grass
Let’s have a quick look at some of the grasses that grow well in cold climatic conditions.
Kentucky bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is well-known for its ability to flourish in cold climatic conditions.
Needless to say, it is one of the most popular cool-season turfgrass in the United States.
This dark green grass can be used for multiple purposes including residential and recreational landscapes because of its ability to tackle heavy traffic.
However, it is important that you provide an adequate amount of water to this grass in summer to prevent it from turning brown.
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass germinates quickly and because of this reason, it is used aggressively to control soil erosion.
Unfortunately, Perennial Ryegrass is NOT drought-resistant but is capable of performing well on clay soil.
They are also used as high-quality pasture grasses for livestock.
Fine Fescue
Well, fine fescue is a great option for shady backyards because of its high shade tolerance capability.
On top of it, Fine Fescue is a low-tolerance grass and requires almost half the fertilizer that Kentucky Bluegrass does, interesting, isn’t it?
It is also good at tackling drought because it requires less watering as compared to grasses such as bentgrass and Kentucky Bluegrass.
It will not fade its color if maintained properly.
On the downside, this grass isn’t capable of tolerating wet and poorly drained soils.
Tall Fescue
Many of you would not be aware of the fact that Tall Fescue originated in Europe and was introduced to the United States in the early 1800s.
Tall Fescue is a well-known cool-season grass with improved heat tolerance and is highly suitable for northern and transition zones.
Some of its other important characteristics are disease, drought, and shade tolerance.
Though it has a limited capacity for self-repair still I would say, you should try this grass because of its other characteristics including disease-resistant capability.
Warm Season Grass
Warm-season grasses have their own pros and cons and it goes without saying that they grow well in hot climatic conditions.
Already we had a discussion about most of the warm season grasses.
However, for the sake of my readers, I’ve bifurcated the types of grasses into hot and cold condition grasses so that you can make an informed buying decision.
Zoysia
Zoysia is a warm-season grass with improved cold tolerance.
It is highly suitable for southern and transition zones because of Zoysia’s high heat and drought-resistant capability.
Definitely, it is capable of tolerating high traffic as well as requires low water for its flourishing.
Zoysia is a native to Asia but it has been in the United States since 1895. Well, this is the time when lawns first captured the interest of American lawn owners.
The good thing about Zoysia is that it is perennial so it will come year after year when you grow in it in favorable condition.
Bermuda
Bermuda is a great option for sports fields and parks and is capable of adapting well to a wide variety of soil types.
Unfortunately, Bermuda is a grass not good with shaded lawns.
However, it is highly capable of flourishing in hot climatic conditions without much watering and maintenance.
Lastly, it is really aggressive, and at times, it can invade flower beds.
St. Augustine
Great grass for coastal areas in the south. St. Augustine is a tough turf that performs really well in a hot climate.
Moreover, it prefers moist and sandy soil similar to the coastal ones.
In fact, it flourishes really well in the salt air.
Trust me, St. Augustine is one of the best warm-season grasses for lightly shaded spots.
However, the same grass becomes thin in the dense shade.
Buffalo
In the last couple of years, the popularity of Buffalo has sky-rocket because and has been recognized as turfgrass because of its enhanced ability to deal with drought and cold conditions.
As compared to other warm-season grasses, Buffalo needs very little mowing.
On top of it, the Buffalo is a low-maintenance grass and even though it turns brown in very high degrees, it will regain its color once the rainy season has arrived.
Again, you should refrain from watering and fertilizing Buffalo too often because it may lead to the occurrence of weeds.
In short, it is recommended for sloped areas as well as terraces where the water can drain quickly.
Centipede
Centipede is a well-known grass for sandy soils.
Since Centipede can flourish very well in sandy soil, it is quite popular from South California to Florida as well as the Gulf Coast of Texas.
As compared to the shade, it flourishes well in full-sun lawns.
You don’t have to fertilize it too often either and are well receptive to alkaline soil.
As compared to its counterparts, the Centipede root system is shallow.
Key Considerations
Well, as a first-time buyer or even an experienced gardener, it is really important for you to keep in mind some important considerations so that you can make an informed buying decision.
- First and foremost, the main difference between the cool and warm season grasses is the temperature at which they can grow. Well, cool season turfgrasses can flourish well in the temperature range of 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, warm-season turfgrasses can grow well in the temperature range of 80-95 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Our intention to bifurcate the best grass seeds into different temperature zones was to help you make an informed buying decision. For example, the United States has two primary zones, a warm season zone, and a cold season counterpart.
