Choosing the right grass seed might not sound like the most exciting part of gardening, but get it wrong and you could spend months watching your lawn struggle while your neighbour’s is looking like a bowling green. The Irish climate throws up its own challenges — plenty of rain, mild but grey winters, heavy clay soils in a lot of areas, and shade from the trees and hedges that are everywhere. The seed that works brilliantly in the south of England or on a sunny continental lawn is not necessarily the right choice for a garden in Dundalk or anywhere else in the north-east.
In this guide, we will break down the main types of grass seed available in Ireland, explain what each one is best suited for, and help you pick the right mix for your particular garden and how you use it.
Understanding Grass Seed Types
Before you head to the garden centre, it helps to understand the main grass species you will find in Irish seed mixes. Most bags contain a blend of two or more species, and the proportions vary depending on what the mix is designed for.
Perennial Ryegrass
This is the backbone of most Irish lawns and for good reason. Perennial ryegrass is tough, fast to establish, and handles our wet climate without complaint. It germinates quickly — often within 7 to 10 days — and produces a dense, hard-wearing turf that recovers well from wear and tear.
If you have a family lawn where children play, dogs run around, or you regularly have people over for barbecues, a mix with a high proportion of perennial ryegrass is your best bet. It is also the dominant species in most agricultural grassland across Ireland, which tells you how well it is suited to our conditions.
The main drawback of ryegrass is that it does not perform as well in heavy shade. Under trees or along north-facing walls, it will thin out over time.
Fine Fescues
The fescue family includes several species that are commonly used in lawn seed mixes — creeping red fescue, chewings fescue, hard fescue, and sheep fescue. As a group, they share some useful characteristics that complement ryegrass.
Fescues are more shade-tolerant than ryegrass, making them essential for any lawn that has areas under trees or in the shadow of buildings. They also tend to be more drought-tolerant and require less feeding, which makes them a good choice for lower-maintenance lawns.
The trade-off is that fescues are not as hard-wearing as ryegrass. A pure fescue lawn will not hold up to heavy foot traffic the way a ryegrass-dominant lawn will. They also grow more slowly, which means they take longer to establish but also need less frequent mowing once they are up and running.
For ornamental lawns or areas where appearance matters more than durability, a fescue-heavy mix produces a finer, more elegant-looking turf.
Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass
Also known as Kentucky bluegrass, this species spreads by underground runners (rhizomes) rather than just growing in clumps. This means it can fill in gaps and repair minor damage on its own over time, which is a big advantage for a lawn that takes a bit of punishment.
Meadow grass is slower to germinate and establish than ryegrass — sometimes taking three to four weeks to appear — so patience is needed. It works best as part of a mix rather than on its own, adding that self-repairing quality to the blend.
You will find it in some premium lawn mixes, and it is particularly useful for lawns that need to be both attractive and hard-wearing.
Bent Grass
Bent grass (browntop bent and creeping bent) is a fine-textured species that creates a very dense, tight turf. It is the grass you see on golf greens and bowling greens. For a home lawn, it can be included in small proportions in fine lawn mixes to add density.
Most homeowners do not need a lot of bent grass in their mix. It requires quite a bit of maintenance to look its best — regular close mowing, frequent feeding, and good drainage. In a neglected lawn, it tends to form a spongy thatch layer. For a typical family garden, ryegrass and fescue mixes are more practical.
Choosing the Right Mix for Your Garden
Now that you know the main grass species, here is how to match them to your situation.
For a Hard-Wearing Family Lawn
Look for a mix with 60 to 80 percent perennial ryegrass, blended with some creeping red fescue and possibly a small amount of meadow grass. This combination gives you a tough, fast-establishing lawn that can handle regular use from children, pets, and garden furniture. This is the most popular type of mix sold in Ireland and what we recommend for the majority of gardens we work on.
For a Shaded Garden
If large parts of your lawn are in shade for much of the day, choose a mix specifically labelled as a shade mix. These typically contain a higher proportion of fine fescues (creeping red fescue and chewings fescue in particular) along with some ryegrass. The fescues will handle the low light levels while the ryegrass adds some toughness.
Even with a shade mix, very heavy shade (under dense evergreens, for example) is a struggle for any grass. In those situations, you might be better off with ground cover plants or bark mulch rather than fighting a losing battle with grass seed.
