Scary but true...on the other hand, that'll be about the time Satan announces a cooling trend.

I'm scared too.
Didn't know your were planting this early.
Didn't know you weren't raking either.
I'm skerrrred.

I got time-locked a bit and had to go early. Fortunately, the weather here is around eighty and humid, so keeping things damp is no trick.

Actually, I did rake, although the mower didn't bag well on dead stuff that thick and raking it was difficult at best. Looking straight down, you can see considerable ground. Looking crosswise, you see the still-standing 1" dead stuff. Most of the remaining bits that fell on soil rotted off already.

We are all holding our breath Morpheous. Any weeds come up ? Isn't it time for a new pic. You know you are the inspiration for lawn renovators of the known universe.

Have faith, and be glad that come the worst you'll be sleeping on the couch, not the lawn. ;)

Of course you still have time to seed again if it comes to that.

Good luck! I've been watching with interest.

Did you broadcast your KGB or use some type of seeder? If so, which kind? (Sorry if I missed it in an earlier post.)

Why are you so scared, for 6+ months of the year that's how most of Atlanta/North GA's lawns look. Looks great the way it is.

You know you are the inspiration for lawn renovators of the known universe.

Lately, it seems so. Even one neighbor is now doing it.

Of course you still have time to seed again if it comes to that.

Yep, so the level of worry is not as high as it could be!

Did you broadcast your KGB or use some type of seeder? If so, which kind? (Sorry if I missed it in an earlier post.)

I used a Mantis to open a furrow every 1" and about 1/4" deep, then drop-seeded the lawn.

Why are you so scared, for 6+ months of the year that's how most of Atlanta/North GA's lawns look. Looks great the way it is.

HA, I like it and I'll have to use that! Even brown, it's more consistent than some of the lawns around here I could name...

What kind of trees are those to the left and right of the house and also have you seen this coming week's weather forecast by any chance?

The forecast for you is warmer than down here morpheus.

Here is a link that might be useful: I think this is your forcast

Fortunately, no--BW is further south than I am, and we'll be about three degrees cooler.

Oh, the trees. Left in the shot is a dogwood, right is a Cleveland pear. That's kind of like a Bradford pear, except without the mess, root sprouts, weak wood, and short lifespan.

Of course I panicked the day before sprout began. There's tiny little green threads, half an inch tall, stitched through the dampest parts of the lawn. The drier parts have them too, but fewer, although coming along.

Looks like the grass fell over and is now covering the ground a lot. I'm trusting the new grass can come through, but if not I'll rake those areas and reseed toward the end of the week. I should know by then.

Morpheuspa,

You're fine. The new seedlings should grow right through the flopped over grass. (At least it did for me when I did it)

Walk on that lawn now, and I'm coming to Pennsylvania packing really heavy.
Oh sorry. That was the dominatrix.

hahahahahahaha

Oh sorry. That was the dominatrix.

Yes, mistress. As you say, mistress.

No walking on the lawn (except for taking the dogs out in one area that I know I'll probably have to reseed a bit come late August when the rest is in and we can move along a bit).

3 degrees cooler? So it will be 90 degrees instead of 93 degrees? Sorry but I'm boggled by the decision to seed a cool season grass at the start of the warmest month of the year.

Quirky, leave it alone. He said he got time locked and had to do it early. I still think he's planning on seeding more later in the fall.

Yep, this was nearly the exactly wrong date to do it. I don't recommend doing it in late July. Not for anybody.

However, this definitely isn't Georgia--our low temperatures are 60 to 65. At 11:30, it's currently 76 out there with a high of 90, and we won't hit that until mid afternoon and it'll then drop fast.

Honestly, I think much of the warning is for people who can't irrigate it regularly.

Irrigating for short periods four times a day is definitely taking care of any heat-related issues. The blankest patches are now green fuzz. I'm waiting for the green to penetrate the flopping grass, but that'll be a few more days.

Well, it should be an interesting test. If you do everything else right, how does KGB planted into high temps do?

I can't speak for the rest of GA, the lower half of the state is a sweltering hell hole but where I live it's been upper 60's at night. Last week even had a couple of nights in the 50's.
The latest wunderground forecast doesn't even have any 90's for us for the next 5 days. It's 81 at 12:30 and sunny. Havent even had hardly any 90+ days here this year.

I'm not trying to give you a hard time about seeding now. If you can't seed later, you can't do it later. It's just that you run the risk of not only wasting a lot of money but also time and have to start again.

Quirky,

I think he has a couple of things working in his favor (though I agree with everybody including Morpheuspa that this isn't the best time of year).

1) He's seeding KBG -- which as you know can take weeks to reach full germination.

