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A bag of shade tolerant grass seed labeled "Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed" by Jonathan Green. It promotes dark-green lawn growth in 14-21 days and is intended for medium to heavily shaded areas.
Back of a Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed bag showing planting instructions and spreader settings, with a designated space for a seed tag. The bag features images of different grass seed products, including shade tolerant grass seed, and a QR code.
A 7 lb bag of Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed placed on a lush lawn with flowers in the background.
Silhouette of the USA map on a grassy background with 'Grass Seed & Fertilizer Bundle for Shady Lawns' text above, implying a guide to planting in different regions.

Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed

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$12.99 – $129.99

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  • Grows well in densely shaded lawns
  • Proven to grow where other shady lawn seed mixtures have failed
  • Perfect for use around mature trees and shrubs where sunlight is limited
  • Germinates in 14 – 21 days
Real Dense Shade Lawns
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Product Overview
Jonathan Green Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed contains shade-tolerant Black Beauty® varieties. It is ideal for lawns with big shady trees, large shrubs, or permanent structures causing low sunlight penetration.

The Black Beauty® Dense Shade mixture contains turf-type tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescues for shade and partially sunny lawns. This seed germinates in 14 - 21 days.
Coverage Guide

Coverage:

Size
Overseeding
New Lawns
1 lb.
Up to 600 sq. ft.
Up to 300 sq. ft.
3 lb.
Up to 1,800 sq. ft.
Up to 900 sq. ft.
7 lb.
Up to 4,200 sq. ft.
Up to 2,100 sq. ft.
25 lb.
Up to 15,000 sq. ft.
Up to 7,500 sq. ft.
How Do I Calculate My Lawn Size? First measure the length and width of your lawn. Then multiply the length by the width and deduct the square footage of any non-lawn areas (landscape bed, patio, deck, pool, etc.) from the total. Now you know how much product you need to purchase!
Shipping & Returns

Shipping

  • Free ground shipping now available on orders of $75 or more! For smaller orders, shipping costs are calculated at checkout.
  • We ship orders the same day if placed by 2PM EST (later orders will be shipped the next day).
  • Orders are not shipped or delivered on weekends or holidays.
  • We offer ground and expedited shipping.

Returns

  • We offer 30-day free returns for replacement or full refund for items that are damaged or defective (shipping included). If damaged by the carrier, please file a claim with them.
  • If your items have been used or aren’t in the original packaging, we will give you a refund (minus the cost of shipping) based on the condition of the product.

View our complete shipping and return policy. If you have questions about your order, please contact our customer service team at [email protected].

Don’t Forget These Essentials

  • Tall fescues, fine fescues, and perennial ryegrass

  • For cool-season lawns, the best time to apply grass seed for shade is in fall (between mid-August to mid-October), or in spring (between mid-March to mid-May). For grass seed to germinate, soil temperatures must be at least 55°F. Best root growth occurs between 55° and 70°. If soil temperatures are at or above 75°, seedling root establishment will not occur.

  • 4+ hours of sunlight per day

  • Black Beauty® Dense Shade can withstand moderate traffic

  • 14 – 21 days

  • Dense Shade can be applied with any of our soil foods. We do not recommend applying this product with any weed controls or fertilizers high in nitrogen. Because shady lawns receive less sunlight—they require less nutrients and do not respond well to overfeeding—especially with fertilizers high in nitrogen. Use only Jonathan Green Veri-Green Starter Fertilizer for Seeding & Sodding which contains phosphorus to encourage deep root growth when seeding.

     

    You must wait at least 30 days to seed after applying weed control. For a full list of wait times, visit this FAQ page.

    • For best germination, water seeded areas twice a day, for 5 – 10 minutes to keep the seedbed moist. Continue watering daily for a few weeks until the grass plants reach a height of 2 – 2.5 inches.
    • A good rule of thumb for established lawns, is to give them one inch of water per week including rainfall. To avoid your lawn going dormant in the summer, you may need to increase your watering rate.
    • Begin mowing your new lawn when the new grass has reached a height of 3 – 4 inches.
    • Be careful not to scalp your lawn, as low mowing will stress the root system and encourage the growth of weeds. When mowing, only take off the top third of the grass blade.

