Jonathan Green (10324) Black Beauty Ultra Grass Seed - Cool Season Lawn Seed (50 lb)

I watched Youtube videos on different grass seeds and the results. I also read the reviews here. I didn't believe everyone with the negative reviews so I purchased based on my eyes and the Youtube videos I watched. My neighbor/friend, across the street also watched some reviews and decided to go with GCI rather than the Jonathan Green. I chose the Jonathan green because it was clearly a nicer looking grass once it was established. First, I ordered the 50lb bag by accident. The order came and it was 2 25lb bags which I was okay with. I roughed up my soil then laid down 4 yards of grade A topsoil from our local place. I've used them before and it was excellent. I used a spreader to lay the seed and waited. It was like watching grass grow. :) I ordered this on Aug. 28, 2025. It's now Sept 26, 2025. Some grass grew and some didn't. The photo on the left is GCI Grass. This was planted 1 month ago on a bare lawn. The photo on the right is, Johnathan Green grass planted 3 days later. My back yard which received most of the new dirt is even worse than the front yard! Take a look at the 3rd picture. Hardly any of it grew. You can see where I laid the new dirt vs where I ran out. I was going to order more dirt but I wanted to see how this turned out first. I have a few other gripes. I was going to return the Jonathan Green grass (Purchased off of Amazon) and they wanted $50.00! THEN, I looked around and found that I could have gotten the 25lb bag for $80. shipped had I not ordered directly from the vendor on Amazon. This was overall a very expensiive ($243.00 +tx) purchase and it's garbage. I'm going to see if I can return as defective because it's clearly defective. ***I'd also point out a few more things. I do my lawn twice a year at the same time. The sun beats down hard on it which is why I chose this particular seed. My lawn typically looks amazing by now. The final picture is what it looks like in November (and it will look like this in 3-4 weeks again but I'll be using a different seed). UPDATE: 9/29/2025 - The photos below may be out of sync with my message because when they are posted, they are re-arranged. Also, Amazon did refund me for this stuff. I guess you pay a little more for the Amazon order but in the end, they take care of you.

If you are willing to do the prep work before overseeding definitely buy this seed! This seed has very good germination and comes in super thick with beautiful color! The steps I did to get best results was, 1-Mow super low, 2-dethatch whole yard and remove from yard 3-aearate while yard 4- fix bumpy areas with new screened topsoil 5-overseeded and went heavier than the bag recommends because I love super thick lawns. Who doesnt! 6-RAKE it in!!!!(most important part!!!!!!) 7-rolled it in using a roller.(not needed since raking it in give good seed to soil contact, but if you have a roller why not. 8-topdressed with screened compost using a compost spreader roller. 9-spreaded starter fertilizer, I like to use granular for the starter fertilizer and then switch to liquid fertilizer. 10- set up sprinklers with timer for even and constant coverage, and I set timers to turn on for 6-8mins. Every 6 hours to ensure the top compost doesnt dry out. Continue this for atleast 20 days then switch to every 12hrs for 12 mins. With these steps done you will have HUGE success! This grass type really pops with the beautiful color it's for spring or fall overseeds. This picture is day 27 after laying down seed, and right after my third mow since seeding. This grass will only get thicker in the next 3 to 4 weeks with the late Kentucky bluegrass that germinated late and those catch up to the fescue/existing grass heights.

9/2/25 I purchased the 50 pound bag to revive my dying lawn. I got seeds germinating ON DAY FIVE!!! My soil is compacted so I did a lot of loosening, no top soil or compost. Tested my soil and fertilized accordingly. Watered 3x per day the first couple of days and went to 2. Quick, 5 mins just to keep the top layer moist. Just got home from work delighted to find sprouting all over. I’ll have to check back in after a few weeks go by to update. The pictures posted are 10 days apart. Update 9/21. Can’t wait to buy again the end of next summer and overseed!!!

First time I used Jonathan green seed. I am impressed with the new growth in my old space back yard after over seeding first time ever. I did use amendments and fertile to Spruance up the lawn. I probably do it again in the spring!

Not crazy happy about how much grass actually grew and stayed