The 11 Best Grass Seed of 2023

Best Overall

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix

4.7

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If you live in the northern half of the U.S., including Northern California, North Carolina, and Colorado, this blend bluegrass, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass can give you the green, healthy lawn of your dreams. It may survive in southern areas as well, but it might not thrive the way you would like. Each seed in the mix is coated with Scott's WaterSmart PLUS Coating, which provides nutrients, absorbs two times more water than uncoated seed, and protects against disease. It gives the seed a jump-start on growing healthy roots and strong, green blades of grass. You'll generally start to see the first signs of new grass within five to 10 days, but do not mow until the grass is established and at least 3 inches tall.

You can use this to start a new lawn or to overseed a patchy existing lawn, but either way, proper preparation is crucial to get the best results. That means raking the soil to loosen it and removing any dead grass or other debris, applying the seed evenly (ideally with a spreader, not by merely tossing out handfuls of seed), gently raking the seed into the soil, and watering daily to keep the soil moist—not soggy—until the seedlings are at least 2 inches high. Ideally, you should plant this seed in either the spring or the fall, when temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees F.

Once established, you'll have a lawn that's tough; in the right climate, these grasses can tolerate high heat, shade, and drought. Some buyers have found that it takes a while for the lawn to get very thick, however. These are fine-bladed varieties of grass that feel soft against your skin, making it a good choice for yards where kids or pets play. A 7-pound bag will cover up to 920 square feet when seeding a new lawn, and up to 2,800 square feet when overseeding an existing lawn. The seed is sold in different amounts, so you can find one that matches the size of your lawn.

Price at time of publish: $45 for a 7-pound bag

_{Type: Bluegrass, fine fescue, perennial ryegrass | Climate: Northern | Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade | Lawn Size: Up to 2,800 square feet}

Best Budget

Vigoro Tall Fescue Blend

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Grass seed can be expensive, especially if you need to cover a large stretch of ground. This blend of tall fescue is fairly reasonably priced, and a 7-pound bag will cover up to 1,750 square feet when used to overseed an existing lawn. Vigoro does not state the coverage for a new lawn, but as a rough guideline, this amount of fescue seed should cover up to 1,000 square feet of bare soil.

Whether overseeding or starting a new lawn, you'll appreciate Vigoro's seed coating, which helps retain moisture and prevent disease during the germination period. You can expect to see new green shoots appear within a week or so of sowing the seed. Fescue tolerates both full sun and light shade, and grows well in just about every part of the U.S. except for the deep South. However, it will tend to go somewhat brown during the summer in areas where temperatures remain high.

This seed blend produces a lawn that tolerates foot traffic very well, but on the downside, it is not drought-resistant, so you'll need to water regularly if there isn't adequate rain. Plant it in the spring or fall when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees F. As long as you take the time to prepare the soil thoroughly, you'll soon have a thick, green lawn.

Price at time of publish: $25 for a 7-pound bag

_{Type: Tall fescue | Climate: All | Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade | Lawn Size: Up to 1,750 square feet}

Best Cool-Season

Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra

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Cool-season grasses are those varieties that do best in the northern half of the U.S. They include popular grasses such as fescue, bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass, all three of which are in this mix. Gardeners anywhere above the southernmost states can generally grow this grass successfully as long as it's planted in a spot that receives full sun to partial shade; dense shade won't give you the thick, green growth you desire. 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.

You can use this seed to start a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn that's patchy. Prepare the soil by raking and removing debris, sow the seed and top it with a seed-starting fertilizer, and then water daily until the seedlings are at least two inches tall. You'll start to see the grass sprout within one to two weeks, but don't mow until the grass is at least three inches tall. The best time to sow this seed is mid-August through October, but you can plant it in the spring if necessary. A 7-pound bag will overseed a lawn up to 2,800 square feet or start a new lawn up to 1,400 square feet. It's also sold in smaller bags.

Price at time of publish: $51 for a 7-pound bag

_{Type: Bluegrass, fescue, perennial ryegrass | Climate: Northern | Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade | Lawn Size: Up to 2,800 square feet}

Best Warm-Season

Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass

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Warm-season grasses are those that do best in the southern half of the U.S. Bermudagrass is one of the hardiest varieties of these heat-tolerant grasses. (Other warm-season grasses include St. Augustine, zoysia, and centipede grass.) A healthy Bermudagrass lawn is drought-resistant, tolerant of even three-digit temperatures, thick enough to choke out weeds, and resilient enough to spring right back after being walked or played on. However, Bermudagrass often goes dormant in the winter, turning brown or yellow until the temperatures warm up again the following spring. You can overseed it with annual ryegrass for winter color if desired.

