Browse by Category
Contractor’s Grass Seed
Starting at
$64.99
- Ideal for soil stabilization
- Use for temporary lawn seeding
- Contains annual ryegrass which germinates in 7 - 10 days
- Grows in full sun to medium-shaded lawn areas
- Description
- Directions
- Specifications
- Spreader Settings
- Reviews (0)
Jonathan Green Contractor’s Grass Seed Mixture is the ideal grass seed for soil stabilization or temporary lawn seeding. Contractor’s Mix contains annual ryegrass so it germinates quickly and provides a fast grass cover. It is most often used by new home builders to establish a lawn quickly because it provides an excellent value for the price. Contractor’s Grass Seed Mixture can be overseeded with any Black Beauty® Grass Seed Mixture to grow a lawn that will persist for years to come. This seed germinates in 7 – 10 days.
For the best results, follow the directions below for establishing a new lawn or overseeding an existing one.
Prepare:
- Mow – Mow the lawn at the lowest mower setting before seeding to allow the seed to reach the soil.
- Rake – Rake over the existing grass with a metal rake to remove the thatch layer and any debris to loosen the soil. Add additional topsoil to fill in holes and level the ground.
- Check soil pH level – Have a soil test taken to check your soil’s pH level. The optimum soil pH should be between 6.2 to 7.0. For a pH below 6.2 use Jonathan Green MAG-I-CAL® Plus for Acidic & Hard Soil to rapidly increase pH. If the pH is above 7.0 use MAG-I-CAL® Plus for Alkaline & Hard Soil to rapidly decrease the soil pH.
Seed:
- When to apply – The best time to apply seed is mid-August to mid-October while the ground is still warm and the nights are cooler. Mid-March through mid-May is the next best time to plant when the soil temperature reaches 55º+ Fahrenheit and the temperature of the air stays consistently warm.
- Spread seed – Apply half of the seed with a rotary spreader in one direction (north to south) and the remainder in the opposite direction (east to west). It is beneficial to spread a new seeding fertilizer that is high in phosphorus at this time as well.
- Rake seed – Rake lightly into the ground with a metal rake. Walk with light, even footsteps on the seedbed to firm the soil around the seed. Do not bury the seed more than one-fourth of an inch deep.
Maintain:
- Water – For best germination, water daily to keep the seedbed moist. Continue watering regularly for a few weeks until the grass plants reach a height of 2 – 2.5 inches.
- 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.
Coverage:
- 25 lb Bag
-
- Overseeding – Seeds up to 6,500 sq. ft.
- New Lawns – Seeds up to 3,250 sq. ft.
- 50 lb Bag
-
- Overseeding – Seeds up to 13,000 sq. ft.
- New Lawns – Seeds up to 6,500 sq. ft.
Grass Type: Annual Ryegrasses
Grass Color: Green
Recommended Planting Months: For cool-season grasses
- Mid-August through mid-October
- Mid-March through mid-May
Sun Tolerance: Good
Shade Tolerance: Fair
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade (4 – 8 hours of sun)
Drought Tolerance: Fair
Insect & Disease Resistance: Fair
High Traffic Tolerance: Fair
Planting Depth: ¼ inches
Germination Time: 7 – 10 days
The spreader settings listed are approximate. Spreader condition, rate of walk, and humidity are just some of the variables that can affect the rate of application. Please refer to the product label link on this page, or the back of the bag, for further details along with application rates and precautionary statements. You may need to adjust settings for proper coverage if circumstances described on the label are applicable. In all cases, the user should read and follow label instructions before applying any product, and assumes all responsibility when using this spreader settings tool.
Used this product (under the old “Green-Up” label) along with Black Beauty Ultra and Mag-I-Cal Plus for an overseeding project last fall with great results. Really gave the grass seedlings a great start – lawn was thick and dark green. Stood out next to all the other yards in our neighborhood. The fertilizer spread evenly and easily using a Scotts Elite spreader. I’ll use it again next time I overseed.
I tested grass soil in my yard at various locations and the tester indicated that my soil’s pH is 6.5 However, the soil with my roses showed more alkaline numbers. This gizmo really works.
