Every homeowner yearns to walk across their yard's plush, green grass barefoot without experiencing discomfort. You can realize this dream by deciding to grow a variety of grass seed that develops rapidly and doesn't require mowing in your yard. Nevertheless, remember to select a no-mow grass seed blend that fits your specific circumstances. Things like the kind of soil, climate, light levels, and other conditions should inform your grass seed purchase decision.
Our top pick is the Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra, which has a tolerance for high foot traffic and heat. Jonathan Green Black Beauty Heavy Traffic Premium Grass Seed Mixture, is another excellent choice. Unlike most grass, this grass seed is the best for heavy-traffic areas like playgrounds. Even after encountering sports equipment and constant foot traffic, it bounces back and remains lush and green. Lastly our third choice is the Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade-3 In 1. It is designed to help improve your lawn's thickness, fill in bare spots, and enhance its ability to grow in both sunny and shady areas.
What is No Mow Lawn Grass Seed?
Now mow grass is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant blend of fine fescue and hard fescues specifically designed to form a lush green carpet of grass when mature. Compared to other strains of grass, no-mow grass seed requires little to no fertilizer.
Fescue is a drought-tolerant strain that can perform well on sandy, loamy soil and demands no constant watering. With a no-mow lawn, you only need to mow once in spring when the seed heads are out and also once in fall.
Now mow grass seed mix differs according to regional conditions. However, most of them contain five types of fescue:
- Hard fescue: It is a bunch of grass highly recommended for high foot traffic areas. It is tolerant to drought and heat, as well.
- Sheep fescue: Like hard fescue grasses, this bunch of grass is tolerant to drought and needs little to no nitrogen to be fertilized.
- Chewings fescue: It has a higher quality than the rest with deep green color, and once established, it crowds out weeds. Nonetheless, it can only withstand moderate foot traffic and requires regular maintenance, especially when dethatching the upper thatch layer.
- Red fescue: This is the creeping variety used to fill out spaces to form a dense nod. One of the best options for anyone looking for shade-tolerant grass seed.
Best No Mow Lawn Grass Seed
1. Best Cool-Season: Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra
- ESTABLISHES NEW YARDS & FILLS IN BARE SPOTS - Black Beauty Ultra...
- PROVIDES A DARK GREEN LAWN - This grass seed mix produces...
- RETAINS MOISTURE - With roots that can grow up to 4-feet deep and...
- IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS - Our grass seed mix requires full sun...
- COMPLETE COVERAGE - This 7 lb bag will seed up to 1,400 sq. ft....
Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra is a good cool-season grass mix with a blend of fescue, perennial ryegrass, and bluegrass. I noticed that while this mix can still do well under partial shade, dense shade doesn't produce thick, green grass. Therefore, it is advisable to plant it where it will receive sufficient sun and, if not possible, let it be in partial shade. One of the best traits of this grass seed is that it is high foot traffic and drought tolerant.
On the downside, this mow grass seed mix becomes dormant when exposed to very high summer temperatures and the lowest winter temperatures as well. Gardeners can use this grass seed to start new lawn grass or overseed an existing lawn that looks patchy.
Image Credits: jonathangreen.com
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2. Best for Heavy Foot Traffic: Jonathan Green Black Beauty Heavy Traffic Premium Grass Seed Mixture
- HIGH TRAFFIC GRASS SEED - It's great for backyards, sports...
- UNIFORM LAWN TEXTURE - This grass seed mix excels on sports...
- FULL SUN & PARTIAL SHADE - Black Beauty Heavy Traffic is designed...
- PROVIDES A DARK GREEN LAWN - This grass seed mix produces...
- COMPLETE COVERAGE - This 3 lb bag will seed up to 600 sq. ft. for...
Jonathan Green Black Beauty Heavy Traffic Premium Grass Seed Mixture is a blend of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue grasses. The mow lawn grass seed is the best option for playgrounds, backyards, and other areas with heavy foot traffic. The established grass has deep fibrous roots, and the grass resists abrasion from paws, shoes, weather, and even sports equipment.
One of the features of this grass seed that impressed me the most is that once established, it didn't require watering. The grass seeds mature into low-maintenance lawn grass with little to no demands.
Image Credits: jonathangreen.com
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3. Best Splurge: Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade-3 in 1
- Scotts Turf Builder THICK'R LAWN Sun & Shade is a 3-in-1 solution...
- Get up to a 50% thicker lawn with just one application (subject...
- Lawn improvement product contains grass seed to fill gaps in...
- This 3-in-1 is a great addition to your lawn care program with...
- One 40 lb. bag of Scotts Turf Builder THICK'R LAWN Sun & Shade...
Scotts Thick’R Lawn Sun and Shade 3-in-1 seed is ideal for those who don't enjoy the laborious process of prepping the soil before reseeding a lawn. In this bag, the seeds have been blended with fertilizer, essential organic materials required by the soil for germination, and different drought-resistant grass seeds. With this premium mow lawn grass seed, you are guaranteed to have green, healthy lawn grass. All I had to do was rake the soil, spread this lawn grass seed, water it daily, and sit back as nature does the rest.