This grass seed from Scotts is treated with a water-absorbing coating to help seed germinate better, as well as protect against disease and provide nutrients. You can use it to start a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn. Either way, you'll need to prepare by loosening the soil, removing dead grass or other debris, and gently raking in the seed, followed by regular watering for at least the first three weeks. Expect to see the grass start sprouting in just five to 12 days. Bermudagrass spreads rapidly, so you won't have to wait long to have a lush, green lawn. Be sure to plant your Bermudagrass in a full-sun location where the soil drains well, though, or else it won't thrive. Ideally, it should be planted in late spring through early summer when temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees. A 1-pound bag covers up to 1,000 square feet when overseeding an existing lawn, or up to 300 square feet when starting a new lawn.

Price at time of publish: $87 for a 10-pound bag

_{Type: Bermudagrass | Climate: Southern | Sun Exposure: Full sun | Lawn Size: Up to 1,000 square feet}

Best for Heavy Foot Traffic

Jonathan Green Black Beauty Heavy Traffic Premium Grass Seed Mixture

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This mix of perennial rye grass and tall fescue thrives in most of the U.S., but it might not do well in the southernmost states, including Florida. When grown in areas with colder winters and more mild summers, it is an ideal choice for play areas, backyards, or lawns that receive heavy foot traffic, thanks to the blend of strongly rooted, vigorous grasses that bounce right back after being stepped on, and resist abrasion or tearing from shoes, paws, sporting equipment, or weather. You'll get a lawn that can withstand full, hot sun, but also tolerate partial shade. It's quite drought-resistant once established, so you can put your hose away.

You can use this seed mix to start a new lawn from scratch or overseed a lawn that's seen better days, but either way, proper preparation is crucial if you want your grass to grow. That means mowing an existing lawn as short as possible and then raking with a dethatching rake before sowing the seed. New lawns need to have smoothly raked soil with rocks or debris removed. Autumn is the best season for planting the seed, but you can also plant in the spring if necessary.

Applying a light topdressing of fertilizer is recommended before lightly raking it into the ground. Then keep the area moist for several weeks until the new grass is at least two inches tall. You should see the first signs of germination within two weeks, but don't mow until the new lawn is at least three inches tall. A 7-pound bag of seed will cover new lawns up to 1,750 square feet or overseed an existing lawn up to 2,800 square feet, but there are several sizes to choose from.

Price at time of publish: $51 for a 7-pound bag

_{Type: Tall fescue, perennial ryegrass | Climate: Northern | Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade | Lawn Size: Up to 2,800 square feet}

Best for Shade

Pennington One Step Complete for Dense Shade Areas

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Growing a green, thick, healthy lawn in the shade is not easy. You tend to end up with a thin, patchy lawn that isn't as green as you'd like. The solution is this mix of fescue varieties that survive and even thrive in dense shade, just as long as the lawn receives sunlight for at least a couple of hours per day. Note that this isn't a grass seed for establishing an entire new lawn but rather is used for filling in the patchy spots on a lawn that's doing poorly due to shade. It can be used in any part of the U.S., but will tend to turn brown or yellowish during the intense summer heat, although it will green up again once cooler temperatures arrive.

Along with the seed, the mixture contains fertilizer that continues to feed the new grass for up to eight weeks and wood mulch to help maintain moisture around the seedlings. It's best to sow this seed in spring or fall when temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees. Application is easy: Just rake the thin spot to loosen the soil and remove debris, spread the seed by hand or with a handheld spreader, and then water once or twice daily to keep the soil moist until the seedlings, which should appear within 10 days, are at least three inches tall. Once established, the grass is fairly drought-resistant and tolerates foot traffic well. An 8-pound bag will cover up to 125 square feet, which is less than many other grass seed mixes, but it can be worth it if you need truly shade-resistant grass.

Price at time of publish: $32 per 8-pound bag

_{Type: Fescue | Climate: All | Sun Exposure: Shade | Lawn Size: Up to 125 square feet}

Best for the Midwest

Scotts Turf Builder Midwest Mix

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Marked by hot summers and very cold winters, the Midwestern states can be a tough zone for growing grass. But this grass seed is mostly Kentucky bluegrass, along with some perennial ryegrass and fescue varieties that withstand the tough conditions of the midwest. You can plant this seed in full sun to partial shade, making it ideal for most gardens. Each seed has a protective coating that holds in water, provides nutrients, and wards off disease to help promote germination. Once established, it's a thick lawn that can crowd out weeds, including crabgrass and dandelions, but like most cool-season grasses, it won't look its best during the peak of summer or the depths of winter.

