Best Grass Seed in 2022: Buying Guide

If you want a healthy, lush lawn, you’ll need more than proper maintenance, nutrition, and regular mowing. Like many other things in life, the beauty of grass boils down to its roots. To achieve a luscious lawn, you need to match the best cool- or warm-season grasses to your region. Whether you’re starting anew or have an already established lawn, working with seasonal grass is your best bet. If your lawn is already established, you’ll need to work seasonal grass into it.

In the northern regions, cool-season grass yields healthy growth during cool spring, fall, and moderate summers. Warm-season grasses thrive in high-running summer temperatures often found in southern regions. If you want to give your grass every advantage of success, it’s vital that you choose premium quality lawn grasses designed explicitly for regional factors like elevation, humidity, and aridity.

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Our Recommended Grass Seed in 2022

6) Scotts Turf Builder Rapid Grass Sun & Shade Mix

By purchasing this grass seed, you receive a 5.6-pound bag of seeds. You can use these seeds to plant up to 2,800 square-feet of grass.

The really cool thing this grass seed offers is speed. Assuming these seeds receive the water and sun they need, you can see freshly grown grass in just a few weeks!

Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5) Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Seed

The Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Seed is 7-pounds of grass seed. You can use the 7-pounds of grass seed this product offers to cover a 1,750 square-foot space.

To ensure this grass grows, only 2-to-6-hours of sunlight is needed. From this sunlight – and water, of course – you can see results in as little as 8-days.

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4) Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass

The 10-pounds worth of seeds this product offers enables you to cover a space as large as 10,000 square-feet. For growing a big lawn, this is a very useful product.

Beyond that, these seeds are designed to absorb more water. This ensures that they grow faster, and remain healthier.

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3) Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Sun and Shade

You can use these seeds to grow grass anywhere. You can plant these seeds in spaces that are dense with foot traffic, lacking in sun, and lacking in rain. And, if you take care of these seeds, they will sprout into a lovely patch of grass.

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2) Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade

By purchasing this product, you receive 40-pounds worth of seeds. All of these seeds can come together to create 4,000 square-feet worth of grass. Due to the way these seeds have been designed, they create a nice, thick patch of grass – or patches, depending on where they’re planted – even if sunlight is less frequent than shade.

Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1) Scotts Turf Builder Grass Kentucky Bluegrass Mix

When you purchase this product, you receive 7-pounds worth of seeds, which is enough to cover up to 4,725 square-feet of space with grass. All of this grass can grow very quickly and very easily, if it receives enough sunlight and water. These seeds absorb large amounts of water, allowing them to grow more quickly than other types of grass seeds.

Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Types of Specialized Grass Seed

There are two primary categories of seasonal grass seed: warm-season and cool-season. Although the temperature range for each is wide, certain seasonal conditions are non-negotiable.

Warm-season grass seeds can easily endure hot climates, though they tend to brown and go dormant during the winter. You can reseed them during spring and summer.

Cool-season grass seeds thrive in cooler temperatures experienced during fall and spring. They go dormant during summer times, and it’s best that you only reseed them during spring and fall.

Different Types of Warm-Season Grass Seed

Bahia Grass Seed: Popular due to its heat tolerance and drought-resistant qualities, Bahia grass seed thrives in hot climates. It has broad leaves and a coarse texture, ensuring that it doesn’t get brittle in the scorching sun. Bahia grass is especially favored in the Deep South.

Bermuda Grass Seed: Like many other warm-season types of grass, Bermuda grass seed doesn’t tolerate winter weather, making it perfect for planting in southern parts of the country. It flourishes in hot climates and can handle high-traffic heat exceptionally. Bermuda grass only requires three ingredients to thrive: full sun exposure, excellent drainage, and nutrients.

Buffalo Grass Seed: Unlike many warm-season grass types, Buffalo seed can thrive in a wide range of climates. Although it does go dormant and turn brown during the winter, it’s still a popular choice in states experiencing harsh, cold temperatures. The best time to plant Buffalo grass seed is between April and May.

Centipede Grass Seed: This low-maintenance grass is popular in the Southeast amongst gardeners who don’t enjoy spending (or don’t have) a lot of time maintaining their grass. Centipede grass is heat tolerant, and although it grows vigorously in full sun, it will do fine in some shade. It’s best to plant Centipede seed during spring after all frost has passed.

St. Augustine Grass Seed: Being one of Florida’s most favored grass seeds, St. Augustine has a good tolerance of heat and humidity. Coastal yards can also enjoy the blue-green grass blades of St. Augustine that spread through a lawn like a wildfire, as this grass can tolerate saltwater too. Planting seed is recommended during the spring and summer, although the most effective way to establish a lawn with St. Augustine is by planting plugs.

