The Best Grass Seed for Shade

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

Most lawn grass needs abundant sunlight to thrive, but a few types of turf can grow in areas with light-to-dense shade.

If the lawn in a sunny front yard is thriving but no grass seems to grow under a large shade tree, odds are it’s because the grass isn’t suitable for a shady spot. Most grasses are sun-oriented plants that develop to their maximum potential only when they receive 8 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Fortunately, a few types of grass seed germinate and grow in medium to light shade, and a few more can survive even in dense shade.

Ahead, learn what to look for when choosing the best grass seed for shade and find out why the following types of grass seed are suitable for various shady situations.

1. BEST OVERALL: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Mix
3. BEST FOR DENSE SHADE: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix
4. BEST FOR LIGHT SHADE: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Mix
5. BEST DROUGHT-RESISTANT: WaterSaver Grass Mixture With Turf-Type Tall Fescue
6. MOST DISEASE-RESISTANT: Jonathan Green Black Beauty Dense Shade Grass Seed 
7. BEST FOR REPAIRS: Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun and Shade
8. FAST ESTABLISHMENT: Scotts Turf Builder Rapid Grass Sun & Shade Mix
9. BEST FOR HIGH TRAFFIC: GreenView Fairway Formula Grass Seed
10. ALSO CONSIDER: Pennington One Step Complete Dense Shade Bare Spot

Before You Buy Grass Seed for Shade

It’s important to note that even grass seeds specifically designed for dense shade still require a minimum amount of sunlight to thrive. In fact, for successful growth, grass typically needs at least 2 hours of direct sunlight or up to 6 hours of filtered light—such as dappled light through the leaves of a tree—each day.

While grass seed for shade is formulated to handle lower levels of light, it’s not a miracle solution for areas that receive no sunlight whatsoever. If your lawn is located in a completely shaded area, it’s likely that even the best shade-tolerant grass seed will struggle to grow.

Before purchasing grass seed, assessing the amount of sunlight your lawn receives throughout the day is essential. If your lawn doesn’t receive at least 2 hours of direct sunlight or up to 6 hours of filtered light per day, consider alternative options to grass, such as ground covers that thrive in full shade.

How We Chose the Best Grass Seed for Shade

We extensively researched dozens of grass seed products before selecting the ones in this lineup. We considered manufacturer reputation—both Scotts and Pennington are nationally known for their grass-breeding research programs—yet also looked closely at other companies that produce quality seeds. We judged the seed blends for versatility and their ability to withstand different levels of shade. Grass seed varieties that didn’t grow well in even light shade were eliminated.

While we gave attention to added ingredients, such as fertilizers and coatings that help ensure uniform germination, we didn’t eliminate noncoated seeds as long as they offered high germination rates. Fertilizer can always be added to the soil separately.

Our Top Picks

To qualify for a spot in this lineup, we chose seed types that grow grass in various shady situations, such as light shade, sun and shade, moderate shade, and dense shade. Some selected products feature coated seeds, while others offer untreated bare seeds. However, all the following products are well suited for establishing grass in shady spots.

Best Overall

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix

Since most lawns receive a combination of both sun and shade, Scotts developed Turf Builder sun-and-shade mix grass seed, which contains seed types that can grow grass in both situations. The blend includes a variety of fescue, perennial ryegrass, and bluegrass seeds coated with Scotts WaterSmart PLUS coating, which is eco-friendly, helps retain moisture while the seeds are waiting to germinate, and provides fertilizer to boost seedling growth.

This 20-pound bag of grass seed covers up to 8,000 square feet, and it can be spread uniformly in both sunny and shady spots in the yard. The shade-tolerant grass varieties in this blend grow in areas with as little as 4 hours of sunlight per day.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 20 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 8,000 square feet
• Coated: Yes

Pros

• Blended for both sun and shade, making this suitable for most lawns
• Shade-tolerant in areas with as little as 4 hours of sun per day
• Scotts WaterSmart PLUS coating helps to retain moisture and fertilize seedlings

Cons

• Not for areas that receive less than 4 hours of sun per day

Get the Scotts Turf Builder sun-and-shade mix grass seed for shade at Lowe’s or Scotts.

Best Bang for the Buck

Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Mix

This shade-tolerant blend thrives in low-light areas of the yard. Pennington’s Smart Seed for dense shade contains improved varieties of tall fescue and fine fescue that can grow in areas that receive 2 to 6 hours of sunlight per day, making it suitable for spots on the north side of a fence or house.

The seed is coated to help absorb and retain moisture during the germination phase and to feed the new seedlings after they sprout. The brand’s proprietary Penkoted seeds also help protect new seedlings from disease. One downside, however, is that the coating contains Mefenoxam, which can be toxic to some wildlife if consumed in large quantities.

The fescue varieties in this blend produce a more resilient lawn that can withstand foot traffic better than other shade-tolerant grass varieties. The 7-pound bag covers up to 1,750 square feet.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 7 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 1,750 square feet
• Coated: Yes

Pros

• Tolerates dense shade that receives 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
• This mixture contains improved varieties to better withstand foot traffic
• The Smart Seed coating aids in moisture retention and feeds seedlings

Cons

• Penkoted seeds contain the potentially toxic chemical Mefenoxam

Get the Pennington Smart Seed grass seed for shade at Menards.