Plant this seed in fall or spring when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees. You can use it to overseed an existing lawn or start a new one. Either way, you'll see new grass sprout within five to 10 days, as long as you prepared the soil beforehand. You'll need to keep the soil moist until the seedlings are at least two inches high. After that, as these grasses are only moderately drought-resistant, you'll need to water if there's a long stretch without rain. They do hold up well to foot traffic, however, and are very green and lush. A 7-pound bag will overseed an existing lawn up to 3,030 square feet or seed a new lawn up to 1,010 square feet. The seed is available in bags of other sizes as well.

Price at time of publish: $26 for a 3-pound bag

_{Type: Bluegrass, fescue, perennial ryegrass | Climate: Midwest | Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade | Lawn Size: Up to 3,030 square feet}

Best Low-Maintenance

Scotts Turf Builder Tall Fescue Mix

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While there's no such thing as a truly maintenance-free lawn, this one comes fairly close. A blend of tall fescues, this seed does well in most of the U.S. other than the southernmost and northernmost states. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and it stands up to heat, foot traffic, and drought. It's quite resistant to common lawn diseases and insect pests, as well. You'll still need to water, mow, and fertilize on a regular schedule, but you'll find that this lawn is a little more easygoing than many others. Like other Scott Turf Builder products, each seed is treated with a moisture-absorbing coating that holds in water, provides nutrients, and wards off fungal disease while the seeds sprout and become established. It germinates in one to two weeks.

Like all fescue lawns, this one will go dormant when temperatures remain above 90 degrees or below 40 degrees for more than a few days. In between those times, it's a very lush green with medium-coarse blades of grass. Use it to overseed an existing lawn or start a new lawn. Plant it in the spring or fall when temperatures are between 65 and 85 degrees and keep the soil moist until the seedlings are over two inches tall. A 5.6-pound bag will overseed lawns up to 1,400 square feet or start a new lawn up to 465 square feet.

Price at time of publish: $38 for a 7-pound bag

_{Type: Tall fescue | Climate: All | Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade | Lawn Size: Up to 1,400 square feet}

Best Fast-Growing

Vigoro Fast Grass Seed Mix

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If you need grass in a hurry for erosion control or to fill in patchy or bare spots on an existing lawn, then this blend of annual and perennial rye grasses can do the trick. You'll see new grass sprouting in just three to five days after sowing the seed, and the grass will quickly become established enough to tolerate quite a bit of foot traffic. It is not drought-tolerant, however, so be prepared to water regularly if nature doesn't provide enough rain to keep the grass green. While you can use this seed anywhere in the U.S., areas that regularly see triple-digit temperatures in the summer will find that the grass goes brown or yellowish.

The seed is coated with fertilizer and moisture-retaining compounds to help promote good germination, but adding extra fertilizer will increase the health of the grass. It's easy to sow the seed: Just remove dead grass and debris from the area where you'll be planting it, spread it evenly over the area, and water regularly to keep the soil moist for the first few weeks. Wait until the grass is at least three inches high before you mow it. Be aware that while the seed sprouts quickly and fills in bare spots very well, this mix isn't intended as a permanent, full lawn but rather more of a temporary lawn while other grasses become established. A 3-pound bag covers up to 750 square feet. For best results, sow the seed in early spring or fall.

Price at time of publish: $11 for a 3-pound bag

_{Type: Annual and perennial rye grass | Climate: All | Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun | Lawn Size: Up to 750 square feet}

Best for Overseeding

Pennington Grass Seed Annual Ryegrass

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In the southern half of the U.S., warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and zoysia are common, but they tend to go brown and dormant in the winter. Unlike Northern states, where blankets of snow often cover dormant lawns, it's fairly common in the South to overseed a dormant lawn to keep it looking green all year round. And the best grass seed for doing so is annual ryegrass, which sprouts in as little as three days, quickly grows to provide lush, green cover and then dies off just as the underlying permanent lawn is greening up again as the weather turns warm in the spring. This is also a good temporary lawn for erosion control or to use as a filler while more permanent lawn or other groundcover becomes established. You can also use it as a pasture crop for livestock.

Annual ryegrass needs at least six hours of full sun each day for growth, but will tolerate partial shade. During its brief lifespan, it's quite tolerant of drought and disease, and it withstands foot traffic very well. If you are using it to overseed a warm-season lawn, it's best to plant the ryegrass in the fall. In northern climates, it can also be planted in the spring. But once temperatures start to rise into the 80s, expect to see the ryegrass begin to yellow and die off. It will also die if temperatures fall below freezing for more than a few days.

You can toss annual ryegrass over a small lawn by hand, or use a spreader if sowing it over a large lawn. Water it daily until it becomes established, which is generally within just a few weeks. A 10-pound bag will overseed up to 2,000 square feet of lawn.

Price at time of publish: $30 for a 10-pound bag

_{Type: Annual ryegrass | Climate: All | Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade | Lawn Size: Up to 2,000 square feet}