Merrifield Shady Grass Seed

Merrifield Shady comes in 1 lb., 5 lb., and 20 lb. bags to accommodate any size lawn. This product can be applied with a lawn spreader, or small areas can be seeded by hand or with a handheld spreader. Coverage areas for these three sizes are as follows:

1 lb. bag = 250 sq. ft. for new lawns / 500 sq. ft. for overseeding established lawns

5 lb. bag = 1,250 sq. ft. for new lawns / 2,500 sq. ft. for overseeding established lawns

25 lb. bag = 6,250 sq. ft. for new lawns / 12,500, sq. ft. for overseeding established lawns

We can deliver bags of Merrifield Shady Grass Seed Blend to your location. In addition to delivery, we can also provide installation services. If you’re interested in having our team install your seed blend, please book a landscape appointment and select Garden Cleanup, Mulch and Sod as the appointment type.

When seeding your lawn:

• Use a rototiller to cultivate the soil to a depth of 2 to 4”. If you are seeding an area under a tree, only scratch up the surface and do not till the soil as it may injure the roots.
• Rake the area, being sure to remove rocks or debris, leaving behind a smooth, level surface ready for seeding. If you are overseeding an existing lawn, we suggest mowing it, raking it, scratching up the bare spots and laying down our Merrifield Select seed starting lawn food.
• Mix lime with Merrifield Shady grass seed into the soil by following the instructions on the back of the bag. If you are working with dense, heavy clay, we recommend mixing in a ½” layer of compost.
• Lay down your seed using a lawn spreader, your hands or a handheld spreader. Planting a new lawn will require Merrifield Shady grass seed at a rate of 4 lbs. per 1,000 square feet.
• Use a leaf rake with the tines pointed upwards or a sod roller to make sure your seed is nestled into the surface of the soil. If you’re overseeding an existing lawn, you can apply the grass seed at a rate of 2 lbs. per 1,000 square feet.
• Cover the seeded area with a ¼ to ⅜” layer of compost, topsoil of ½” straw.
• Water the area to keep the seeds particularly moist. While your seeds are germinating, we suggest watering it twice a week with ½” of water, either relying on natural rainfall or from your own watering system.

Avoid weed control products until the lawn has germinated and been mowed at least 3 times (usually a period of 8 to 10 weeks.)

When's the best time to seed your lawn?

The best time to seed your lawn is in the fall from September through early October. The second best times are in the spring from March through May and from late October to early November.

What type of seed should I use?

We have three types of lawn seed: Merrifield Tuff Play, Shady and Sunny. If you know that you will be getting four or more hours of sun per day, we recommend going with Merrifield Tuff Play for its high traffic tolerance, heat and drought tolerance, quick establishment rate and density. You can also use Merrifield Sunny, which will result in a dense, uniform, luxurious lawn with a rich, dark blue-green color and a medium texture. However it is slightly less heat and disease tolerant than Merrifield Tuff Play and it will require more watering and maintenance. If you’re getting two to four hours of sunlight per day, we suggest using Merrifield Shady. We recommend not mixing the seed together but using a different blend for your front yard and your backyard if the areas get different amounts of sunlight.