Image Credits: scotts.com
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4. Best Warm Season: Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass
- Designed for full sun, high traffic areas, and drought resistance
- Exclusive 4 in 1 WaterSmart PLUS Coating absorbs more water,...
- Includes Scotts best seed, protects against disease, keeps seed...
- Aggressively spreads to fill in bare spots and crowd out weeds
- Great for lawns challenged by long periods of scorching southern...
Warm-season grasses grow densely in the southern parts of the U.S. Bermudagrass is a heat-tolerant grass seed with excellent foot traffic resistance. I noticed that once established, this grass is thick enough to choke out weeds, leaving a green, healthy mow lawn. The biggest downside I noticed with this grass seed mix is that it literally turns brown in Winter. The grass looks yellowish and remains dormant until early spring.
This grass seed from Scotts has a coating to help the seed germinate better, as well as protect against disease and provide nutrients. I did not expect to see the grass sprouting in just seven days. Plus, this mow lawn grass seed spreads rapidly to give a lush, green lawn.
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5. Best Low-Maintenance: Scotts Turf Builder Tall Fescue Mix
- Designed for full sun and partial shade; superior heat, drought,...
- 4 in 1 water Smart Plus coating absorbs more water than uncoated...
- Includes Scotts best seed, helps protect seedlings against...
- Guaranteed to grow quicker, thicker, greener grass
- Seeds up to 1, 750 sq. Ft.
While no grass is completely maintenance-free, the Scotts Turf Builder tall fescue mix is the closest you'll get. It thrives under high heat, foot traffic, and drought. Scotts tall fescue grass is designed to resist lawn diseases and common insect pests. While you'll still need to water, fertilize and mow the grass, this mow lawn grass is not very demanding.
Each seed is coated to provide necessary nutrients, protect against fungal diseases and help in water retention during the germination stage. Compared to other lawn grass seeds I have tried, Scott's mix was more easy-going and germinated in just one week.
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6. Best For High Heat and Humidity: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Southern Gold Mix
- Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Southern Gold Mix For Tall Fescue...
- Southern grass seed mix designed to thrive in harsh summer...
- Exclusive 4 in 1 WaterSmart PLUS Coating absorbs more water,...
- Seeds up to 1,750 sq. ft.
- Not available in all states; Available in AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY,...
There aren't many grass seeds that can withstand the scorching heat and high humidity that characterizes the Summer in the South. It is common to see yellow lawns around August during summer. Scotts Turf Builder Southern Gold Mix is blended to prevent your lawn grass from losing its lush, green appearance.
Another noteworthy feature is that each seed has Scott’s 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating. It was amazing to see how well these grass seeds performed under brutal weather, retaining water efficiently and germinating quickly. Scotts has designed this no-mow grass seed to survive in climate zones where the weather shifts constantly.
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7. Best for Dense Shade: Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade
- The perfect mix of Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue to thrive in shady...
- Grow thick, green grass in areas of your lawn that don't receive...
- Contains just the right amount of fertilizer to help your lawn...
- Requires only 2 to 6 hours of sunlight
- Disease and traffic-resistant for a strong, durable lawn
Pennington Smart Seed is specially designed to withstand cool weather, making it ideal for those densely shaded lawn areas. I tested it in areas of my backyard that got about 2 to 4 hours of sunlight, and it didn't disappoint. The seeds are mixed with the company's Penkoted technology, which helps it fight off diseases through the seedling stages. The coating isn't only for protection against diseases but also to help the seeds grow faster and healthier.
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8. Best for Fast Growth: Pennington Smart Seed Perennial Rye Blend Grass Seed
- The perfect mix of Tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Kentucky...
- Ideal grass seed for lawns that receive sun in some parts and...
- Contains just the right amount of fertilizer to help your lawn...
- For areas getting 4 to 6 hours of sunlight
- Excellent disease resistance and very good drought tolerance
Pennington Smart Seed Perennial Ryegrass grows faster than most options and retains its lush green look throughout the year. I was amazed to see that even in Winter, this ryegrass did not turn brown. It maintained its deep green color. Pennington Smart Seed Perennial Ryegrass develops deep roots, which makes them more resistant to drought. Additionally, each seed has a Penkoted seal, essential for protection against mold and other damages.
Image Credits: pennington.com
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Conclusion
Everyone wants to have a luscious lawn that remains green throughout the year. Most gardeners shun the work that goes into achieving a lush green lawn. However, with no-mow grass seed, you can enjoy a luscious lawn that is low maintenance and resistant to most diseases. Choose whatever suits your regional conditions considering whether or not your lawn receives high foot traffic, what kind of weather, and also how prone grass is to disease attacks. Eliminate the ants, and you'll have an amazing lawn where you can relax with your family all year round.
