The Best Grass Seed for a Full, Green Lawn

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Grass Seed for a Full, Green Lawn and hope the blog can help you.

Make your lawn the envy of your neighbors with the best grass seed for your yard’s conditions.

Many homeowners dream of a lush, green carpet of grass upon which their children and pets can frolic. Growing a lawn that makes neighbors green with envy begins with choosing the right grass seed. 

There is a seemingly endless variety of grass seed types and products on the market, making choosing the right one an involved process. Climate, shade, and foot traffic affect which type of grass seed is right for your lawn. This guide features factors to consider when choosing the best grass seed to turn your yard into a striking carpet of green. 

1. BEST OVERALL: Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Grass Seed
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sunny Mix
3. BEST WARM-SEASON: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Southern Gold Mix
4. BEST COOL-SEASON: Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra Grass Seed
5. BEST FOR DENSE SHADE: Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Seed
6. BEST FOR HIGH-TRAFFIC: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed High Traffic Mix
7. BEST KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Mix
8. BEST BERMUDA GRASS: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass
9. BEST FAST-GROWING: Vigoro Fast Grass Seed Mix
10. BEST LOW-MAINTENANCE: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Tall Fescue Mix

How We Chose the Best Grass Seed

We researched the most sought-after grass seed in their respective categories. We discovered that the best options are determined by their type, suitable season(s), intended use, and other special features included by select brands.

Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue are the most popular types of good grass seed for lawn maintenance among users because they are suitable in multiple climates and grow thick, durable grass. While not as popular, Bermuda and zoysia grass types are also viable options for those who live in southern areas with a lot of sun. Moreover, depending on your needs, these mixes can cover small or large yards. 

Many of these grass seeds for lawns can also fix patchy areas on existing grass or grow new plantings for your whole lawn. Plus, many of these options are mixes, which makes them easy to maintain without intense labor. For added convenience, select grass seeds in our list come with protective coatings to protect them from disease, aid in water retention, or have fertilizer built in. 

Our Top Picks

You can find grass seed for sunny areas, shade, high traffic, hot and cold climates, and more. These top-rated grass seed picks cover many lawn and grass types for various uses. 

BEST OVERALL

Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Grass Seed

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Warm
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Reseeding 
• Single seed vs. mix: Mix 

Pros

• Includes fertilizer, seed, and soil improver to promote the growth of strong, long-lasting grass
• Provides a drought- and shade-tolerant mix that endures through all seasons and very sunny weather
• Covers over 4,000 square feet of lawn space with a 40-pound bag

Cons

• Pricier than other grass seed and lawn care options, attributed to its all-in-one solution

Successfully reseeding a lawn often involves laborious processes such as prepping the soil and adding fertilizer before finally spreading the seed. Scotts reduces those three steps to one with its Thick’R Lawn grass seed. This premium grass seed improves the chances that your seed will germinate, grow, and flourish by mixing the necessary components in one bag to spread it on your lawn in one fell swoop. 

This Sun and Shade seed includes fertilizer, organic material for improving the soil’s quality, and a mix of drought- and shade-tolerant grass seed. Simply rake, spread the seed, water daily, and let nature fill gaps in a lawn. A 40-pound bag is enough to cover a 4,000-square-foot area for reseeding. 

Get the Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn grass seed at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co. (12-pound bag), or The Home Depot.

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sunny Mix

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Cool
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Both 
• Single seed vs. mix: Mix 

Pros

• Thrives in sunny areas and features a 4-in-1 WaterSmart Plus coating
• Offers seeds with a coating that provides disease resistance and aids germination
• Covers 1,080 square feet with one 2.4-pound bag, ideal for various uses or large lawns

Cons

• Primarily designed for northern lawns
• Offers a smaller quantity of seed compared to other market options

Growing grass in full sun is easier than in shady parts of your lawn, but it takes a special mix like Scotts Turf Builder Sunny Mix to bring your lawn to the next level. Full sun can quickly burn out a lawn during the dog days of summer. This is an excellent grass seed for full sun because it’s specially formulated with a mix of heat-tolerant grass seeds. 

These grass seeds are treated with Scott’s 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating, which helps the seeds absorb twice as much water as uncoated seeds. The coating also fertilizes the seed and protects it from disease, helping to speed germination and growth. This sun-tolerant mix is designed for northern lawns. A 2.4-pound bag is enough to cover up to 1,080 square feet. 

Get the Scotts Turf Builder Sunny Mix grass seed at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.

BEST WARM-SEASON

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Southern Gold Mix

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Warm 
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Both 
• Single seed vs. mix: Mix

Pros

• Suitable for harsh summer conditions; featuring a 4-in-1 WaterSmart Plus coating
• Integrates fertilizer to maintain continuous grass germination
• Offers coverage of 1,400 square feet with one 5.6-pound bag; available in multiple sizes

Cons

• Availability limited to certain states; tailored for warm-weather climates

Summer weather in the South can be downright brutal with scorching heat and high humidity, but Scotts Turf Builder Southern Gold Mix prevents having a lawn that quickly turns from lush green in June to dry brown by August. The seed mix features lawn grass types that can survive the harshest summer conditions. 

