Gardeners Dream Hard-Wearing Lawn Grass Seed Review

This grass seed mix contains two varieties of grass seed, which is less than some of the other mixes out there. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if those varieties have been carefully chosen to complement each other, which, in this case, they clearly have:

• 70% Perennial Ryegrass – loved for its hardiness and fast-growing nature
• 30% Strong Creeping Fescue – creeping rhizomes that create a dense, green lawn

Ryegrass and fescue are a fantastic pair. Both types of grass are extremely robust, making them great for a lawn that’s heavily used. However, together, they provide a great aesthetic too, with the fine leaves of the fescue mingling beautifully with the wider and chunkier ryegrass leaves.

This grass seed promises results in 5-10 days, but I didn’t see any signs of life until 15 days in. However, this was understandable since conditions weren’t exactly ideal. They were sown in mid-October when I usually sow the last of my grass seed in September, meaning that they had several hard frosts to deal with. 

The fact that it only took 15 days for the seeds to germinate is actually pretty impressive – this was the second-fastest mix to sprout out of the five that I tested. Interestingly, it was even faster than other mixes that contained exactly the same grass seed varieties, attesting to the quality of the seed that has been used.

Three months in and this mix has managed to maintain its head-start. The grass is thick, even, and at a great length. Compared to the other mini lawns that I sowed, this one is definitely one of the lushest.

Out of the five grass seed mixes that I tested, this was the only one that came with no instructions whatsoever. If, like me, you’ve sown plenty of grass seed in the past, this isn’t an issue. However, if sowing a lawn is new to you, it means that you’ll need to spend some time looking up what to do – a little inconvenient!

I chose to follow the same general instructions provided by the other grass seed mixes that I was testing. I leveled the soil out with a rake before scooping out handfuls of seed and scattering this over the soil. I then gently raked the seeds in before giving them some water.

Once you’re done, seal the bag back up and then store it until you need it again. Although the fact that this seed comes in a bag rather than a recyclable/compostable box isn’t great, it makes up for this with its Ziploc-style seal. This meant that, out of the different seed mixes that I tested, this was the only one that could be completely sealed back up. This is great for anyone who plans on storing their seed for a few years. The full seal provided by this bag will help to keep the seeds fresh for longer, saving them from deteriorating.

In terms of value, this is the Goldilocks of grass seed mixes. It’s not the highest priced, but it’s not the lowest either. It’s not the fastest to germinate but, again, it’s also not the slowest.

However, once you bring longevity into it, this mix comes out on top. The lawn that it has formed is lush, vigorous, and undeniably healthy. It’s very unlikely to need reseeding in the future, with the perennial varieties in this mix reliable enough to stand strong year after year. Based on performance, I would have to say that this seed mix offers the best value for money.

As a landscape gardener, I sow a lot of grass seed for clients. If I had to pick just one of the five mixes that I reviewed to recommend to my clients, the Gardeners Dream Hard-Wearing Lawn Grass Seed would be it. It’s fast-growing, wonderfully hardy and resilient, and, most importantly, has given me a beautifully dense lawn that is very clearly flourishing.