The best grass seed is a savvy purchase for all gardeners with lawn areas in their outside space looking for a shortcut way to have a green, lively garden, and lovely-looking grass to keep their lawn mower busy.
Lawn seed is one of the easiest ways to make your outdoor area feel like it’s brand new. We're all looking for ways we can help our green spaces flourish all year round and adding grass seed can help your garden lawn be the best it can be by boosting your lawn's growing power.
Best grass seed at a glance:
• Best overall grass seed: Miracle-Gro EverGreen Complete 4in1 - View on Amazon UK
• Best grass seeds for shaded areas: Gro-Sure Aqua Gel Coated Smart Grass Lawn Seed - View on Amazon UK
• Best grass seed for patches: Miracle-Gro Patch Magic Grass Seed - View on Argos
Rather than go to the trouble of laying new turf, if you are after a greener outdoor space, or simply need to liven up a few odd patches, then here is our guide to the best grass seed products on the market today - no more patchy dry grass, hello to a luscious lawn.
Best grass seed
Best overall grass seed
Description
The Miracle-Gro EverGreen Complete 4in1 does what it promises to when it's used properly. With nearly 18,000 reviews, this grass seed is reported to work very well if you follow step-by-step instructions. However, it is best to use a spreader and place this down before heavy rain to really see the effects. As well as promising a thicker, greener lawn, this seed can help supress weed and moss growth.
Pros
- Weed and moss control
- WaterSmart formula
Cons
- Requires a spreader for best results
Best grass seeds for shaded areas
Description
Another great choice is the Gro-Sure Aqua Gel Coated Smart Grass Lawn Seed. This grass seed will leave your garden looking alive and fresh and is best used on patches exposed to the sun. That Aqua Gel coating has a number of benefits; it improves seed to soil contact, soaks up more water, and increases germination success. However, it is good to note that if there is even a bit of frost in the air, then these seeds will not sow.
Pros
- Aqua Gel coating
- Re-sealable bag
Cons
- Won't work in colder weather
Best grass seed for patches
www.argos.co.uk
Description
This "magic" grass seed is easy to use, so you'll never fill in patches the same again. All you need to do is rake, sow the seeds, and water it twice a day for the best finish. You don't worry about the watering process as this seed has a "tackifier," or binder to stop it washing away. It is also good to note that this seed won't work that well if you do not remove dead grass from the patchy areas on your lawn, so do get that rake out.
Pros
- Results in four days
- Tackifier
Cons
- Contains coir
Best grass seed for fast results
Description
If you are looking for quick results, the RUNADI Grass Lawn Seed will do the job quick. You will start to see results in 7-14 days, so you can have green-green grass ASAP. This single box can cover up to 84 square metres when overseeding or half that for a new lawn. Unfortunately, though, these garden seeds can be seen as something tasty for local wildlife, so be sure to keep your eye out on rabbits nibbling at your garden.
Pros
- Defra-approved
- Speedy results
Cons
- Needs to be sown between March and October
Best grass seed for hard-wearing lawns
Description
This child- and pet-friendly grass seeding is perfect for busy families that want to be able to sow the seed and still use their lawn area. This contains rye grass which makes for a more hard-wearing lawn. The grass seed will allow your grass to grow thicker and stronger; however, it does not work as well in shaded areas, so this is best suited for lawns that get direct sunlight.
Pros
- Contains rye grass
- Results in one week
Cons
- Not great in shaded areas
Best grass seed for a healthy garden
Description
This Gro-Sure seed come in pack of three different sizes to suit the area you need to sow. There are options to cover 25, 40, and 80 square metres. This speedy option will show results in as quick as four days and boasts Gro-Sure's clever Aqua Gel coating. It is best to use this grass seed in late spring, summer, or early autumn as it won't be effective when used below seven degrees.
Pros
- Aqua Gel coating
- Pack has a built-in applicator
Cons
- Above seven degrees soil temperature recommended
Best grass seed for beginners
goodgrow.uk
Description
If you are a gardening newbie, then you need this grass seed in your inventory. This product is easy to use and delivers good results, especially on dry grass in the summer months. GoodGrow promises this will work in all soil types, including clay-based soils. This seed has been specially designed for the UK climate and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Pros
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Works in all soil types
Cons
- Small bag
Best grass seed for hard-wearing results
Description
The trick to this is to add these power lawn seeds to some fresh topsoil and then watch as your new grass grows in a flash. And if you are not satisfied with the results, then this grass seed also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee (even beyond the regular 30 day Amazon return policy). When using this product, we would advise you to keep your soil moist for at least two to three weeks to see the outcome. It is also good to note that the size of the bag is small compared to other grass seed choices out there.