Best for Dense Shade

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix

For those trouble spots that defy most shade-tolerant grass seeds, check out Scotts Turf Builder Dense Shade mix. It can withstand even dense shade in areas that receive no more than 3 hours of sunlight per day. These seeds are treated with Scotts WaterSmart PLUS coating to absorb moisture and retain it during the germination process, which helps reduce the risk of the seeds drying out before they sprout. The coating also feeds the new seedlings to help get them off to a good start.

Unlike sun/shade blends, this grass seed is for shade only and can’t abide bright, sunny areas. If other areas of the yard are sunny, consider seeding them with a tall fescue variety that tolerates sun to establish a uniform look throughout the yard. This 7-pound bag covers up to 1,750 square feet. Other bag sizes may be available from some retailers.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 7 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 1,750 square feet
• Coated: Yes

Pros

• This seed mix tolerates as little as 3 hours of sun per day
• Scotts WaterSmart PLUS coating helps to retain moisture
• A starter fertilizer is included to help fertilize seedlings

Cons

• This shade-only blend isn’t suitable for sunny lawns or those with mixed sun and shade

Get the Scotts Turf Builder Dense Shade grass seed for shade at Lowe’sor Scotts.

Best For Light Shade

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Mix

Create a seamlessly smooth lawn that extends from the sunny areas into lightly shaded spots that receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day with Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky bluegrass mix. This blend contains improved bluegrass varieties designed to thrive in multilight situations.

These seeds are coated with Scotts’ WaterSmart PLUS coating that absorbs and retains moisture to keep the seeds from drying out during germination. The coating also contains fertilizer to boost young seedling growth. A 7-pound bag of Scotts bluegrass mix can cover an area of up to 4,660 square feet. Additional sizes may be available.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 7 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 4,660 square feet
• Coated: Yes

Pros

• This grass seed is well suited for both sunny and shady areas
• Scotts WaterSmart PLUS coating helps the seeds to retain moisture
• A starter fertilizer is included to provide essential nutrients for seedlings

Cons

• Not suitable for areas that receive less than 6 hours of sunlight

Get the Scotts Turf Builder Kentucky bluegrass grass seed for shade at Ace Hardwareor Lowe’s.

Best Drought-Resistant

WaterSaver Grass Mixture with Turf-Type Tall Fescue

This WaterSaver grass mixture contains the only turf-type fescue that develops rhizome (stems that branch horizontally under the soil), which helps the grass spread and gives it added resistance in slight-drought conditions. A blend of tall fescue and rhizomatous tall fescue seeds, the grass develops into a thick lawn that can stand up to increased foot traffic and repair itself through rhizome spread.

WaterSaver grows in both sunny and moderately shady areas that receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day. This seed is not coated, so it goes further—a 25-pound bag can cover up to 5,000 square feet. Other sizes may be available from some retailers.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 25 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 5,000 square feet
• Coated: No

Pros

• Spreads through rhizomes in order to prepare the grass for droughtlike conditions
• The seeds develop deep roots that help reduce watering requirements
• Tolerates both sun and moderate shade for added versatility

Cons

• Rhizome can spread into flower beds, so this grass seed isn’t ideal for all lawns

Get the WaterSaver grass seed for shade at The Home Depot or Tractor Supply Co.

Most Disease Resistant

Jonathan Green Black Beauty Dense Shade Grass Seed

In lawns with a history of disease, such as brown patch or leaf spot, Jonathan Green’s Dense Shade mix may be the solution. The seed is produced from endophyte-enhanced strains of grass, which contain beneficial mycelium (mushroom-based) fungi that help grass resist diseases. In general, treatment with endophytic fungi results in grass types that show improved vigor and resistance to insect infestation.

This specific blend contains a mix of fescue, perennial ryegrass, and bluegrass. It produces a healthy dark green lawn that tolerates medium-to-dense shade conditions. It doesn’t perform as well in bright sunny spots. The seed is uncoated, and a 3-pound bag covers up to 1,800 square feet.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 3 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 1,800 square feet
• Coated: No

Pros

• These seeds are designed to resist disease and insect infestation
• Can tolerate as little as 2 hours of sun per day
• The mixture is formulated to produce grass with a deep green color

Cons

• These seeds are not suitable for sunny areas

Get the Jonathan Green grass seed for shade at Ace Hardware.

Best for Repairs

Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun and Shade

Lawn disease, insect infestations, excavations to repair buried lines—all can damage lawns, leaving them sparse or patchy. Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair is formulated for reseeding trouble spots when reseeding the entire lawn is not an option. The blend contains fescue and Kentucky bluegrass seeds to use on problem spots in sunny or shady areas.

To address the problem of seeds washing away, Scotts has amended the mix with a tackifier—an ingredient that helps the seeds adhere to the soil. The product also contains mulch, which absorbs and retains moisture during the germination process, and fertilizer to help tiny seedlings grow. The 20-pound bag can seed up to 445 square feet.

Product Specs 

• Quantity: 20 pounds
• Coverage: Up to 445 square feet
• Coated: No

Pros

• This product is specially designed for spot treating bare spots
• These grass seeds come with mulch and fertilizer to nourish seedlings
• The tackifier in the formula helps keep seeds from washing away

Cons

• This product is not suitable for use in a seed spreader

Get the Scotts EZ Seed grass seed for shade at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Target (for 3.75 pounds).

Fast Establishment

Scotts Turf Builder Rapid Grass Sun & Shade Mix