People liked johnnthan greens picures people took picures of johnthan greens picures
I had creeping bent grass in my lawn so I decided to take it down to dirt and reseed. I wanted a grass seed that could survive the hot humid summers of Maryland. I saw the Delmarva grass seed from JG and decided to give it a try. The grass started to come up in 10-14 day and filled in beautifully. I just need to see if it can handle the summer weather.
I’ve used Jonathan Greene’s products – the entire line – for, gosh, when did you first make your products available here in SW Pennsylvania? Yeah! That long! Why? For one – they’re Less Expensive! When s product works – it always costs less! For two, your products Feed the soil! I also compost, mulch the grass back in, and spread compost over my lawn and growing beds. (Note: your products work equally well in growing beds!) I’m always outside and often in my front yard and I’ve lost count of the number of people who roll their windows down and yell, “Why is your grass so dark green and you never have weeds?” I yell back, “Jonathan Greene’s products!” Then invite them to circle, pull in the driveway and talk. First, I make them take off their shoes and socks – the deep softness convinces right then! “What was that name?” “Jonathan Greene’s products.” Then I direct them to the nursery two blocks back up and watch them head back. In 20 minutes, they drive past with Thumbs Up! Before a year is up, we’re up to hugs! Three years ago the water company had to trench 6 feet down from my backyard to the road because their two inch main line blew out. I caught a worker with two buckets taking my Black Loam Soil! We measured the depth of that Black Gold – 18 to 26 inches deep! And SW Pennsylvania is yellow boot pulling Clay! I have him 3 buckets full with “Jonathan Greene’s products” and directions to the nursery. Oh, and if anyone’s missing fishing worms – they’re in my yard! Use Jonathan Greene’s products!
I did a lot of research and finally decided on JG original for over seeding my lawn this fall. I’m extremely happy that I did. I followed the instructions, got good seed to soil contact, and was committed to making sure the seeds got the proper watering for the first 2 weeks. I’m blown away and amazed at how green and thick my lawn is now. I get compliments from my neighbors all the time. It literally stands out compared to all the other yards. Thank you Thank you Thank you…JG
Love this grass!! First time using this brand and I have at least 3-5 folks in the neighborhood for the last 3 weeks asking me what brand is the grass and how green it looks!
This has been my second fall sept1st overseeding with black beauty ultra, this year followed recommendations used love your soil and magical plus, can you say OMG! It’s Halloween ???? Lawn looks amazing filling in beautifully dark green and thick, pillow like under your feet. Loving these great products Thanks johnathan green!!
After tilling, laying down 50/50 compost, seed, seeding straw and lots of water my family now was a backyard. Thanks Jonathan Green!
Ultra Black Beauty is the Rolls-Royce of grass seed! I watched the grass grow! And, was amazed at how stunning it was—I vow not to purchase any other seed. The quality of the seed is second to none and hands-down, one of the greatest investments I’ve made. The curb appeal is everything!
I am beyond impressed with my lawn! My lawn started as a poorly neglected yard of weeds and bare spots. After coming across several different photos/reviews of Black Beauty Ultra on Instagram and YouTube, I knew I had to do my research. After methodically planning my overseed/renovation, I chose Black Beauty Ultra. Now, 5 weeks in, my yard is greener and thicker than ever. It’s still a work in progress, but thanks to Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra (and Mag I Cal Plus), my yard is on its way to being great!
Well I had written earlier that I planned to overseed in the fal. Well I did and wow my lawn is grear. I used this seed in conjunction with Shady nooks under the shaded areas. I just added my first dose of Winter Survival this week. Depending on the when we get our first frost I plan to do a second those towards the end of November. This is the first year I have really concentrated on my lawn and I am pleased with the results. I am following the JG four step program to the letter. Next year Gods wiling I will be able to give the results. So good so far.
Well I applied the shady nooks under the shaded area of my lawn. I had used the dense shade before. The dense shade worked well until the summer then it died out so I reseeded with shady nooks. So far so good I am impressed. Lets see that will happen next summer.
Easy to apply & it works !