- Geographical zones are labeled as zones depending on temperature range which makes it completely easier to detect the appropriate type. However, within the aforementioned zones, changes are there that some other climatic conditions do exist that can influence turfgrass growth. For example, primarily humid or primarily arid conditions can influence the growth of turfgrasses. In short, if you’ll combine them with Geographical zones, then it will become four zones: cool/humid, cool/arid, warm/humid, and warm/arid.
- Lastly, we do have a fifth area known as a transition zone, a region wherein climatic conditions from all four or some of the aforementioned zones are present. Unfortunately, this is the hardest zone for growing turfgrass because of the frequent change in climatic conditions. The biggest problem that you’ll face in the transition zone is that it is too cold in winter for warm-season grasses and vice-versa. However, we as a gardener have become much smarter to deal with such scenarios. What actually we do is that we grow warm-season grasses when the climatic condition is perfect for them in the transition zone and then overseed the warm-season grasses with the cold-season counterparts. There are lawn seeds available on the market for overseeding. All you need to do is to find specific lawn seeds for overseeding to make your lawn thicker as well as deal with different climatic conditions.
Tips for Perfect Planting
I’m assuming that now you’re well-versed with the basics and so it’s time to discuss the tips for perfect planting.
Certain tips for planting can help you to get the maximum out of the best grass seeds.
To be honest, tips for perfect planting are a huge topic and so I’ve bifurcated it into four sub-topics: Best time to plant grass seeds, preparation of soil for the grass seeds, how to plant the grass seeds, and aftercare.
Best Time to Plant the Seeds
One of the best budget-friendly to develop a plush lawn and garden is creating them from grass seeds.
Even the best grass seeds are affordable and you can think of developing a lawn from scratch even though you’re on a shoestring budget.
As per experience and knowledge that I’ve acquired over a decade, I can affirm with confidence that the best time to plant grass seeds is between late summer to mid-autumn.
You may be inquisitive why am I claiming so, right?
Well, the weeds will not be competing with the grass seeds to come out.
Moreover, you’ll find the soil to be warm as well as damp with water from the rain.
In short, the aforementioned time duration is known to provide the ideal condition for seeds to germinate and flourish henceforth.
What if, you’ve missed that chance?
The next time to plant the grass seeds would be mid-spring.
However, to get the best out of the grass seeds, you need to water them enough on a regular basis.
Whether you’re an experienced lawn owner or you’re just starting out, I highly suggest, you should refrain from sowing seeds during the summer season because even though you’ll do your best chances are very less that you’ll get the result as good as mid-spring or even late summer.
During the germination and growing phase grasses need a good amount of moisture, and failing to provide adequate moisture can lead to the death of the grasses.
In short, never sow even the best grass seeds in summer.
Preparing Soil for Grass Seeds
Similar to sticking to the best time for sowing grass seeds, preparation of the soil also plays a tremendous role to get optimum results.
I’m attaching a video that will guide you on how to sow a new lawn.
In fact, most of the newbies does the mistake of NOT PAYING attention to minute steps which finally turn out to be a nightmare.
It is highly recommended to remove both big and small stones as well as weeds.
Moreover, if old grass is present then before sowing new seeds try to remove them as well.
For optimum results, I would also recommend that you try to level the area of your lawn or wherever you want to sow grass seeds.
For a fine finish, all you need to do is to fork over the lawn and rake the level as well.
Then, try to make the soil firm by walking over it in a way that all your body weight is on the heels of your shoe.
Lastly, just a couple of days before sowing your best grass seeds, it is a good practice to scrape in granular fertilizers.
| Planting New Lawn | Overseeding Existing Lawn |
| First and foremost, you need to loosen the top 3 inches of the soil | Mow grass as short as possible |
| In the second step, try to remove even the minutes of debris such as sands, weeds, etc | Loosen 0.25 inches of soil in bare spots |
| Then, break up the soil clamp larger than a half dollar | Remove debris and dead grasses |
| Try to avoid very fine soil rather small clumps will work | Level the area to prevent the collection of excessive water |
| In the second step, try to remove even the minutes of debris such as sand, weeds, etc | For leveling purposes, use the existing topsoils only. Using soil from an external source may backfire due to the presence of weed seeds |
| Refrain from using weed killer just before and after planting seeds | Fertilize the bare spots after overseeding with a starter fertilizer. |
How to Plant the Seeds for Optimum Result
Use a rod to make the area where you’re planning to plant seeds into square meters. Try to divide your entire lawn into small squares in a uniform way.
Before opening the seeds package shake it well.
After opening the seeds packet, you can spread the grass seeds in two ways.
Either follow what is written on the seeds packet or you can follow the standard rule, which is to spread seed at 50g per square meter.
