Johnathan Green's Black Beauty vs Scotts Grass Seed - Reviewed and Tested
- Marc
- Aug 9, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 3
I had this exact same question after learning about Johnathan Green's products as my journey started with Scott's products. After moving into my new home, I quickly realized that I needed to do major yard work, being that my lawn was in shambles; it consisted of dead grass, an abundance of weed growth, and filled with crabgrass. No bueno! Over that summer, I made several visits to the home improvement store and purchased grass seed. Because I wanted achieve a quick resolution at first, I chose Scotts Rapid grass seed because the bag stated it would germinate and grow 2x faster. I then purchased Scotts Heritage grass seed. Also, Scott's products seemed to be the most reliable choice, being that there were multiple options available. Now looking back, I wish I did more research on different brands of grass seed. I will dive into why that is, in this post. First, I'll list the specs of both products I have used, and their pros and cons, respectively.
Johnathan Green's Black Beauty Pacific Northwest
Black Beauty® Pacific Northwest Grass Seed is a premium, all-purpose grass seed mixture specifically designed for the diverse climates of the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Black Beauty® Pacific Northwest Grass Seed thrives in full sun to medium-shaded lawn areas and grows an attractive, naturally dark-green lawn. Black Beauty® Pacific Northwest is naturally insect and disease resistant. Grass seed germinates in 10 - 20 days. Black Beauty grass seed varieties root deeply, possess a waxy leaf coating to preserve moisture, and have a uniform growth habit.
Size: 3 lb. | Overseeding: Up to 2,250 sq. ft. | New Lawns: Up to 1,125 sq. ft.
Size:Â 7 lb. | Overseeding:Â Up to 5,250 sq. ft. | New Lawns:Â Up to 2,625 sq. ft.
Size:Â 25 lb. | Overseeding:Â Up to 18,750 sq. ft.. | New Lawns:Â Up to 9,375 sq. ft.
Pros:
uniform vertical growth habit
outstanding adaptability
disease resistance
rapid germination (10 – 20 days)
waxy coating on each blade
deep root system (up-to 4inch when established)
0% weed
Cons:
none
Scotts Heritage Sun and Shade Mix
A mix of modern seed varieties designed with the simplicity of the past. Scotts® Heritage™ Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix® is a versatile mix that performs well in sunny and shady areas. This high-quality, uncoated grass seed mix is 99.9% weed free and starts to grow in as little as 5 to 10 days. It can be used to seed a new lawn or reseed an existing lawn. Apply Scotts® Heritage™ Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix® in the spring or fall when air temperatures are consistently between 60°F and 80°F. We recommend using a Scotts® spreader to apply this product (please refer to spreader settings on product label). Water daily or as needed to keep the soil surface moist until the seedlings reach at least 2 inches tall.
Size:Â 7 lb. | Overseeding:Â Up to 5,600 sq. ft | New Lawns:Â Up to 1,865 sq. ft.
Pros:
99.9% weed free
rapid germination (5 – 10 days)
Cons:
does not grow in a uniform vertical growth habit
adaptability is not listed on product
disease resistance is not listed on product
uncoated grass seed
root system depth is not listed on product
Scotts Turf Builder Rapid Grass Sun & Shade Mix
Get outside and enjoy your lawn with Scotts® Turf Builder® Rapid Grass Sun & Shade Mix®. With our revolutionary mix of grass seed and fertilizer in one effective formula, your lawn benefits from extended feeding, resulting in full, green grass. Compared to seed alone, your lawn will grow 2X faster (when applied at the new lawn rate, subject to proper care). Scotts® Turf Builder® Rapid Grass Sun & Shade Mix® grows green, lush grass in just weeks. Use on either new lawns or overseeding existing grass. For best results, apply in the spring or fall when air temperatures are consistently between 60°F and 80°F. We recommend using a Scotts® spreader to apply this product (please refer to spreader settings on product label). Do not use weed control products until your lawn has been mowed at least 4 times. Finally, be sure to apply Scotts® Lawn Food products every 8 weeks throughout the season to help maintain your thick, green lawn.
Size:Â 5.6 lb. | Overseeding:Â Up to 2,800 sq. ft. | New Lawns:Â Up to 839 sq. ft.
Size:Â 16 lb. | Overseeding:Â Up to 8,000 sq. ft | New Lawns:Â Up to 2,395 sq. ft.
Pros:
rapid growth (full green grass in just weeks)
mixture contains fertilizer
Cons:
does not grow in a uniform vertical growth habit
adaptability is not listed on product
disease resistance is not listed on product
uncoated grass seed
root system depth is not listed on product
weed percentage is not listed on product
Having used and tested all three products, by far, the quality of Scotts products are lesser than -- here's why:
For two consecutive seasons, I've overseeded using a 50/50 mixture of Scotts Rapid Grass and Scotts Heritage grass seed. I've planted in both the spring and summer seasons, and I see the same results each time. The overseed would die out very quickly after germination in full-sun areas. However, shaded areas stayed greener over time. See Image 1 -- The upper part of the photo is an area that is shaded area under a tree. The lower part of the photo is an area that get full sunlight. Because the product states it is a "Sun and Shade" formula, I expected green grass in both areas. As you can see, that is clearly not the case as the grass has dry out in the areas with full direct sunlight.
Image 2 is a picture I took just about a month after Image 1. The full-sun areas became even more patchy, which also happened the year prior. Since taking these photo's, I have lightly overseeded again, just to finish out the summer time. This time, I used Johnathan's Black Beauty PNW grass seed. So far, germination has happened and they are staying strong. It has also stayed true to the Pros I mentioned earlier. Johnathan Green products are specifically formulated for different regions of the country, which makes it a more superior product.
The lesson learned is that it is important to know the different grass types available. Although no brand of grass is perfect, it is important to first understand grass seed types and secondly, purchase and test the different brands to see which will work best for you, your soil, and climate. For information on different types of grass seed, see my comprehensive guide Understanding Grass Seed Types For Beginners. This will give you a great understanding of which grass seeds will work best in your climate.
Happy lawn care!