This seed also features Scott’s 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating. This treatment improves the seeds’ performance in drought conditions by enabling them to retain water more efficiently. It also fertilizes the seeds and protects them from disease. Scotts has designed this grass seed specifically for transition zone lawns. These yards must survive the colliding climate zones of their region. Scotts Southern Gold Mix comes in various sizes with a 5.6-pound bag covering about 1,400 square feet. 

Get the Scotts Turf Builder Southern Gold Mix grass seed at Amazon, Lowe’s (16-pound bag), or The Home Depot (5.6-pound bag).

BEST COOL-SEASON

Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra Grass Seed

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Cool 
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Both 
• Single seed vs. mix: Mix

Pros

• 3 kinds of grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, for a thick, green lawn variety 
• Waxy coating on each seed protects against drought and disease 
• A 7-pound bag of grass seed covers over 2,800 square feet; suitable for large lawn spaces or multiple uses
• Cold-tolerant mix; should be applied when the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit

Cons

• Pricey compared to other options on the market 
• Not suitable for southern or warm climates

A good cool-season grass seed blend like Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra will give you a mix of grasses best suited for cooler and northern climates. The company is open about its mix, so purchasers know exactly what they’re getting in this blend. 

This cold-tolerant mix includes three cool-season grasses: 80 percent tall fescue, 10 percent Kentucky bluegrass, and 10 percent ryegrass. Black Beauty seed features a waxy coating that protects each seed from lawn diseases and preserves plant moisture. A 7-pound bag will cover up to 2,800 square feet. 

Get the Jonathan Green grass seed at Amazon or Ace Hardware.

BEST FOR DENSE SHADE

Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Seed

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Cool or warm
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Both 
• Single seed vs. mix: Single seed

Pros

• Withstands cooler temperatures and thrives in areas receiving only 2 to 4 hours of sunlight per day.
• Offers disease- and traffic-resistant seeds for enhanced long-term durability
• Includes integrated fertilizer to maintain a green and growing lawn
• Covers up to 750 square feet of lawn space with one 3-pound bag 

Cons

• Provides limited grass seed and coverage area compared to other options

Most grasses grow best with a good daily dose of sunlight, and it takes a special mix like this Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade grass seed to equally fill those shaded parts of a yard. This shade mix is intended for areas of a lawn that only get about 2 to 4 hours of sun a day. As with other Pennington seeds, the dense-shade mix has the company’s Penkoted technology that coats the seed with a special fertilizer to help it grow through those delicate seedling stages. 

Get the Pennington grass seed at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

BEST FOR HIGH-TRAFFIC

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed High Traffic Mix

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Cool
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Both 
• Single seed vs. mix: Mix 

Pros

• Grows strong and durable with the 4-in-1 WaterSmart Plus coating
• Ideal for thickening grass or planting new seeds; perfect for lawns frequented by children and pets
• Covers over 2,800 square feet of lawn space with one 5.6-pound bag

Cons

• Germination may take longer than expected, as reported by some users

Those well-trodden areas of your yard can take a real beating, and Scotts Turf Builder High Traffic Mix helps a lawn withstand dogs, kids, and backyard parties. For families who use their yards for more than just show, this high-traffic mix of grass seed from Scotts will grow quickly and self-repair worn-down spots in areas with a lot of activity.

The high-traffic grass seed features Scotts’ proprietary 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating, which boosts the seeds while promoting water absorption. This mix is an excellent option for patching worn-out parts of the lawn or thickening up an entire turf area. A 5.6-pound bag provides enough coverage for up to 2,800 square feet. 

Get the Scotts Turf Builder High Traffic grass seed at Amazon, Lowe’s (2.4-pound bag), Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Target.

BEST KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Mix

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Product Specs 

• Ideal season: Cool
• Reseeding vs. new planting: Both 
• Single seed vs. mix: Mix 

Pros

• Offers seed-coating technology with nutrients and fertilizers for strong, long-term growth
• Provides a self-repairing formula suitable for full sun and light shade areas
• Ensures durability and low maintenance, ideal for high-traffic areas
• More affordable than other options on the market

Cons

• Possibly unsuitable for application in southern states

Homeowners who dream of the perfect green and lush lawn usually have Kentucky bluegrass in mind, and Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky Bluegrass Mix has a mix of the popular grass for both full sun and light shade. It’s also formulated to self-repair and endure foot traffic, making it durable and low maintenance.

Although Kentucky bluegrass can be susceptible to drought, Scotts’ mix is designed to endure dry summers. Thanks to its proprietary seed-coating technology, which provides nutrients while protecting the seed from fertilizer and enabling it to absorb water better, Scotts Kentucky Bluegrass Mix does best in northern regions. A 3-pound bag will cover up to 2,000 square feet.

Get the Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky Bluegrass grass seed at Amazon or