Zoysia Grass Seed: Commonly available from sod or plugs, Zoysia seed, is only offered from limited grass seed companies. Though all of them are popular due to their ability to tolerate high-heat, drought, and plenty of foot traffic, there are different variants. If your goal is to achieve a dense lawn that requires little maintenance, this is the seed you need. Zoysia grass seed should preferably be planted in the spring.

Different Types of Cool-Season Grass Seed

Fescue Grass Seed: Contrary to its category, Fescue grass can tolerate different climates, including heat and drought. It’s considered a cool-season seed as it prefers the cold and shade, but its deep root system makes it resistant to different weather conditions. Fescue grass is easy to establish, making it the most common type of grass in the country. Planting and reseeding should take place in the fall and spring.

Kentucky Bluegrass Seed: Garden enthusiasts consider Kentucky Bluegrass as a luxurious grass species. When people imagine a perfect, deep green lush lawn, they often picture this grass. It’s most suitable in the northern regions and should be reseeded or planted from fall to spring. Due to its shallow root system, it does not do well in heat, and lots of maintenance is required. 

Perennial Ryegrass Seed: Unlike Annual Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass comes back each year and shouldn’t be confused for the temporary counterpart. It’s a popular grass type that should be planted or reseeded during the fall. Although Perennial Ryegrass can be found in southern regions, it prefers cool climates and mild summers.

A Grass Seed Buying Guide

The right grass can do much more for your yard than upgrade its appearance. Besides providing a lovely, lush lawn, grass can assist in reducing your risk for soil erosion, filter groundwater, absorb excess rainfall, and absorb dust and other air particles resulting in better air quality around your yard.

When you’re out to buy grass seed, there are essential factors to keep in mind. Read on below for a short discussion of these.
Although planning a new lawn can be fun, you need to ask yourself some serious questions beforehand if your goal is to create a cost-effective outdoor environment that will thrive. During your planning stage, ask and answer the following questions for yourself:

• What is my budget?
• How much time do I have to maintain my lawn?
• Is a sifted seed version my preference, or would I prefer a mixture of different grass varieties?
• How much sun will my grass be exposed to, and are there other weather conditions to keep in mind?
• How much foot traffic will my lawn be subjected to?

Since grass comes in an abundance of varieties, you’ll need to carefully choose the one best suited for your needs.

The type you choose should not only fit your budget but thrive in the weather conditions most common in your region. The amount of sun exposure plays a vital role in how luscious your grass type will grow, and you need to consider whether your grass will receive low, medium, or high foot traffic. Certain grass types don’t do well when walked on too often, and some types burn in full sun while others don’t grow under shade.

Additionally, you will have to put time aside for maintenance as required by the grass type. Some require little maintenance since they grow slower or throw out weeds, while others will need weekly trimming. If you want to keep your grass looking healthy, you’ll need to choose a type that fits your lifestyle and schedule.

Our Pick: Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Sun and Shade

Scotts best high performance grass seed.

Mulch
Absorbs 6X its weight in water and expands to surround the seed in a moist protective layer.

Fertilizer
Exclusive controlled release technology feeds seedlings to jumpstart growth.

Tackifier
Helps keep seed from washing away.

Protectant
Helps keep seedlings safe from harmful diseases that can attack newly planted areas.

How To Use – 3 Steps To Success!

1. Prep
Prepare the area you want to grow grass by removing dead grass and loosening hard soil to help tiny seedlings root.

2. Apply
Evenly apply EZ Seed® so the area is mostly covered, but bare ground is still visible so that seed contacts the soil. The mulch will expand 4X upon watering to help cover the seed and keep it moist. (Use half as much for thin areas.) Only apply the recommended amount so that seedlings have enough space to access water and nutrients. The seed germinates best when daytime temperatures are between 60° and 80°F.

3. Water
A deep and thorough initial watering is the key to success. Gently water the area until EZ Seed® is completely saturated and no more water is being absorbed (this may take several minutes). Avoid pooling water. When EZ Seed® begins to turn light brown, it’s time to water again. Keep kids, pets, and lawn mowers off newly planted seedlings until the grass is 3 inches high.

Watering Newly Planted Grass Seed Is Key To Seeding Success

For best results, water twice daily for at least 3 weeks to keep the soil surface moist after seeding. It’s important to water often until seedlings are at least 2-inches tall. Auto-timers can help ensure no essential waterings are missed. Mow when grass reaches 2 – 3 inches in height.

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