A good portion of his seed won't germinate until probably Mid August -- which is when most folks around here start their seeding.

2) He's able to keep the seed bed moist because of an irrigation system.

Morpheuspa, I'm very interested in your project and would love to see you add pictures now. I realize it would be hard to see the progress, but how about another pic or two (one like the above photos and another close up)?

This is a great thread, thanks for your chronicle! I'm hoping to seed myself on Aug 11th or the 18th.

Sure thing, Zhoster! The photo below is the overview (the township put in the tree at nearly the worst possible date, but at least they gave me a TreeGator for it). The one below that is the sprout closeup in the wettest area of the lawn where the garden irrigation oversteps a bit. The rest is much slower.

This is Day 11.

{{gwi:109372}}

{{gwi:109374}}

Dont worry. KBG is painfully, painfully slow to germinate and grow. Keep it wet man. Fertilize the crap out of it this fall. Next year you will have a killer lawn.

Morphuspa,

Thar she grows!

Billhill or anyone, by fertilizing the crap out of it, are you saying we should be adding more than the recommended amount on the fertilizer bag? I'm going to use a 53 lb bag of lesco starter 18-24-12 to fertilize 10,000 sq ft. The bag says it's for 12,000 sq ft. Is one bag sufficient to fertilize the crap out of it or are you suggesting we use more? I bought two bags, one for seeding time and one for mid November. That should do it right?

No. Guess I shouldn't have put it that way. For Morpheous's new KBG seed, I would have put starter on when planted. Then normal amounts to provide 1 lb N per 1000 sq. ft. Oct 1 and again on Nov 30. gbig, you plan is good.

Morpheuspa, it looks great!!! It's great to see the grass sprouting up. I'm sure the rest will be coming up strong in the next few weeks. Thanks so much for posting. It appears that the only mulch you have in place is the old grass and your watering it pretty good, is that correct?

I'm doing the RU thing for the first time this weekend and plannig to seed on the 18th (give or take a few days). It's great to see your progress in just the few weeks since you've started this project.

Thar she grows!

The green whale... Strangely, in the very blank area in the back where the trivialis took the old lawn, the color is already starting to go blue-green and darker than any of the neighbor's lawns. Early indications are that this is going to be a lovely grass. And that's at three quarters of an inch tall, and no more.

For Morpheous's new KBG seed, I would have put starter on when planted. Then normal amounts to provide 1 lb N per 1000 sq. ft. Oct 1 and again on Nov 30. gbig, you plan is good.

I used alfalfa as a starter, a grand total of 0.9 lbs N, 0.25 lbs P, 0.25 lbs K, and 0.22 lbs iron per K sq foot (I ran a bit short and stepped over the top with Milorganite). Recommendations are 0.5 lbs N a month after establishment for the foreseeable future.

Since I'm organic and about two weeks out, the next step of feed should, lightly, go down this weekend. That will be soy at around 4 lbs per thousand square feet. I'll keep a very light amount going in every two weeks.

It appears that the only mulch you have in place is the old grass and your watering it pretty good, is that correct?

Yep. The old grass flopped over, causing a few hours of extreme consternation as I worried it would smother the new grass. And this after I cut it to an inch! No matter, the grass is slowly showing through the old grass mat.

I did cultivate to half an inch or so in furrows every inch to inch and a half. That gave the seed someplace to grow, although the between-row stuff seems to be doing very well too. The grass mat holds plenty of water and cools it down, even on a day like today when we hit 92.

One thing I will say is that patience (and worry) are the norm here. Billhill's right, this stuff takes an eternity to get going. Eleven days and only moderate sprout? Nothing really showing at any distance? Please.

Just just one tree gator but it looks like 2 or 3.

Just just one tree gator but it looks like 2 or 3.

I think it's one (the tree's a 2" caliper), but I haven't walked over to look. The township is currently filling the gator(s) and I'm staying off the sprouts as much as I can.

Stand back! The big, wet area on the western face just exploded. This color is unbelievably impressive. Day 12, now, with grass peeking through the old, dead stuff in all areas except the southern face (which is pretty hot and dries out faster).

{{gwi:109376}}

"Looking good, Billy Ray!!!"

Sorry, had to use the movie quote. :-)

I'm worried

"I'm worried "

Why is that?

I'm worried

Not that the weather isn't worrisome (95 today? We don't see that too often!), but it is coming up. Yes, there's a lot of dead grass about. Yes, it's coming through it. Slowly.

Hmm. OK, worry. Day 13 and I should be seeing more than I am. Here comes a good heavy raking in the areas that aren't doing much.

That'll take me a while. I'll reseed again after that. Some areas will catch up to me and I won't redo those.