The fertilizer is fantastic! A great mix of mostly fast dissolving nitrogen with a serious (4%) kick of iron for a deep green color. Give it a week to 10 days to see results IF and ONLY if, it has had rain or has been watered in. The most important thing to realize is that if you follow the instructions on the bag for spreader settings, most likely you will over apply this fertilizer. If math isn\’t your thing and you don\’t want to weigh this to figure out the correct dose – just set your spreader for HALF the recommended setting and apply twice. One time North to South and the last East to West. If nothing comes out at the half setting, open it up a tiny bit until it does. Very simple and basically foolproof!
I use this every Fall to touch up a handful of bare spots after aerating our full sun back lawn. My only regret is that the contractor did not use this great product to seed our new lawn 30 years ago.
I recently decided to renovate a portion of my lawn using the Delmarva blend, and I am extremely pleased with the performance of this product. I have this beautiful, green, soft area of lawn which my wife is completely fascinated with. She\’s now insisting that I redo the whole lawn, and I totally agree.
Dominating the neighborhood with my JG ultra lawn!
Used this to create a miniature wildflower garden in a 6’ x 30’ raised bed. The first year growth is amazing with a nice grass undergrowth. I started with a clean planting area and raked the top 1 inch of soil to make grooves, threw down seed, and walked over them to set. Do not use any fertilizer! Watered until established then ignored for the summer. More zinnias, bachelor buttons, and cosmos than you can shake a stick at. Nothing but multicolored flowers throughout the growing season. Wife isn’t happy about the grass in the mixture, but the baby rabbits sure are plus it helps smother the occasional weed. Looks best when left to its natural devices. Highly recommend!
We have multiple dogs and a young kid so using synthetic chemical products known to increase the rates of cancer in dogs was not going to work. Our house is an interior wooded lot. We did have the foundation sprayed professionally once this spring and spread this all around our yard at about the same time. Yard and house were pretty clear for about 3 months. Will use again.
Used this product last year to reseed fall perennial grass after removing the bermuda. I have 2 small areas of front lawn, one on each side of the driveway, about 750sf. They both filled in within 2 weeks to a very thick, dark green beautiful grass. Received compliments from many of my neighbors. Looking forward to doing the same next month.
We put this seed down during a heatwave/ drought and had amazing results! We used no fertilizer but watered it 4x/ day for 30-minute intervals, it came in beautifully!! I accidentally dropped some seed on our doormat, that too now has a nice green lawn on it. Highly recommend it for anyone that needs to plant in a less than ideal time of year. Looking forward to trying the BlackBeauty Seed this fall as an overseed.
I found this locally last year. Did a late fall dormant over seeding. Took root. Exactly what they promise.
I live in the Northeasf where the soil tends to be acidic. Anyway I have this trouble spot in my lawn which just wouldn’t go grass no matter what I did. I did a soil test and found out that the troubled area had a ph of 8.3 some areas even higher that that. So I decided to use Magical Plus for alkaline soils to lower the PH. I will update further with the results.
I have been using Love your Soil for about a yr. I use it to resolve compaction issues in my lawn. I was using lawn care contractors but because of COVID I have been working from home more frequently, so I decided to take care of my lawn myself. Here is the scoop. I reseeded some areas of my lawn in late spring and early summer and whenever I see any thin areas that didn’t germinate properly I would first test the ph. If the PH isn’t right I would add Magical Plus for Acidic soil to fix it. Then I would add Love your soil. In almost all cases it resolve the issue. In the fall I will be adding Love your soil before I do a first complete over seeding.
Does anyone have any experience with this product reducing the rabbit population in their yard? I read it repels gophers and chipmunks.
ok I did an experiment during my lawn repair this season. I had some bald spots in my lawn due to 1. Leaving disposal bins too long on the grass beside my house. 2. Spreading weed killer by hand resulting in grass burning up and dying and 3 normal wear and tear. Anyway I used Scotts, Pennington initially and also Jonathan Green dense shade and sun and shade for the seeding. I wanted to see which of these seeds would work best. OMG Jonathan Green dense shade and sun and shade won hands down. I would say Pennington came in second while Scotts finished dead last. This experiment started in mid April and while the JG and Pennington is now fully germinated and the spots filled, the Scotts produce only patches of grass and stopped growing. I had to reseed with JG sun and shade and is getting germination after 1 week. I prepared the soil well, I tested the PH it is 7.0. I added JG love your soil, I added topsoil and compose with starter fertilizer, and I watered at least twice a day when there is no natural rain. Sorry Scotts I have to go with JG going forward.
