Jonathan Green’s Black Beauty® Shady Nooks Grass Seed

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 and Hard Soil to rapidly increase pH. If the pH is above 7.0 use MAG-I-CAL® Plus for Alkaline and 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.