Miracle-Gro EverGreen Multi Purpose Lawn Seed Review

What sets different grass seed products apart from each other is the variety of grass that has been used. This one contains three different types:

• 50% Perennial Ryegrass – a hardy, fast-growing, clump-forming grass 
• 20% Chewings Fescue – fine and bristly blades that grow in tufts
• 30% Strong Creeping Fescue – fine leaves that establish quickly via underground rhizomes

The perennial ryegrass provides hardiness, as well as a drought-tolerant lawn thanks to its shallow roots that can easily access surface moisture. Meanwhile, the fescues give the lawn a finer and more delicate texture but have a deep root structure that helps with endurance.

All in all, a great mix of varieties for all types of lawns, including those frequented by children and pets. 

The only drawback is that I couldn’t find out where the grass seed comes from. Miracle-Gro is an American company that sells worldwide, so the seed may not necessarily be from the UK. The British climate itself is a tough one, but if you, like me, happen to live in a particularly harsh part of the country, UK-grown seed is usually the better option as it will have come from plants that have already adapted to our climate. 

I had high expectations for this grass seed – I genuinely thought that it would outperform the rest. However, out of the five grass seed mixes that I tested, this one took the longest to germinate – about 17 days. 

Granted, conditions weren’t ideal. The seed was sown in mid-October, which is much later than recommended for North East Scotland. Miracle Gro’s promise of this seed sprouting in 5 days only applies to seed being sown in ideal conditions. Still, the box claims that this seed will germinate 50% faster than others, so the fact that it took the longest felt like a letdown.

Once the seed finally sprouted, I expected it to jump into action and race to catch up with the others. After all, Miracle Gro has used Watersmart grass technology for these seeds, which supposedly gives them stronger roots so that they can better absorb water and nutrients. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t see any evidence of this. The growth of this seed consistently lagged behind the rest, with the grass being shorter and sparser. 

Three months in and this mini lawn still looks much patchier than the others. From a distance, it only has a very slight green tinge to it, compared to the notable green covering that the other lawns have.

This grass seed comes in a cardboard carton (made from recycled card, so you can toss it into your compost bin once you’re done). The instructions are printed clearly on the back of the box – rake out your growing area, shake out the seed, rake it in, and then water. The aftercare instructions are also straightforward and easy to follow. Out of all of the five grass seed mixes that I tested, this one definitely had the most informative packaging – convenient for those who have never sown grass seed before.

The side of the box features a perforated cardboard strip. Peel this back and the grass seed can be dispensed directly from the box, rather than having to pour it into your hand first – another convenience. 

Sprinkling the grass seed out was easy. I sowed it slightly thicker than recommended to try to make up for the time of year, and then gave it plenty of water once the seeds had been raked in.

Since I didn’t use all of my seed and the box can’t be resealed, I decanted it into a separate container for storage.

As expected, with Miracle Gro being more of a household name than the other grass seed brands that I tested, this seed was pricier than the rest. Compared to some of the others, the cost difference is minimal, and it would be a price worth paying if the quality and performance of the seed outshone its competition.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. With Miracle Gro being the poorest-performing of the five grass seed mixes that I reviewed, its slightly higher price can’t really be justified. In a way, it feels like you’re paying for the eye-catching brand and slick packaging, rather than for good seed, which no gardener wants to do!

I had high hopes for this grass seed mix but, sadly, I was left disappointed. Although it contains a fantastic variety of grass seed and is easy to apply and store, its performance lacks in a big way. If you’ve been a long-time fan of the brand, you may still be tempted to give the Miracle-Gro EverGreen Multi Purpose Lawn Seed a try, and it could be worth doing so. However, sow your seed within the recommended timeframe, as this isn’t a mix that does well in poor conditions.