Great product. It worked beautifuly on our new lawn.
I burned out some patches of ugly tall fescue last year and filled in those areas using only SolarGreen. Right now (end of June in Michigan) the rest of my lawn is stressing out real bad from the high temps in the upper 80’s and 90’s and several days with the heat index of just over 100 degrees. The SolarGreen patches are a thick deep green with the rest of my lawn looking very brown (dormant). I water and fertilize regularly and we’ve gotten a bit of rain, but like every year the high temps are too much for my lawn to overcome. That is, except for the SolarGreen patches. Now I’m seriously considering burning the rest of my lawn out and seeding 100% with SolarGreen this fall. I know it’ll look terrible until it germinates but after seeing how it performs in the hot summer months, I don’t think I really have a choice. What better way to shame the neighbors and dominate the neighborhood than to literally have the greenest lawn around?
I can order the MAG-I GAL At a high cost of shipping but I’m not paying $7-8 in shipping cost and maybe the bag all beat up from shipping. . I’d like to get it from the store. Other stores have to the grass seed but not this product.
JG Response: Most stores buy from hardware distribution warehouses such as Ace and True Value. You can order directly from these distribution warehouses and have the product shipped free to a store near you and pick it up. We suggest trying acehardware.com, doitbest.com or truevalue.com. This can be done even if the store does not carry our products. Search for Jonathan Green and scroll through the products as they do not always list the products by the JG product name.
First you need to know the soil before you try and start a great lawn test the soil weeds love certain soil types and weeds will win if you dont properly do this. Test soil ph levels and so on then get what you need to make soil perfect for grass growth. Dethatch and aeroate and clean it all up then starter fertilizer then seed then water. If you have alot of weeds treat them first wait 3 weeks before seeding. When getting rid of weeds treat it when the yard is wet so the weed killer granules stick to the weeds. I use a sprinkler with injection tank and I use fish emulsion to help rejuvenate the soil multiple times a season.
Senior citizen .Price is much too high.
I planted this in October of 2021. Had a beautiful dark green color until December (I think I should have done soil tests etc to keep it green). It’s mid June and temps are in mid 90’s everyday. I did finally do a soil test about 4 weeks ago and applied some fertilizer and lime a few weeks ago after getting the results. It greened up but isn’t looking as good as it was in the fall. I’m hoping to really hit it with fertilizer in the fall to get it going again! We’ll see.
I recently applied this, and it killed all the clover. I know this because if I missed a spot, the clover remained. I downgraded it one star because it didn’t cover 15000 square feet
It works but u have to be patient. I applied it to kill broadleaf weeds. It took about 3-4 weeks. Now I am seeing the weeds dying. You must follow the instructions.
Just moved and the yards were a train wreck. Front: Grass was half brown and the ground was bumpy concrete. Back: Ground like concrete and major ponding during rain. Full-sun areas were grassy. Full shade areas were bare with an occasional weed every 10 feet. Even though it was early spring, I core aerated the lot and spread mag-i-cal plus along with crabgrass preventer. Within two weeks the ground had some give and the ponding was gone. Fast forward three months and an application of Love Your Soil… Front: thick green grass over the entirety. Back: Ground is damp during heavy rains and ponding is gone. Weeds are dying. Grass is taking over the bare areas without seeding. I’m sold!
I followed the instructions to the letter and made sure that I applied it on day when there was no rain forecasted for 48hrs. I killed most of the weeds for sure but it also killed some of the grass. As a result I have some patches of dead grass in my lawn. Its okay though the grass I will get to come back but I hate the weeds thats why I bought the product in the first place.
This is the first time I have used this product after conducting my own research. I had used other brands of seeds with mixed results. Anyway i bought this product to reseed some large patches in my lawn which developed due to amongst other things heavy traffic. I reseed and added starter fertilizer with top soil and raked it in. I made sure I water it twice a day on non rainy days but not too much to disturb the area. After 21 days I have full germination so much so that my wife suggests that I should reseed the whole lawn. I am planning to do that in the fall. The best seeds I have used so far. Jonathan Green I am sold.
