Quick verdict
A 4.75 pound bag combining grass seed for sun and shade, a recycled mulch that holds three times its weight in water and a starter fertiliser that feeds for six weeks, so a bare patch is repaired by raking, pouring and watering. Seed sprouts in as little as a week. It costs more per square foot than buying seed and compost separately and saves the sourcing and mixing, which is why it sells. It repairs patches; it is not an overseeding product for a whole lawn.
Strengths
- Seed, mulch and fertiliser in one pour
- Mulch holds water and keeps seed in place
- Sun and shade mix suits most locations
- Germinates in as few as 7 days with watering
- Feeds for up to 6 weeks
Weaknesses
- Expensive per square foot compared with separate seed and compost
- A 4.75 lb bag covers only a handful of patches
- Mix grass may not match an existing single-variety lawn
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Patch Kit
Dog spots, a dragged hose, a spilled bag of fertiliser: every lawn has bare patches, and repairing one properly means seed, something to keep it damp and a little feed. Scotts puts all three in a bag. PatchMaster Sun and Shade is seed suited to most light, a recycled mulch that absorbs three times its weight in water and a starter fertiliser that works for six weeks, poured straight onto raked soil.
This review is based on the maker’s specifications and on how combination patch repair products perform generally. We have not used this product ourselves.
Using It
Rake the bare spot hard to remove dead grass and loosen the top inch of soil. Pour the mix over it to about a quarter inch, so the soil is just covered. Water until the mulch is dark and damp, and keep it damp with light watering daily until the grass is 2 inches tall, then mow and treat it as lawn. Seed shows in a week to two in warm soil.
Why It Works
Seed fails when it dries or washes away. The mulch holds water around the seed and its weight keeps it in place through a shower. The starter feed gives the seedlings phosphorus for roots. The three together are what a careful gardener would assemble; the bag saves assembling it.
Coverage and Cost
A 4.75 pound bag covers 25 to 30 square feet of patches, enough for a season of dog spots and a hose scar. Per square foot it costs several times what separate seed and compost cost, which is the price of convenience and sensible for small repairs and wasteful for a whole lawn.
Matching
The blend suits mixed cool-season lawns and blends in. On a pure single-variety lawn the texture may differ slightly. Warm-season lawns of Bermuda or zoysia want their own repair products.
Who Should Buy It
- Homeowners with a few bare spots to fix each spring.
- Dog owners repairing urine patches.
- Anyone who wants one bag and no mixing.
Common Owner Complaints
Price per area and texture mismatch on single-variety lawns. It is a patch product; choose a matching seed for pure lawns.
Technique Tips
Fix the cause before the patch: neutralise dog spots with a soak of water, cut back shade if grass keeps dying under a tree, and fill a hollow with soil before pouring the mix. Keep the patch out of foot traffic with a stake or an upturned basket until the new grass has been mowed twice. Store the leftover bag sealed and dry; the fertiliser draws moisture and the seed loses vigour by the next year.
Alternatives to Consider
Pennington One Step Complete is the close rival. Seed plus a bag of compost is the economical route for larger areas. Scotts EZ Seed adds a tackifier for slopes.
Verdict
For a handful of bare spots, PatchMaster is the quick, reliable fix and the convenience is worth the price. Rake well, keep it damp and the patches close in a few weeks.
Full specifications
Scotts PatchMaster Lawn Repair Mix Sun and Shade, 4.75 lb FAQs
Rake the bare spot to loosen soil and remove dead grass, pour the mix to about a quarter inch deep, water lightly and keep it damp until the grass is 2 inches tall.
Roughly 25 to 30 square feet of patches at the recommended depth. It is for spots, not whole lawns.
It is a blend of common cool-season grasses. On a mixed lawn it blends in; on a single-variety lawn such as pure Kentucky bluegrass, it may show a different texture.
Spring or early autumn when soil is warm and rain is likely. Summer heat and winter cold both slow germination.
