Coated Grass Seed Sounds Better—But Is It?
If you’ve been in the grass seed aisle lately, you’ve probably seen two very different products: coated seed and traditional bare seeds. While coated grass seed often comes with promises of the perfect lawn, there’s a catch. You only get about half the actual seed that you do in a traditional bag for the same price. This begs the question: is coated grass seed worth the benefits that come with it?
What is Coated Grass Seed?
Coated grass seed is simply standard grass seed wrapped with a shell that consists of fertilizer, absorbent polymers, and sometimes a fungicide, all of which provide some notable benefits:
- Water retention: The reason most seed fails to germinate is because it dries out while it’s sitting in the soil. A coated seed will absorb twice its weight in water, reducing the chances of it drying out if you skip a watering.
- Visibility: Since coated seed is brightly colored, it’s much easier to see where you have and haven’t seeded when you're spreading it.
- Built-in Nutrients: Fertilizer in the coating provides nutrients, giving the sprout an instant boost when it emerges from the seed shell.
Related: Here's How I Spring Seed My Lawn as a Yardcare Expert
The Hidden Cost of the Coating
While a 50 lb. bag of coated grass seed may be similar in price to a bag of traditional seed, it actually costs twice as much. Nearly 50% of the weight in the bag is coating, not the seed. This means you're only getting about 25 lbs. of actual grass seed. You’ll need to apply coated seed at twice the rate to get the same density as traditional seed, doubling your costs.
Why Should You Use Coated Grass Seed?
Despite the significant cost difference, there are times when it makes sense to spring for coated grass seed:
A Busy Schedule
Traditional grass seed requires 3 waterings per day for several weeks. If you don’t have an automated irrigation system, sticking to that schedule might be a challenge. Miss even one watering with traditional seed and your germination rate can drop by more than half. Since coated grass seed holds water like a sponge, it’s more likely to survive if you skip a watering.
Patching Bare Spots
If you’re only repairing a few bare spots, then the cost difference between coated and traditional grass seed is much smaller than if you’re seeding a broad area. In this case, coated grass seed offers a quick low maintenance fix for patching your lawn.
Bird Problems
Naked seed is a feast for birds. Coated seeds are dyed a bright color, which deters your feathered friends. Plus, it has a bitter taste that they don’t like.
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Erosion Issues
Traditional grass seed is very light and therefore susceptible to blowing away on a windy day or washing down a slope in a rain storm. Coated seed is twice as heavy, helping it to stay put in windy conditions or on slopes.
Feature | Coated Seed | Regular (Naked) Seed |
Water Retention | High (Holds moisture like a sponge) | Low (Dries out quickly) |
Birds/Pests | Resistant (The coating tastes bad) | Vulnerable (Birds love it) |
Germination Rate | Higher (Consistent environment) | Average (Requires perfect conditions) |
Coverage | 50% seed, 50% coating by weight | 100% seed by weight |
Cost | More expensive per lb. | More affordable per lb. |
The Verdict
If you’re seeding a large area and have the time to water it or an automated irrigation system, that will handle the watering for you, there’s no reason to splurge on coated seed. Traditional seed is the better pick. If you’re patching spots or expect to miss a few waterings, go with coated seed.