For a Fine Ornamental Lawn
If you are after the classic striped lawn look and are prepared to put in the maintenance work, go for a fine lawn mix. These are typically 100 percent fescue and bent grass, with no ryegrass. They produce a beautiful, fine-textured, deep green turf — but they need regular mowing at a low height, consistent feeding, and good drainage.
These mixes are less suited to heavy use, so they work best for front gardens or areas that are more for looking at than playing on.
For Wet or Heavy Clay Soil
Wet, heavy soils are common across County Louth. Perennial ryegrass handles wet conditions reasonably well, so a standard hard-wearing mix will usually do the job. However, improving drainage through aeration and top dressing will make a bigger difference than seed choice alone.
If the area is particularly waterlogged, it is worth addressing the drainage issue before spending money on seed. No grass variety will thrive with its roots sitting in water for extended periods.
For more on how to look after your lawn once the seed is established, our lawn care guide covers feeding, mowing, and seasonal maintenance in detail.
Sowing Rates — How Much Seed Do You Need?
Getting the sowing rate right ensures even coverage without wasting seed or leaving thin patches.
- New lawns: 35 to 50 grams per square metre
- Overseeding existing lawns: 25 to 35 grams per square metre
- Patch repairs: 35 to 50 grams per square metre
A standard 1kg box of seed will cover roughly 20 to 40 square metres depending on the application. For an average-sized back garden in Dundalk, you will typically need 2 to 5kg of seed for a full reseed.
Always measure your lawn area before buying to avoid running short halfway through the job. It is better to have a little left over than to have to go back to the shop for another bag.
Where to Buy Grass Seed in Ireland
You have plenty of options when it comes to buying grass seed locally. Garden centres, hardware shops, and agricultural co-ops across Louth stock a range of seed mixes, and staff can usually help you pick the right one for your situation.
For a wider selection, online retailers offer specialist mixes that you might not find on the shelf locally, including shade mixes, fine lawn blends, and professional-grade seed. The advantage of buying online is that you can check the exact species composition and sowing rate before you purchase.
What to Look For on the Label
When comparing grass seed mixes, look at the species breakdown on the back of the box. A quality mix will list the exact percentage of each grass species it contains. Avoid mixes that list a high proportion of annual meadow grass (Poa annua) — this is a short-lived weed grass that dies off after a year, leaving you with thin patches again.
Also check the germination rate, which should be listed on the packaging. A rate above 85 percent is what you want. Cheaper mixes often have lower germination rates, meaning you need to sow more to get the same coverage.
If you are unsure about what seed to choose, or when the best time to sow it is, our guide on when to sow grass seed covers the timing side of things in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best all-round grass seed for Ireland?
For most Irish gardens, a mix containing 60 to 70 percent perennial ryegrass with the balance made up of creeping red fescue and chewings fescue is hard to beat. This combination handles our wet climate, establishes quickly, and gives a nice balance between toughness and appearance. It suits front and back gardens, families with children, and homes with pets.
Can I mix different grass seed brands together?
Yes, you can. As long as the species are compatible, mixing brands is not a problem. Some gardeners buy a ryegrass-heavy mix and a fescue mix separately, then blend them to create a custom ratio suited to their particular garden. Just make sure the sowing rates are similar so you get even coverage.
How long does grass seed last in storage?
Grass seed is best used within one to two years of purchase. After that, the germination rate drops off significantly. Store unused seed in a cool, dry place — a sealed container in a garden shed is fine. Avoid leaving it in damp conditions or direct sunlight, as both will reduce viability.
Is expensive grass seed really worth it?
Generally, yes. Premium seed mixes contain higher proportions of named cultivars with better disease resistance, colour, and density. They also tend to have higher germination rates and lower proportions of weed grass. The difference in cost per square metre between a budget mix and a premium one is relatively small, but the difference in results can be significant, especially over the first two to three years.
Not Sure Where to Start? Give Us a Call
Choosing grass seed and getting your lawn established can feel like a lot of work, especially if you are dealing with tricky conditions like shade, heavy soil, or a lawn that has seen better days. Seamus and Pete have been working on lawns and gardens across Dundalk and County Louth for over 35 years. We know what grows well here and what does not, and we are always happy to give honest advice — whether you want to do the job yourself or would rather leave it to us.
From regular grass cutting to full lawn renovations, we can help at every stage. Give us a ring on 085 168 5170 for a free quote or just a friendly chat about your garden.