I bought this product about 3 weeks ago and I immediately added it to a shaded area that I had seeded with Jonathan Green dense shade. The results were startling after I added this product. I began to see germination after 5 days. It’s wonderful
Used it to seed some shaded areas in my yard. It works like a charm. Made a mistake though by not adding starter fertilizer but corrected that. Also made sure that I cover the seeds to ward off birds. Now the shaded areas looks great.
I agree with the few that mentioned the feed part of the granular was great but I used Green up prior in the early Spring spplication with preventer. A) the preventer was not very thorough because weeds definitely came up. B) The Weed and Feed did not get rid of many weeds but fed lawn in my lates application. I’m a little dissapointed in the product but my lawn does look lush.
JG response – Green-Up with Crabgrass Preventer is a pre-emergent for crabgrass only when applied in the spring. The listed weeds are winter annual weeds. This product would need to be applied in the late summer or early fall as the soil temperature falls to 70° in order to suppress those listed. Green-Up Weed & Feed kills existing broadleaf weeds only. Please email us through our FAQ page for help determining what kind of weeds you are seeing and how to best go about controlling them.
Our soil is very hard, but the Alkaline product went to work loosing the soil. I had to apply several applications during the year since it was very hard and high Alkaline content. I did use your test kit to determine the Alkaline level. I’ve used your grass seed and more than satisfied with the quality and appearance of the lawn. Thank you.
I’m located in Orange County, California. I seeded the front yard on April 9, and the Solar Green seed germinated in about six days. The lawn is a dark green color with fine blade grass. Marathon II sod is quite common in this area, and I thought my back yard Marathon sod looked good; not anymore. Marathon II is quite coarse in comparison. The Jonathan Green Black Beauty SolarGreen front lawn is like a thick green carpet and cost about 1/10 that of sod. People are now stopping and asking what it is. It is now one of the best looking lawns in the area.
Hi, I have been using all your products and my lawn is doing great. My question is whether I need to apply fertilizer if I use magical plus? Thanks
JG Response – Yes, you do. Mag-I-Cal Plus raises pH and feeds the soil microbes among other things but it is not a fertilizer as it does not supply nitrogen. Some lawns do see a green-up after application as the soil microbes release trapped nutrients when they are biologically active.
I put this down around Halloween. I live in the Northeast. My lawn was green as can be once grass woke up and ground thawed. Barely changed color even during coldest part of winter. Still only one on my block with deep green grass. And a lot of others use landscapers. Recommend this highly in fall.
I love all your products. Will never buy anyone else\’s. So far more professional than the average lawn guy wants. J.G. has the highest elite products that exist for the home owner. Magical last fall raised my ph quite a bit this spring, and topped it off with magical plus this spring. My pH is right on. Going to buy love your soil soon so I can apply it going into summer. My soil will be so microbial active and porous and aerated. I\’m all in. Totally addicted to Jonathan Green. I thought I had some nice kbg until I renovated with BB-ultra. Now I wish every grass blade on my property was j.g. ultra. I kid you not. Thank you j.g.
This was the 1st year that I have used this grass seed and boy am I impressed. I reseeded in October and this spring, omg! My lawn is gorgeous! This grass is worth every penny. I finally have a thick lawn. Thank You guys at Johnathan Green.
I use this seed in my own lawn, and most of the lawns i install for customers. Great success and results from every time I’ve used the product. Soil testing, correct nutrient application and watering will also add to the positive results.
Ordered a 7 lb bag Monday about noon Pacific Standard Time here in Southern California. Arrived Wednesday early afternoon. I have killed and dug out the old lawn. Will post another review in a few weeks with how the new seed is doing.
I have been using this product a number of years in NJ. I am currently in SC and found the same product by a different company but at 1.5 times the price. I have ordered it and had it sent to my local True Value hardware store. This product works, one application and all diseases were eliminated for the year ! Very effective and reasonably priced.
Frequently Bought Together
-
4.375 out of 5
Lawn Weed Control
Broadleaf weed control, with Trimec technology, use to control 200+ weeds. -
4.52941176471 out of 5
Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Acidic & Hard Soil
Unique soil food combo for lawns to rapidly raise pH, loosen compaction & stimulate soil microbes. -
N/A out of 5
New American Lawn® Hand Spreader
Light weight and easy to use. Ideal for grass seed, fertilizers & ice melters.