When you hear the term lawn, what comes to your mind first? A green and fuller piece of land that gives peaceful and refreshing vibes! And that’s why the major component of every lawn is its grass. It should not only be of perfect color but also cover the land completely without leaving behind uneven or barren spots.
However, just like other plants, grass also needs both the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem to flourish. And the most crucial element, after water, is surely the sunlight. In other words, sunlight and the texture or fullness of your grass are directly proportional to each other.
Sadly, due to some blocky factors like walls, trees, and even the treehouse of our neighbors, the entire or some part of the garden gets deprived of catching the fresh solar rays.
As a result of this, the lawn started to look unkempt and spotty in just a few days. If you are also suffering from the same problem then don’t worry since all you need to do is to get the best grass seed for shade from the list given below!
Table of Contents
Best grass seed for shade 2022 Comparison Table
7 Best grass seed for shade
1. Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix
When it comes to choosing the best grass seed for shade, you should not only grab the product that is capable of sprucing the grass in low-light conditions. Instead, also look for the additionals it is promising to provide such as resilience against drought and diseases, unbalanced heat and water conditions, etc. And that’s the very reason why Scotts turf builder shade mix is our favorite.
The company’s experts understand well that it’s not only the shade which inhibits the grass you grow fully but various environmental factors also influence them. Therefore, the seed mix the company provides is potent and sturdy enough to tackle both the low light conditions and every unusuality that nature throws in their way.
To begin with, the seeds tend to sprout into the seedlings even in extremely low light; however, they need a little extra water to burst their seed coat. The seeds are developed using the advanced technology named four in one water smart plus. With the help of this modification, the seeds pack more nutrients and soak up more water.
Resultantly, the seedlings grow with tender and tough bodies which can gracefully fight against diseases and insect attacks, and even drought. Speaking of grass coverage, then this Scotts seed mix is also best in this aspect as the seedlings need sunlight for only 2-3 hours to grow fully and thrive on your lawn. I also found that the seeds take only 12 days to sprout out into a pleasant green color which is also a plus point.
- Need sunlight only for 2-3 hours
- Resilience against diseases, insect attacks, and drought
- Seedlings spruce up with tender bodies
- Low maintenance needs/li>
- Can also survive in full sun
- Not suitable for warmer regions
In a nutshell, this seed mix for shade is ideal for all the people who hardly can make time for maintaining the lawn since these grass seeds can continue to flourish at the same brilliant pace even when you don’t water them regularly.
2. Jonathan Green Dense Shade Grass Seed Mix
This giant bag of Jonathan shade grass mix comes with a blend of different grass varieties so that your lawn keeps looking fuller and fresher in all the seasons of the year. The resulting grass not only grows in a fresh green color but is also dense and thick.
The standout feature of this product is that all the seeds present in the mixture are highly resistant to the negative effects of low light. In other words, the seeds will sprout out even if the entire area is covered with shade 24/7. Isn’t it amazing?
In addition to the varieties of seeds present in the mix and their tendency to sprout out in low or no light, the endophytic grass varieties are also present which make your turf sturdy and tough against pest attacks.
If you don’t know then the endophytic grass possesses the naturally in-built pest attack resistance and that’s the feature that makes this turfgrass superior. Besides the endophytic turfgrass, the mixture also contains ryegrass and fescue that are not only thick and durable but also don’t need any special maintenance.
- Very green and dense
- Grow even in the shadiest region
- Natural pest attack resistance
- Blend of various grass varieties
- Grow in every season and condition
- Spruce up in 9-12 days
- Grow better in drier regions than humid ones
The thing which I personally liked the most about this product is its ease of use. You don’t have to undergo any preparations nor do you need to prepare your soil for planting the seeds. Just spread them randomly by hand or with spreaders and wait for a few days. On average, the seeds take 9-12 days to spruce up.
3. Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade
Probably the biggest bag of 40lbs, these Scotts grass seeds are enough to cover a huge landscape of at least four thousand square feet. However, that’s not the reason why we mention this product in our top three products here.
The most standout feature of this grass mix is that it comes in the form of an all-around solution for almost all types of lawns and most importantly, for both the expert and beginners.
Whether you are new to growing grass in your patchy lawn or an expert at this job, you must go through three main steps that are preparing the soil, fertilizing the land, and lastly, spreading the seeds.
However, this all-around grass mix solution is here to save you from all the hassle as it will shrink down the three steps into one; to spread the seed mix! Yes, with this Scott’s product, you don’t have to check the soil nutrients content as the formula houses plenty of organic substances including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to enhance the soil texture and boost the nutrient value. Similarly, it also contains mild organic fertilizer which helps the seeds to sprout out the soil at a super-fast pace. Speaking of the seed mix then all the seed types Scotts is offering you in this product are completely diseases, shade, and drought tolerant.
