Can you get fast growing grass seed?

This a common question we often hear, and the answer is yes; you can get fast growing grass seed! However, it’s also worth pointing out at this stage that the speed at which grass seed grows is determined initially by the seed species and how quickly it germinates, but the conditions in which you’re sowing the seed will also affect its growth!

On top of this, we often see other grass seed brands calling out things like “fast-growing technology included”. Although these claims are often overstated, some of these technologies are just seeds coated in microplastics, which will then be left behind in the soil!

As stated before, the grass seed type and the growing conditions will determine how quickly grass seeds will germinate and grow.

Quick to germinate Perennial Ryegrass seed

One of the fastest-growing grass seed types is Perennial Ryegrass; this germinates in 5-10 days and will show baby grass plant shots appearing in your soil during this time.

Other grass types, such as Bent and Fescues, can germinate quickly but require a higher ground temperature. For this reason, they can struggle to grow quickly in the early season since temperatures are a bit lower. Likewise, they won’t grow to their full potential until we start consistently getting warmer temperatures day and night.

For this reason, people often think they are slow growing when it’s just that the growing conditions are not correct.

Growing conditions affect how fast grass grows

How fast grass seed germinates and begins to grow also depends heavily on the growing conditions, the weather in your area and the quality of your prep work. And we have a ‘when to plant grass seed’ guide to ensure you get the best results!

Most grass types require consistent temperatures of 8-10 degrees Celcius and above day and night for germination. In the UK, this means that the best time to grow grass is between spring and autumn.

Grass also needs moisture to germinate and grow as well as it can. But, thankfully, rainfall is rarely an issue in the UK. So, after your first six weeks of daily watering, you can let nature do the work for you. However, you will need to ensure your lawn gets the water it requires in the warmer months so it doesn’t dry out or, in the worst-case scenario, die.

The best fast growing grass seed

To get the best results for general use, we know that a grass seed mix should include a few different seed types, giving a better balance of fast, durable and quick-to-recover growth in all conditions. But, of course, what seed is ideal for you will depend on a few things, like the soil type in your garden, whether or not your lawn suffers from shade throughout the day, and how much time you have to spare for mowing, watering and overseeding.

We have listed a few of our fastest-growing grass seed mixes below and outlined the additional benefits they offer:

SUPERSTAR: Back Lawn

Our SUPERSTAR: Back Lawn is a multi-purpose seed mix that gives you the backyard lawn you’ve been dreaming of. It features a blend of 80% Perennial Ryegrass, fast-growing, and 20% Strong Creeping Red Fescue that’s hardy and durable enough to handle all the wear and tear throughout the year!

If areas of your lawn suffer from partial or complete shade throughout the day, then you can mix this product with our STEADFAST: Shade seed mixes.

FAMILY: Kids and Pets

Also featuring a blend of 80% Perennial Ryegrass / 20% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, our FAMILY: Kids and Pets mix offers a balance of fast growth, superb durability and quick recovery from the wear and tear your family and pets dish out.

PERFORM: Sports

An expertly blended mix of three types of 100% Perennial Ryegrass seeds intended for use on football fields and rugby pitches. Our PERFORM: Sports blend is a good option for home use if you want fast-growing grass seed that’s also durable, hard-wearing and reliable. This mix is also often used in homes where the garden is used for a lot of recreational sports, kids kicking a football around or dogs running amok.

IMPRESS: Clay Master

Our IMPRESS: Clay Master seed mix features a hybrid blend of 50% fast-growing Perennial Ryegrass, 45% highly-durable Tall Fescue and 5% Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass, which is seen as one of the most nutritious meadow grasses in the UK! This blend offers a balance of fast growth and resilience to very dry and damp conditions. For these reasons, it is an exceptional choice for growing in clay soils.

RESTORE: Self Repair Lawn

This seed mix is a bit different than the others due to its mixture breakdown. It contains 40% Zurich Creeping Perennial Ryegrass, which grows relatively quickly but also self-repairs, eliminating the need to overseed.

So, while it doesn’t grow as quickly as standard Perennial Ryegrasses, it makes up for it in the long run!

This seed mix also includes 50% Strong Creeping Red Fescue and 10% Slender Creeping Red Fescue, offering outstanding durability and resistance to wear and tear.

What else can you do to make grass seed grow fast?

Before sowing your grass seed, if you prepare your planting area to achieve the perfect seedbed, you will get better growth and ultimately achieve a better lawn!

As well as carrying out prep work before planting, feeding your lawn with fertiliser will help speed up its growth. For example, if you’re planting a new lawn, using a pre-seed fertiliser before sowing will fill your soil with nutrients to encourage rapid growth.

Our QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed fertiliser is designed to be applied before seeding, and you can then sow seed in the areas once the fertiliser granules have dissolved. However, if you have weeds in your soil and need to apply our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer, you must wait two weeks before it takes effect before sowing your seed.

We also have a seasonal checklist to help you keep your lawn in top condition throughout the year, and we have a fertiliser guide that helps you with all things lawn food!