7 Best Grass Seed for Shade of 2024

Designed specifically for the UK climate and refined for shady areas, this Grow Pure Fast Growing Premium Lawn Seed is hard wearing and resilient – perfect for those areas that don’t see the sun very often.

This lawn seed is made of a mixture of Perennial Ryegrass and Strong Creeping Red Fescue. The grass that grows is fairly tough, thanks to the ryegrass able to withstand both light and heavy use. It’s therefore one of the best grass seeds for shade and gardens with a lot of wear from animals and children.

The seeds can thrive under the majority of growing conditions, including the often cold and rainy British weather. Unlike others on the market, these seeds can be used year-round, although best results are seen when it’s applied between March and October.

With this 1 kg bag covering 60 m², the quantity is suitable for small/medium gardens and, unlike larger bags, there shouldn’t be excessive amounts left over.

Whilst some people see results within 7 days if growing conditions are perfect, most gardeners notice visible coverage after approximately 4 weeks. This seed can be used to repair bare patches whilst also improving the overall look and health of your lawn. The grass grows in reasonably thick, even in areas that don’t get a lot of sunlight.

Careful watering is required to keep the seeds damp after application, unless rain is scheduled.

If you’ve previously struggled to persuade grass to grow on your shady lawn, the Gardeners Dream Shady Area Lawn Seed is a good option to consider.

Made up of a combination of 70% Strong Creeping Red Fescue and 30% Chewings Fescue, it’s capable of growing in areas with little to no sunlight. Whether you have a bare patch of garden under a shady tree, or a north-facing plot that’s often eclipsed during the day, this seed increases the chances of having a full blanket lawn.

It’s slow-growing grass, and often takes longer than the described ‘5 – 10 days’ to germinate. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere between 2 – 6 weeks to show signs of germination, and does require quite a lot of watering and care as it grows. The resulting grass has relatively thin individual blades, but offers good coverage. However, it’s not especially hardwearing.

If you have children or pets, the areas with this grass are likely to show wear quickly, though this is often the case for grass in shaded areas.

Another bonus of this grass seed is the amount that you get for the price paid, and it’s one of the best grass seeds for shade if you’re after value for money. Sold as a 5 kg bag, one bag can cover approximately 145 m² as long as it is measured carefully and sown using the instructed 35 g/m².

If you’re after a grass seed that is suitable for both shady conditions and has good drought tolerance, the Miracle-Gro EverGreen Shady Lawn Seed is a worthwhile purchase. As an added bonus, it generally germinates within 10 days.

This quality seed contains species that can withstand drought and shade –  it contains a mixture of Fescues as well as Brown Top Bent. Unlike many of the lawn seeds featured here, this Miracle-Gro mix deliberately doesn’t include ryegrass meaning that the grass that grows shouldn’t be overly coarse – instead, growing as a fine-but-dense lawn.

With a handy sprinkler built into the side of the pack, this seed is very easy to use and spread. Simply rake the area you are looking to seed, shake the box and apply seed to the grass in a criss-cross pattern.

The seeds are reasonably high maintenance in the weeks following sowing, requiring regular watering. One 420 g pack covers 14 m² of lawn – so this seed is best suited to small lawns and reseeding unless you are prepared to buy more than one packet (which may not be cost effective).

The growth speed of this seed is a factor that’s particularly impressive. Many people notice growth within ten days in shady areas, although in some cases it grows in as little as seven. Conditions do need to be pretty optimal to achieve the coveted seven-day germination, however.

Overall, this is one of the best grass seeds for producing quick results in notoriously-difficult shady areas. The grass produced is even and thick and the sprinkler on the side of the pack ensures that application can be done relatively easily.

The A1 Lawn AM Pro 9 Shade & Drought Grass Seed is a premium seed, designed for shady areas. It’s one of the best grass seeds for shade that also works on sunny/partially sunny areas due to the large variety of seed included.