  • Our recommendations for storing your dense shade grass seed:

    Place it in a cool dry place, off of the ground, out of direct sunlight, and keep it away from moisture. Under these conditions, grass seed will last at least two years.

  • Always read and follow the product label before use.

     

    DOWNLOAD PRODUCT LABEL

     

    Safety Data Sheets can be found at www.jonathangreen.com/safety-data-sheets-sds. If you have a specific question, do not hesitate to contact us.

Manufacturer

spreader product

Spreader

spreader product

Model

spreader product

Rate

spreader product
RESULT

Manufacturer

Step 1/4

Who makes your spreader?

Jonathan GreenScotts

Don’t see your spreader here? Contact the manufacturer or review your spreader’s manual.

Spreader

Step 2/4

What type of spreader are you using?

Rotary Handheld Drop

Model

Step 3/4

What is the model of your spreader?

Standard Rotary Deluxe and Pro Hand Crank All Rotary, Broadcast All Drop

Don’t see your spreader model here? Contact the manufacturer or review your spreader’s manual.

Rate

Step 4/4

Select the rate that best suits your lawn needs.

Depending on the type of product you selected there may only be one application rate.

Overseeding RateNew Lawn Rate

Note: “New lawn” indicates that you are starting a lawn from bare dirt vs overseeding or applying product to an existing lawn.

Woman-pouring-black-beauty-sun-shade-into-spreader

Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed

Your Spreader Setting is:

Start over

  • Dense Shade vs Shady Nooks Grass Seed

    Jonathan Green’s Black Beauty® Shady Nooks Grass Seed is our most shade-tolerant grass seed mixture. It survives well in either damp or dry soils, of up to 90% deep shade, where other grasses fail.

     

    Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed contains shade-tolerant varieties that will grow well under trees and in up to 70% shade. It is a mixture of primarily turf-type tall fescue grasses, and therefore creates great versatility in shady to partial sun lawns, blends well into sunnier areas, and grows best in drier soils.

     

    Black Beauty Dense Shade Grass Seed 

    • Grass Type: Tall and Fine Fescues, Perennial Rye, & Kentucky Bluegrass
    • Grass Color: Dark green
    • Sun Tolerance: Good
    • Shade Tolerance: Excellent
    • Light Requirements: Partial sun to shade (4+ hours of sun)
    • Drought Tolerance: Excellent
    • Germination Time: 14 – 21 days
    • Best Use: Lawns with big shady trees, large shrubs, or areas shaded by houses or other permanent structures.

     

    Black Beauty Shady Nooks Grass Seed

    • Grass Type: Tall Fescues, Perennial Rye, & Fine Fescues
    • Grass Color: Dark green
    • Sun Tolerance: Good
    • Shade Tolerance: Excellent – Jonathan Green’s most shade tolerant turfgrass mixture
    • Light Requirements: Sun to dense shade (3+ hours of sun)
    • Drought Tolerance: Excellent
    • Planting Depth: ¼ inches
    • Germination Time: 10 – 14 days
    • Best Use: Lawns in deep shade and in damp or dry soil. Grows well right up to the base of trees, and requires less fertilizer*. Shady Nooks is the most shade tolerant turfgrass mixture on the market.

     

    *Note: Because shady lawns receive less sunlight, they perform less photosynthesis meaning they require less food and do not respond well to overfeeding, especially with high nitrogen fertilizers. Use Jonathan Green Veri-Green Starter Fertilizer for Seeding and Sodding which contains phosphorus to encourage deep root growth.

  • How to grow grass in the shade?

    Growing a lawn in the shade can be challenging. Our number one recommendation is to use a grass seed mixture designed for the shade like Jonathan Green Shady Nooks or Dense Shade.