To distribute the seeds uniformly in each square meter, all you need to do is to weigh the seeds that you’re going to sow in each square meter.
At the same time, it is really important that you split every 50 grams into halves, and then in one direction across the square scatter one half.
Replicate the same for the other half in the opposite direction.
Then, you need to rake over the plant space and don’t forget to water the grass seeds.
Cover Seeds
It is very important for you to lightly drag the grass seed beds so that only 0.24 inches of soil covers the grass seeds.
Moreover, the grass seed beds should be prepared in such a way that they hold seeds firmly and retain moisture as well.
Watering Process
In the initial days, keep the grass seeds bed moist to enhance germination.
Remember, until the new grasses are at least two inches high, you need to water them lightly on a regular basis.
Don’t over-saturate watering else it will backfire.
Aftercare
This is an important step that you should never miss. Aftercare is equally important as sowing seeds and preparing the soil.
I’ve seen many people ignoring this step, especially the newbies.
Remember, if you’re ignoring the aftercare, then the seeds will become easy prey to the birds.
So, what’s the solution?
Well, first and foremost, you need to stretch fruit netting over them.
Secondly, you need to cordon the area with string and canes to prevent the birds from stepping on top.
Though these steps may seem to you a kind of additional baggage still I would recommend you should expedite them for the optimum result.
As mentioned earlier also, keep watering them on a regular basis until they have fully grown.
Wait, I’m NOT yet done.
Since grass seeds can be susceptible to drought so it is important that the soil is on a regular basis.
Checking of the soil can be done manually by pushing fingers into it.
Another important thing to consider is weeding the area. In any circumstances, almost all the weeds should be removed before they flower.
The good thing with the high-quality grass is that as they grow tall and become denser the weeds will stop growing.
Lastly, aftercare also involves cutting the grass when they become tall.
So, when should you cut the new lawn for the first time?
Well, it is really difficult to give an exact answer because cutting a new lawn may depend to some extent on a lawn owner’s preference as well.
However, I follow my thumb rule, and I prefer to cut the grass for my new lawn when it becomes at least 2 inches high.
If you want to trim it to say 1 inch then devices like a rotary mower will serve the purpose.
Important to be Selective
There are hundreds of guides on how to select the best grass seeds for your lawn including ours.
In this section, I’ll explain things in brief so that you could easily recall if you MISSED out on anything.
First and foremost, you need to decide on the type of lawn you’re willing to have.
In case, you’re confused and not able to figure out the correct option for you, then the best thing that you could do is to ask questions to yourself.
For example, do you want a lawn for entertainment activities such as kid’s play, dog running, or sports?
Or, do you want a lush green plush garden that will add value to your property?
So, keep asking yourself different questions until you get the RIGHT answer.
If we consider the first question then you may need a mixture of tough and coarse grass seeds.
On the other hand, considering the condition in the second question, you may need ornamental lawn seed.
However, I’m just explaining things with a set of examples.
There are numerous situations and options, so choose smartly.
The reason why I choose ornamental grass seeds for the second option is that this mix is made of more refined and sophisticated-looking grasses.
In short, depending on your requirements, you need to narrow down the options.
Failing to do so may confuse you and lead to a WRONG buying decision.
FAQs
In this section, I’ll answer some of the questions asked by my clientele as well as readers of this blog.
In case, you’ve any doubts or queries about the topic, then feel free to ask us in the comment section.
We’ll be more than happy to assist you.
Can I revive dead grass?
Unfortunately, the grasses that are totally dead because of drought or any similar reasons can’t be revived at all.
But, the good news is, the green grasses that have turned brown can be revived within a month with the help of regular irrigation.
Will over-fertilized grass grow back?
Fortunately, healthy grass can grow back with the right care.
The good news is, yellow and brown streaks can recover
Make sure that the grass is still alive before attempting to revive it.
Can I overwater grass?
Overwatering of grass will let it die sooner or later.
Grass plants aren’t meant to utilize a huge amount of water. They do need watering but only a small amount on a regular basis.
Wrapping Up the Best Grass Seed Review
I hope you would’ve thoroughly enjoyed this beast post.
I and my team have tried to the best of our capabilities to add all the required pieces of information from a newbie point of view.
In case, you find that we’ve missed something then let us know in the comment section.
If we find your point to be valid then definitely will add it.
So, which are your best grass seeds?
What is the budget that you’re willing to spend on your best grass seeds?
Will you prefer a single grass seed or a mix?
Moreover, let us know, how would you rate our article.
Did the information shared in this post serve your purpose?
Last but not least, share this piece of information with the ones who are looking for the best grass seeds.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
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