- All-in-one mixture
- Drought, disease, and shade resistant
- Grow only in 7 days
- Contains organic fertilizer
- Improves the soil texture
- Huge bag
- Super-easy to use
- Suits only the pre-existing lawns for reseeding purposes
In simpler words, you just have to sprinkle the seeds, damp the soil, and let this 3-in-1 formula do its miracle. For better and faster growth, I suggest not skipping the watering sessions and you will see the green results only in a single week!
4. Scotts EZ Patch & Repair Sun and Shade
This product of Scotts, as the name indicates, is exclusively designed to repair your spotty lawns, whether they get full-time sun exposure or are present under the dense shade.
The seeds offered within this product are mainly developed to make them perfect from all aspects. For illustration, within the seeds, a special semi-permeable layer is installed which lets the water go inside but doesn’t let it come outside.
In this way, the seeds absorb and store heavier amounts of water (about six times more) which accelerate the germination process as well. Not only this but special spring-up ingredients and specific content of fertilizers are also given which assure 100% sprouting.
The fertilizing content of the mixture is based on a slow-release mechanism, which ensures to feed your soil for longer periods and optimally. However, it’s only possible if you take proper care of the watering pattern and follow all the instructions.
If your lawn remains subjected to very high foot traffic or is present in a sloped terrain where the seeds float away or flop out, then you won’t find better than this EZ patch and repair grass mix as it also stores Tackifiers that make the seeds stick to a point.
- Grow everywhere
- Super easy to use
- Contains a tackifier to bound the seeds
- Contains slow-releasing fertilizer
- Soak up 6X more water
- Best grass seed for shade, high foot traffic lawns and slopes
- Somewhat higher maintenance needs
Lastly, using this product is also quite convenient since all you have to do is shake and spread the mixture to the barren patches. Once done with spreading, water the patches frequently and the bald patches will get completely stuffed with green and extremely thick grass in two weeks.
5. Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Mix
If you don’t have enough time to research the best seed with the greatest growth and germination rate in your specific region, you should consider the Pennington smart seed product.
This grass mix consists of two major types of seeds; the one which tends to germinate in full sun and warmer regions while the second one is those that can germinate in moderate to dense shade and colder regions.
In this way, it won’t matter what the temperature conditions are or how much shade your lawn is subjected to, the grass will, ultimately grow, by one of the two seeds. However, if only one type of seed will germinate the sprout out of the soil, you’ll get the thin and less dense turfgrass.
To tackle this issue, you can undergo overseeding so more and more seeds could germinate and make your lawn lush green. As the name indicates, the company has used the technology to develop smart seeds which are capable of growing in limited amounts of water.
Due to this, whether you are suffering from water shortage during the seeding phase or have insufficient resources to water your seedlings, your seeds will survive even in drought-like conditions. I found that the seeds consume 30% less water than other grass seeds which is quite impressive.
Although the seeds are traffic and disease resistant, you have to pay close attention to watering patterns and prevent over-watering since it can lead to the arousal of various diseases. The seed mix also contains a small portion of fertilizer which maximizes germination success.
Another interesting addition that I found to this product is its pre-measured seed spreader by which you can spread the seeds in a landscape as large as 1000 square feet in a few minutes. By following the instructions given by the company, you’ll have the fresh and adorable seedlings sprucing out in three to four weeks.
- Seeds can germinate both in sun and shade
- Require 30% less water
- 100% guarantee of germination
- Ideal for dense and moderate shade
- Huge bag
- Highly economical
- Take 3-4 weeks to germinate
For better and quick results, I will recommend preparing your soil well by mulching and aeration methods before spreading the seeds. Plus, keep it soggy until the seedlings come out!
6. GreenView Fairway Formula Grass Seed
It is said that solving the issue of dense shade coverage is easier than that of partial sun and shade coverage since in this case, the turfgrass looks quite uneven, unbalanced, and patchy. If you are also having such a lawn where some parts get complete sun while some others hardly get sunlight for 2-3 hours, this greenview product is your go-to.
Unlike other products, you don’t have to plant the grass seeds only in shade (which in turn make the shaded turf thicker than the remaining portion). Instead, you have to spread the entire seed mix evenly all along the yard using a seed spreader or manually. This seed mix contains a wide range of grass seeds with a 100% germination rate.
Not only the variety, but all the seed culture is of premium quality where every single seed possesses enormous resistance to insect and pest attacks, diseases, drought, heat, and even heavy traffic.
To make the seed resistant to foot traffic, a biodegradable mulch is added to the blend along with a top-rated fertilizer. In this way, the mulch protects and keeps the grass seed in place to germinate while the fertilizer boosts the germination process.
Most importantly, there’s not an agent or component that could trigger or stimulate weed growth. In fact, the company claims that its product is free of all kinds of weed pathogens to up to 99.9%.