     

    Here are some other tips:

    • Remove trees or thin out some branches to allow more sunlight to enter the area
    • Apply Jonathan Green Mag-I-Cal to improve soil pH and quality
    • Do not over water or over fertilize the shady parts of your lawn
    • Seed in shaded areas after the fall leaves drop and are removed

Features You’ll Love

If you have shady areas in your yard, you may be struggling with a patchy lawn. Our Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed mixture thrives in the shade—making healthy lawns possible even with sunlight-blocking trees and shrubs.

Specially Formulated Grass Seed for Shade

Includes a diverse mixture of shade-tolerant Black Beauty® varieties, including tall and fine fescues and perennial ryegrass. Grows exceptionally well under trees in up to 70% of shade.
Specially Formulated Grass Seed for Shade

Perfect for Under Trees

Use around areas in your yard where penetration of sunlight is limited and growing grass has proven difficult in the past, such as under big shady trees, large shrubs, and areas shaded by houses or other buildings.
Perfect for Under Trees

How to Seed

Prepare

Mow

To ensure the seed reaches the soil, mow the lawn on the lowest setting and bag the clippings.

Rake

Use a metal rake to remove debris, rocks, and thatch that has built up. Rake vigorously to create grooves in the top layer of soil. Fill in any holes and level the ground with additional topsoil if necessary.

Amend

Test your soil pH to check that it is in a healthy range for grass plants to grow. Optimal pH for cool-season lawns is 6.2 to 7.0. For soils with a pH below 6.2, use Jonathan Green Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Acidic & Hard Soil to rapidly raise soil pH. For a pH above 7.0, use Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil to lower soil pH.

Apply

Set

To evenly distribute grass seed, use a spreader suitable for your specific lawn size. Set the spreader according to the recommended setting on the packaging or use our Spreader Settings Tool above. Make sure to update the setting with each product you apply.

Spread

Carefully read and follow all instructions on the product labels prior to application. Before spreading, calculate the amount of seed needed for the square footage of your lawn.

For new lawns:
Start by filling the spreader with half of the grass seed. Apply the seed around the perimeter of the lawn to establish a turning area. Make straight passes back and forth across the length of the lawn in one direction (north to south) and then the remaining seed in a perpendicular direction (east to west) within the outlined area. Overlap slightly between passes and close the hopper when turning. Walk at a steady pace for even distribution. This crisscross pattern ensures even coverage and helps prevent bare spots in new lawns.

For overseeding:
Begin by spreading the seed along the perimeter of your lawn. Make straight passes back and forth across the length of the lawn in a mowing pattern until the entire area is covered. Overlap slightly between passes and close the hopper when turning. Walk at a steady pace for even distribution.

Rake

After seeding, gently rake the soil with a metal rake to incorporate the grass seed into the top quarter-inch of soil. This will improve seed-to-soil contact and promote germination.

Fertilize

Maximize seedling growth and root development by applying starter fertilizer along with the seed. Fill your spreader on a hard surface to avoid fertilizer burn. Start by applying fertilizer around the lawn’s perimeter to establish a turning area. Then, make back-and-forth passes within the outlined area, ensuring overlap for complete coverage. Sweep any excess granules off of hard surfaces and back onto the lawn.

Water

Immediately after seeding, thoroughly water the area but not to the point of run-off or puddles.

Maintain

Water

Keep the soil consistently moist by watering lightly several times a day, or as needed, to prevent drying out. Avoid excessive watering that may cause pooling or runoff. Continue watering daily for a few weeks until the grass plants reach a height of 2 – 2.5 inches. As the grass seed germinates, gradually reduce the frequency of watering while increasing the amount applied to encourage deeper root growth.

Mow

Begin mowing when the new grass has reached a height of 3 – 4 inches. Make sure the mower has sharp blades. Be careful not to scalp the lawn, low mowing will stress the root system and encourage the growth of weeds.

Black Beauty® Dense Shade Grass Seed 1 lb.
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