Yes, Bluegrass seeds are very small compared to Tall Fescue (and Ryegrass). You will pay a similar amount of money per 1000ft2 of seed. You can form a lawn with as little as 1 pound of Bluegrass seed per 1000ft2. It will spread to fill in eventually, Tall Fescue will not spread significantly.

If you grow Bluegrass, be prepared to be patient! Plant it as early in August as you can (your ability to water will determine how early). With a low seeding rate (1-2 lbs/1000ft2), the lawn will be somewhat thin and weeded by winter, but you will have mature plants which means you can mow and use weed killers. A higher seeding rate (3-4 lbs), will give you full cover faster, but most likely immature plants. Either way, by next summer/fall it will be beautiful if you keep it mowed, fertilized and watered.

+1 Turf_junkie.

Bluegrass is teeny, with a million seeds a pound. Fescue and rye are both closer to a quarter million seeds a pound because the seeds are bigger.

Recommended rates for fescue are 8 to 10 pounds per thousand square feet, while bluegrass is 2 to 3. Offhand, I'm not sure about rye, but would bet it's closer to fescue than KBG.

I'm reseeding this year and plan to use 3 pounds of KBG per thousand, and doing it right around the first of August. By October, I expect to have a reasonable amount of lawn. By ground freeze, fair coverage and tolerable thickness--enough to keep the mud down come unfreeze in spring.

IF you think bluegrass seeds are small you should see bentgrass. You need a microscope.

terps02,

Where in MD are you? I'm in Bowie and plan to reseed with KBG in August? Like Morpheus, I will be seeding at the 3 lb. rate per K sq. ft.

I'm in Southern Maryland - St. Mary's.

I'm in a new house, the lawn was seeded in december. Needless to say it isn't looking so hot.

I'm planning to renovate in late august. Yep, sounds like 3 lbs/1000 sq ft is the ticket.

Which specific cultivar are you using? Where are you going to buy it?

Just as a heads-up, you may want to consider 2 pounds/1000ft2. In sod production, seeding rates as low as 1 pound/1000ft2 are used because it produces a faster harvest and more rhizomes and tillers for a denser sod. Pay careful attention to distributing the seeds evenly, getting them in good contact with soil, and keep them mulched/irrigated and the lower rate will be better. On top of all that, you are planting at the OPTIMUM time of the year and you are likely to get a very high percentage of germination. See the link below from The Ohio State University on seeding rates:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/b546/b546_6.html

terps02 - I'm going with Midnight II, Moonlight, and Bedazzled. I purchased the seeds from Williams Lawn Seed last week.

Turf_junkie - thanks for your insight. I will definitely consider a 2 lb. rate come seeding time.

I went to Williams website, seems geared towards wholesale. Did you call to order?

Do you have the seed in hand?

For what it is worth, I've read that a 4-pound seeding rate for KBG is appropriate when starting from scratch.

During my project, I've used that rate to good success.

Now you have me worried with the timing on a KBG renovation. I was going to do mine September 1 (first frost date is about October 10). But now I'm worried that I need to start a week or two earlier to give the grass time to establish before frost? Watering will not be a problem, should I start in the middle of August. My biggest fear is an early frost and having a muddy front lawn all winter. My wife would kill me :)

Gbig2 - A couple weeks makes a huge difference. In mid-Michigan, August 15 for KBG works great if kept moist. So yea, plant your grass mid August. Fertilize it well and give it a late Autumn urea fertilization for that great winter green and spring revival.

+1 billhill

Gbig2--if possible, start earlier. Aug 15, as billhill said, or even earlier if you can keep the seed bed moist at all times. Without exception! I'm in Bethlehem and going August 1, but that's going to be difficult to hold.

I started plugs for the lawn (to fill in the inevitable bare spots) on June 27. They're easy to keep damp (in seed starters). First sprout was on July 3 already because of the warmth. This morning, there was a nice green fuzz.

terps02,

Yes, I have the seed on hand and I called to place the order. I spoke with Leon (very nice guy).

The phone number for Williams Lawn Seed - (800) 457-9571.

Let's not forget the cardinal rule of redoing a lawn.... there is a 100% chance of washout thunderstorms on whatever weekend you plan on doing the renovation. To combat that, get your materials early so you can seed whenever the weather is cooperative. You don't want to wait until september and then get stuck with a couple of weekends of thunderstorms.

Did anyone use a Scotts Speedy Green broadcast spreader to spread KBG seed? What setting would equal 2 - 3 lb. application rate?

I know most recommend slit seeding, but I will be aerating in advance and may use my broadcast spreader since the cores will be exposed for good soil contact.

I have never done this, but I've heard to mix the amount of seed you want to sow with a bag of milorganite and then use the setting per 1000 sq ft for milorganite. I am going to try this for my fall overseeding.

Can someone provide me with some guidance for a spring planting?

I realize fall is the ideal time to sow KBG, but I need to apply proactive doses of Dimension this fall to combat the POA Annua I was inundated with this season and dont really want to wait until next fall to seed.

I plan to slit seed as part of the planting process and use starter fertilizer with Siduron for initial crabgrass protection.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris, Welcome to the lawn forum. It might be better if you posted a new thread with this question. That being said, I think your plan is good. Just keep it watered well next spring / summer lest your seedlings dry up and die. Good luck with your lawn. There is a wealth of information here. Keep reading and contribute here and you will learn a lot before planting next spring. BillHill

Thanks for the feedback and words of encouragement. I look forward to reading and posting often.

Thanks again,
Chris

I just ordered 50 lbs of Midnight II/Moonlight/Bedazzled.

Williams was very easy to deal with.

$198 - shipped to MD.