This seed is made up of a combination of seven different grass species including Dwarf Perennial Ryegrass, Creeping Red Fescue and Ryegrass for durability. The specialised blend is great for repairing shady areas, but can also be used for new lawns. In ideal conditions, results are seen within 7 – 21 days, although it may take longer to germinate in areas without a lot of sun. With this seed, patience is key!

It contains more species of seed than other grass seed featured on this page, which is reflected by the higher price tag. It’s relatively durable, so suitable for high traffic areas and grows well in shaded areas. The seed has been certified by DEFRA, FERA and SASA, plus it’s been rigorously tested under a variety of conditions.

With a huge amount of information included on how to effectively use this grass seed, this mix is suitable for those with little experience of seeding lawns. It can be sown by hand or using a spreader. Like most seed, it does require a lot of maintenance following application. It should be watered morning and night if  there is no rain forecast.

This grass seed comes in a range of size bags, with 5 kg covering a large 140 m² area. If stored correctly away from temperature extremes or damp, any leftover seed should be fine to use the following season.

This Gro-Sure Shady Lawn Seed comes with a built in spreader, so there’s no need to buy your own or risk an uneven application spreading seed by hand.

This seed contains dwarf perennial ryegrass and creeping red fescue; a mix that works well in shady conditions. It’s one of the best grass seeds for shade if you’re working to a budget and only filling a small area. It comes in a small 300 g box that can cover 10 m² so for this reason it’s best for overseeding and filling in bare patches.

Although this grass seed is easy to use thanks to the built in spreader, it shouldn’t be applied when the soil temperature is below 10°C or above 19°C. For this reason, it should be sown between April and May or September and October.

Overall, this grass seed has great shade tolerance with the added benefit of being very affordable. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use seed with a built-in spreader, particularly for smaller areas, this Gro-Sure seed is a great option.

If your lawn is predominantly in shade, or has a mixture of light and dark areas, The Grass People Hard Wearing Grass Seed can help create a thick, even lawn.

Made up of 80% Perennial Ryegrass and 20% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, it contains more of a hard-wearing combination than some entirely-Fescue based seed mixes. The resulting grass has thick blades and is suitable for pets and families; it won’t instantly wear thin.

Whereas some grass created for shade can become scorched if it receives too much sunlight, this Hard Wearing Grass Seed can be grown successfully across a range of shady, wet and dry areas. It will also grow in clay-based soil, and generally doesn’t require too much maintenance.

After sowing, signs of germination take approximately 6 days to appear and a 10 kg bag will cover approximately 200 m². Sewing in either Spring or Autumn is recommended, when the ground temperature is above 8°C.

Due to its ability to grow well, no matter if there is plenty of light or predominantly shade, this is one of the best grass seeds for shade or sun. If your garden has a combination of different light exposure, terrain or growing conditions, The Grass People Hard Wearing Grass Seed should be able to deliver some good results.

In very hot weather, the grass may need some extra attention so that it doesn’t dry out, but it tends to bounce back quickly once there’s enough water available.

For any football fans out there, the Moowy Shade & Sun Grass Seed is produced by the same company that delivered grass seeds to many of the 2018 World Cup stadiums. And even if you don’t love the game, it’s hard to deny that stadiums have got excellent grass!

This Shade & Sun Grass Seed is made up of three different grass varieties. It’s 50% Red Fescue, 40% Perennial Ryegrass, and 10% Kentucky Bluegrass. Overall, this produces grass that is thick and hardwearing, and relatively resilient when it comes to growing conditions; it can grow in shaded areas, and some customers even report success on ground with very little preparation.

If you’re struggling to maintain a bed of green grass under trees in the garden, or want to cover any area that’s shaded or proven difficult with other grass, Moowy is a tough seed that survives in sunless areas.

It also handles cold weather well and can be planted all the way through from February to October. Although germination will likely be slower in the colder months, it’s still one of the best grass seeds for shady areas if you hope to plant outside of the typical growing season.

For the most part, this seed germinates in approximately 5 days and one 880 g bag can cover an area of approximately 50 m² when overseeding. Comparing with other grass seed, such as the Gardener’s Dream seed, Moowy is relatively expensive per metre squared.