Pros
- Biostimulant coating
- Creates dense turf
Cons
- Requires spraying up to four times a day
Best budget grass seed
Description
Are you looking for results on a budget? This affordable one kilogram bag of grass seed boasts over 11,000 reviews and is renowned for its mix of seeds such as Agrostis capillaries, ryegrass, creeping red fescue, and chewings fescue, all of which offer different properties for the end result of a lush lawn. This product is excellent value for money as it will also cover around 35 square meters of land - ideal for extensive gardens.
Pros
- Mix of different seeds
- Wide coverage
Cons
- Bag isn't re-sealable
What is the best seed for planting grass? Our verdict:
Our top pick is that the Miracle-Gro EverGreen Complete 4in1. It is the best overall grass seed on the market. Not only is it excellent value for money but it gives fantastic results, and the variety of what this product does makes it our top choice.
Grass seed FAQs
How to choose which grass seed is best for you
There is a huge variety of grass seeds available to buy nowadays and it can be a little overwhelming. Even though all grass seed do relatively the same job, it all depends on how much money you want to spend and the size of the area that you want to cover. Although it doesn't really matter, experts say that you should pay attention to the label when buying seed and look for the lower amount of weed seed, crop seed, and inert matter, the better. Some grass seeds also offer the ability to help supress weeds.
There are so many different types, some grass seeds grow quickly, and some grow slower. All you need to do is pick a lawn seed that will survive whether in the sun, shade, poor soil or a combination of all of them.
What are the best types of grass seeds?
Believe it or not, there are so many types of grass seed, from cold weather tolerant grasses to ones that still thrive even though people are constantly walking across it.
Here's a few different types:
Hard Wearing - this type of grass receives quite a lot of wear and tear throughout the day and therefore needs grass seed which is tolerant to a lot of use. Anything with a rye grass mix is the strongest and hardiest.
Luxury and ornamental - this can be used on beds and bowling green style lawns that are beautiful to look at.
Shaded - this type of grass is covered by trees and walls, so the grass will be slow growing because of lack of sunlight, so you’ll need grass seed which is tolerant to these conditions.
General purpose - for use on lawns that have a mix of everything going on. General-purpose grass seed mixes have high germination rates and grow well in most soils and grow fairly quickly, especially in spring and autumn. They’re also the best option if your lawn gets both sun and shade during the day.
When should you sow grass seed?
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, it can sometimes be hard to know when to sow grass. Grass grows best in warm weather and when you provide it with plenty of water from a can or garden hose. As a general rule it is best to sow grass seed in late summer to the middle of autumn in the UK.
How quickly does grass seed start to grow?
It depends on the conditions. If you've sown the seed as per the instructions, the weather is favourable, and you've kept to a good watering schedule, some of the grass seeds we've featured could start growing in as little as four days. Otherwise from germination to growth could take up to two weeks.
Do grass seeds have an expiration date?
The short answer is yes; grass seeds can expire. Like most products, you will see a use-by date on the packaging. It's also good to note that the older it gets, the less chance the seeds will germinate, especially if your pack isn't stored correctly. So for best results, use fresh grass seeds.
Will grass seed germinate on top of the soil?
As grass seeds are usually small - a layer of topsoil will reduce its chances of growing. Therefore, a quick solution to prevent birds from eating the seeds on top of the soil is to use a decoy bird feeder, cover the ground with straw, or even plant extra seeds to deter wildlife.
Are grass seeds safe for dogs?
According to All Creatures Healthcare, "The reason that grass seeds can be dangerous for dogs (or even cats) is that they can easily penetrate their outer skin in multiple areas. If left untreated, this can be incredibly painful – in worst-case scenarios, the internal damage it may cause can even be fatal". Therefore use this product with care and look out for pet-friendly versions.
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Ellen Kinsey is a senior health and wellness product writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in sustainable living and health. She lives and breathes all things natural health, cooking and nature.