10 Best Grass Seeds 2024 in the US

If your house comes with a yard, you would probably want to cover it with a nice lawn. There are grass seeds that can cover a large area relatively inexpensively. But before you go out and buy grass seed, you'll have to consider a few things:

• What climate do you live in?

• What is the soil type—acidic or alkaline?

• Is it a shady or sunny area?

• Do you have kids or pets that can tear up the lawn?

• How much effort are you willing to put into managing the lawn?

Here is a guide to some of the best grass seed on the market. 

Grass seed can be sorted by the type of season for which they are suited:

• Cool-Season Grasses: Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and tall fescue grass grow well in cooler climates. These grow fast in the spring and fall, and turns brown when it gets hot in the summer. This should be planted in the late summer/early fall.

• Warm-Season Grasses: St. Augustine, Bermuda, Centipede, Zoysia, and Bahia grass grow well in warmer climates. They will be more drought resistant and require less water—but they require more sun. These grasses will turn brown in cold temperatures. They should be planted in the late spring.

Often sellers of grass seed will mix different types in one package. That will be best for repairing a lawn which has developed bald spots. The type of seed which is best suited for that patch will be sprout and fill it in.

• Size of Lawn: ½ pound of centipede grass covers 1000 sq. ft. of lawn. Other types will require twice as much: 1 pound for 1000 sq. ft. of lawn. Have your lawn size in mind when buying a quantity of grass seed. Grass seed is typically still good for three years, so you can use it next year too if you buy too much.

• Lifetime of grass: There are perennial grasses, meaning that it will last for more than two years. There are also biennial grasses, which last for no more than two years, and annual grasses, which die over the course of a single year. Annual grass will require sowing grass seed every year. If you have cold winters in your area, the grass probably won't make it through the winter, and you'll have to replant in the spring.

• Germination time: Germination is the sprouting of the seed. Ryegrass has an especially fast germination time, of only 5 days (under the proper conditions of water and temperature). Other grass seeds will require 14 or even 21 days to germinate. If the grass seed takes a long time to grow, try to rope off the area, so that animals and people won't tread on the new seedlings, until the growth accumulates.

• Waxy coating: Some grass seed is treated with an invisible waxy coating. This prolongs the longevity of the seed by keeping in moisture. It also wards off stress from cold, wind and disease.

• Lawn repair mix: When you buy a product that is intended for lawn repair, it will contain grass seed, compost and mulch fertilizer all in one. Again, this is intended for repairing bald spots, with a minimum of maintenance (otherwise you'll have to buy fertilizer and mulch separately).

• Applying fertilizer: There are starting fertilizers for a new lawn, and seasonal fertilizers for treating only the bald patches.

• Seed spreader: There are rotary, drop and broadcast seed spreaders that can be used to distribute grass seed and fertilizer. These are useful for large areas. Small areas should be seeded and fertilized by hand.

• Ornamental grass vs. durable grass: If you have children or pets, they might tend to damage the lawn, so an ornamental grass is not a good choice. Ornamental grass will require mowing twice a week, and grow more slowly.

• Soil type: Some grasses grow only in wet conditions, whereas others can withstand dry conditions. Clay soil retains water a long time. The water will drain out quickly in sandy or stony soils. As for the pH levels of the soil: If the soil that you plant in is acidic, Centipede grass is a good choice. But it will not be able to live if the soil is alkaline. So make sure that the seed type matches your soil. You can reduce the pH of alkaline soil by adding ground rock sulfur. Or you can plant sturdy grasses that don't care what the pH level is, such as ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Bermuda and Zoysia grass.

Scotts---- is a division of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Scotts was founded by O.M. Scott in 1868, who used to sell lawn seed. Their headquarters is located in Marysville, Ohio. Their brands also include Ortho (insect control products), Roundup (weed control products), and Tomcat (rodent control products).

The Dirty Gardener—is a company located in Tacoma, Washington. They market non-genetically modified seeds for grasses, vegetables, fruits, and flowers.

Patten Seed Company-- was founded by Robert L. Patten in Lakeland, Georgia in 1893. He ran a general store that sold seed and fertilizer. The family expanded the business over the years to include other types of agricultural projects—different types of grasses, harvesting and planting machinery, and growing techniques.

Jonathan Green-- is a grass seed company that was started by Jonathan Green of Lancashire, England, in 1836. He prepared turf for recreational purposes in England. His sons and grandsons brought the grass seed and lawn products business to the United States in 1905, and have been operating their business ever since from Reading, Pennsylvania.