What’s the Best Grass Seed for Your Lawn?

Marcus Bergin
Jun 28
2 min read

I get asked this a lot by clients around Cheltenham – especially when they’re looking to improve tired patches or thicken up their lawns. Choosing the right grass seed makes a big difference to how your lawn looks and performs through the year.

Why does grass seed choice matter?

Different seed mixes contain different types of grass. Some are tougher for heavy use, others are finer for ornamental lawns, and some cope better with shade or drought. The right choice depends on how you use your garden.

Types of grass seed and when to use them

1. Hard-wearing family lawns

If your lawn gets a lot of foot traffic from children or dogs, go for a hard-wearing mix with ryegrass. Ryegrass is quick to germinate and creates a durable, lush green lawn that’s easy to maintain.

Recommended: A1 Lawn Platinum Rye mix for general domestic lawns.

2. Ornamental or fine lawns

For a neater, bowling-green finish, choose a fine fescue mix without ryegrass. These lawns look beautiful but require more careful mowing and feeding to stay healthy.

3. Shaded areas

Lawns under trees or in shaded corners benefit from a shade-tolerant seed mix, often containing fescues that can cope with lower light levels.

4. Repairing patches

For quick repairs, a fast-germinating ryegrass-based seed will establish quickly and blend in with most domestic lawns.

When’s the best time to sow grass seed?

Ideally, sow in spring (March-May) or early autumn (September) when the soil is warm and moist. With summer upon us, autumn overseeding is a great option to strengthen the lawn before winter.

A few sowing tips

Prepare the area by raking and removing debris.
Lightly rake in the seed to ensure good soil contact.
Keep the area moist until the seed has germinated.
Avoid mowing until the new grass reaches about 5-7cm high.

Need help choosing or sowing grass seed?

If you’d rather not tackle it yourself, I’m happy to advise on the best seed for your lawn, and can carry out overseeding and lawn repairs as part of your maintenance. It’s a simple way to rejuvenate your lawn without needing to start from scratch.

Thinking about overseeding your lawn this summer or autumn?Message me if you’d like a hand choosing the right seed mix or getting the job done professionally.

Happy Gardening