- Blend of leading seed varieties
- Contains fertilizer and mulch
- Resistant to drought, insects, and diseases
- Can grow even in heavy foot traffic and extreme weather
- 99.9% weed-free
- 100% germination rate
- Take one to two weeks to germinate
- Not much effective in dense shades
The thing which impresses me most is its ability to sprout faster than all the other shaded grass seed mixtures. You spread the seeds on Monday and your lawn thrives with luscious green grass till the weekend, regardless of how extreme the weather is! Lastly, this greenview seed mix can be used for both new and pre-existing laws to cover areas of about 2500 square feet and 5000 square feet respectively.
7. Jonathan Green Shady Nooks Grass Seed
This Jonathan grass seed mix is exclusively developed for the shady nooks and parts of the lawn which are completely blocked to sunlight such as around the trees or beside the wall.
The seeds can grow both in wet and dry conditions but I found them relatively faster to germinate in moist soil. Remember that you cannot use them in sunny areas since that would be only a waste. Just spill the mix on the shaded and bald patches and you’ll get an extremely thick, lush, and green yard guarantee.
The most amazing part of this seed mix is that it comes in a ready-to-use form which means you don’t need to prepare your soil by aeration, fertilizer, or mulching. Despite this no-prep seeding phase, the grass seeds will still sprout into green and fresh seedlings only in four days!
The resulting grass is deep green and has relatively thinner blades. The seed mix consists of pilgrim POA seeds that not only appeal to passers-by but also come with an interesting life cycle. This grass possesses extreme resistance to cold due to being a winter annual plant. Till the spring, the grass gets mature and produces seeds during the entire growing season.
However, as soon as the summer arrives, this grass dries out due to heatwaves and the seeds which were spread back in earlier spring germinates into a new lush green turf, at the end of summer.
- No need to prep soil
- Drought resistant
- Germinate only in 7 days
- Best for cold and humid areas
- Consist of Pilgrim POA seeds
- Ready to use
- Take one to two weeks to germinate
- Doesn’t contain herbicide
In addition to moist soil, these grass seeds grow better in Virginia’s climate and on clay-type soil. Since the weed killer doesn’t come within the composition, I would suggest adding a pre-emergent herbicide to your soil. Due to being drought resistant, watering both the seeds and resulting grass twice a week is enough.
Buying Guide
Now since you have been aware of the products that can be called the best grass seed for shade, the question which arises here is which one you should purchase. Sadly, we cannot give a one-line answer to this question and you need to consider some aspects before making a final decision.
Climate conditionsSome of us live in warmer regions, some in moderate, and some others in cold and moist areas. It cannot be said that any of us can grow the same type of grass in different temperatures and climate zones. Instead, you have to bring only the most suitable and compatible seed type.
Generally, the grass seeds that tend to grow in shaded parts are more compatible with colder and moist climate conditions. In fact, the three major shaded grass seeds; POA, Fescues, and Kentucky, need lower temperatures to germinate. Similarly, POA ryegrass is drought-resistant whereas it can’t survive under the influence of summer heat. On the other hand, Fescues is not as drought resistant as POA ryegrass but it can sustain warmer temperatures.
Seed mixBuying grass seed mix saves both your time and energy. Most of the commercially available products come in the form of blends (a blend of seeds, fertilizer, other ingredients).
Within this mixture, various types of grass seeds are added wherein half of the seeds germinate in shaded regions while the other half germinate in the sunny part. In this way, the turfgrass looks equally dense, thick, even, and green, regardless of the temperature and amount of shade.
Besides the different grass seeds, look for the blends that come with fertilizer, mulch, and herbicides so you don’t have to invest in all these soil prepping essentials. If your lawn is sloped, bumpy, or subjected to heavy foot traffic, then look for the seed mix that contains tackifiers so the seeds won’t float or sweep away.
While buying the seed mix, also consider which color of grass you want to see on your lawn and how much maintenance you could afford.
Final thoughts
Having thin and bald spots in the lawn can highly affect your lawn aesthetics negatively but by using one of the seven grass seed products, you can sort this problem out in time. All the products we’ve mentioned possess more than a four-star rating on Amazon and are thoroughly tested by the experts. Among these seven products, the top-three products which we prefer the most are
- Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix due to its resilience against diseases, drought, and insect attack, tender seedlings, and low maintenance needs.
- Jonathan Green Dense Shade Grass Seed Mix due to its ability to form the greenest and densest turf grass, grow in the shadiest region, and have super fast germination.
- Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade Grass Mix due to its 100% germination guarantee, ability to grow in both sun and shade, and is highly economical.
Remember that without the best grass seed for shade, you cannot fill up your lawn with the luscious, even, and pleasantly green grass. That’s why, it’s essential to do thorough research and for further assistance, navigate to our buying guide so you won’t waste your hard-earned wedges on something useless.