Pennington vs Scotts Grass Seed: Which Is Better?

Neither brand names its tall fescue varieties on its product pages, so no fair quality ranking exists, and NTEP trials rate varieties, not brands. On the makers' own numbers, the Scotts Turf Builder Tall Fescue Mix includes 4-0-0 fertilizer and sprouts in about 6 to 10 days. Pennington The Rebels Tall Fescue has no fertilizer, sprouts in 8 to 16 days, and Pennington says it grows up to 40 percent more roots than ordinary grass. Check each seed tag for variety names, germination percentage and weed seed before you buy.

On the makers' stated ranges, Scotts is a little faster. Scotts gives about 6 to 12 days for its Sun & Shade Mix and 6 to 10 for its Tall Fescue Mix. Pennington gives 8 to 21 days for Smart Seed Sun & Shade, 8 to 16 for Dense Shade and 8 to 14 for its regional mixes. Soil temperature and steady moisture change the real number more than the brand does.

Only the seed tag can tell you. University of Minnesota Extension suggests looking for purity over 90 percent, germination over 85 percent, weed seed under 0.3 percent, other crop seed under 0.5 percent and a test date within 9 months, and it lists "VNS" (variety not stated) as a sign of a low-cost mix. Coated products such as Smart Seed carry less pure seed by weight, so compare them by the area a bag covers, not by price per pound alone.

They do different jobs. Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed3 (28-0-3) uses 2,4-D and mecoprop-p for dandelions and clover; Scotts now also sells Weed & Feed5, with 2,4-D and dicamba. Pennington Full Season Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Control (25-0-8) adds dithiopyr and quinclorac, and it is the one of the two whose label claims crabgrass control, with slow-release nitrogen. Neither belongs on new seed: Pennington says not to use weed and feed when planting a new lawn.

It depends on how often you want to feed. Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food (32-0-4) is meant to be applied every 6 to 8 weeks, up to 4 times a year. Pennington Full Season Lawn Fertilizer (32-0-5) uses polymer-coated urea that Pennington says releases nitrogen for up to 4 months, so it is one application per season, and it adds 5 percent iron.

They are not the same product. Pennington Lawn Booster Winter Overseed is perennial ryegrass with mulch and fertilizer, spread in fall over a dormant lawn to keep it green through winter. Scotts Turf Builder Rapid Grass Sun & Shade is a cool-season seed and 13-0-0 fertilizer mix for spring or fall seeding that Scotts says grows 2X faster than seed alone. Pennington's closer match to Rapid Grass is Smart Seed or One Step Complete.

They work the same way. Both mix seed, mulch and fertilizer, and on both the mulch turns lighter when it dries out, which tells you to water again. Scotts says EZ Seed mulch expands 4X when watered. Pennington's Smart Patch Tall Fescue lists American ryegrass, microbials and a tackifier that holds it in place. Use either for small spots; for large areas, straight seed costs much less per square foot.

Scotts gives more time. Its No-Quibble Guarantee covers products that carry it on the package, with a claim within 1 year and proof of purchase. Pennington refunds the purchase price within 90 days if you have the receipt and the packaging, and Smart Seed bags say "Guaranteed to grow". Neither publishes a germination percentage guarantee.

On a store shelf the main alternative is Scotts Turf Builder, which comes in more use mixes (Sunny, High Traffic) and smaller bags. If you want a lawn that needs less watering, fertilizer and maintenance, Pennington itself sells a Smart Seed Clover + Grass Mix. Whatever you pick, match the mix to your region and sun, and read the seed tag.

Yes, as long as both bags are for the same grass type and climate. Two cool-season tall fescue mixes, for example, will blend together without trouble. Do not mix a cool-season bag with a warm-season one such as bermudagrass or bahiagrass.