I would not rake. Give it a few more days. And keep it wet, as best you can. Even popcorn isn't ready all at once.

Morpheuspa,

I agree with philes21. I would give it some more time. In my experience, you may be well into week three before you start seeing it come up everywhere.

I know it is nerve wracking. But you've got time and you just need to have patience (I think) ;>)

I think Bestlawn's comment with no follow-up has you frazzled, morpheuspa.

Since KGB is noted for slow gremination (up to 30 days), I think patience is a virtue here. Since you are keeping the seeds wet, you should have more seeds germinating soon!

You don't have much to loose waiting a few days, especially since you started early. When I redid my front lawn a few years ago I was convinced the spotty thin looking germination was all I was getting, and it was nearly three weeks when it started filling in better. I would have had even better if I had stepped down my irrigations because I was admitting failure.

First, more than one good way to skin a cat. But, for what its worth, here is my "take" and what I'd suggest.

To begin with, I think you just demonstrated that KBG seed really doesn't germinate at a good high RATE when the temperature is hot. The higher temperature, the lower the germination rate. However, what does germinate will for the most part germinate FASTER. (I.e., on the lower end of its germination temp it may take 30 days, on the higher end, 10 (?) days). The net result of that that matters to what you do now? My guess is that what you have germinated now is all you are likely to get out of the first seeding.

Next thing. You are _still_ too early with temps of 95 for the best germination RATE. Unless its impossible, wait for temps to cool off in your area to overseed the next time. You probably still have, what, at least six weeks to month window of available seeding window in your area. You'll likely get better germination rate and better survival of the seedlings that do sprout by waiting for appropriate KBG seeding temps.

Next thing. Raking. I wouldn't. Especially in very young seedlings. You will likely tear out most of whatever is up. Whenever you overseed a recently seeded area what I have done is hand broadcast seed into the areas you want. You can see where you want it and how much you need (a little or a lot of seed depending on the strength of the stand of grass you have. Then, sprinkle out a thin layer of some covering to help hold the moisture for germination. I have used a fine grain compost and I have used peat, the fine powdery kind. Of course, you don't want to use so much you smoother the seedlings, just enough to help hold moisture for germination. An eighth to a quarter inch, tops?

I didn't proof too well. Meant to say at least TWO months of good seeding window left. Just guessing since I'm not in that area.

And, I'm sad to say, I think you will soon start noticing another problem with seeding early. With temps of 95 and keeping the lawn constantly moist to germinate the KBG and keep the seedlings from dying in the heat, every viable weed seed in your yard will thank you for your nurturing and sprout. That is one of the main advantages to waiting to the fall to seed KBG. Summer annual weeds won't sprout when the temps cool but KBG will.

The good news is you can still wind up with a great stand this year. Its just going to turn what could have been a six week babying process into three steps process and about three months of high effort. Hang in there and good luck.

I think zhotster hit the nail on the head! I believe that you have to be patient given the long germination time of KBG and the less then ideal conditions. You're in now. You wouldn't want to overreact and cause more harm then good.
Good Luck!

No, please don't rake. Put my name on everything RC stated. I'm afraid this may step into your vacation time. Is there a plan B for watering while you're away? I don't remember if you have an irrigation system that you can program. The last thing you want is for the seeds to dry while you're gone.

Don't give up and don't let me worry you, like Zhotster said. I'm just a worry wart LOL.

See, here's the problem. Here's a study that finds that as temperature goes up, germination rate of KGB goes down. The study finds that the best temperature for most germination is 25 degrees Celsius (77F), goes down to 23 to 30 percent germination as temps increase to 30C (86F) and goes to zero of KGB even germinating at 40C (104F).

Strangely enough, the study found that another cool season grass, perennial rye, didn't have its germination rate affected at all by temperature going up. Go figure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Study finding KGB germination goes down as planting temps go up

Morpheus, If you do not have an inground irrigation system there are inexpensive timers available to turn on your above ground sprinklers as well.

The study that rcnaylor posted was very interesting and contains some valuable insight as to germination. When you examine the methods and materials used in the study you should remember that the conditions that they created in the lab (i.e. wet paper as a soil medium, constant temps etc.) aren't what happen in your yard. Air and soil temps are generally cooler at some point in the day, rise to a peak and begin to cool. There is also numerous other factors that contribute to the temperature of the seed bed that you have prepared.

Keep the seed bed moist and let nature take its course.

Morph, Rcnaylor,

That study is a good one. But I think it is important for Morpheuspa to remember that just because that seed won't germinate at 90+ degress, doesn't mean that it won't ever germinate.

Even weed seed will just stay in the soil waiting for the right conditions.

I would argue that what you've done is probably no worse than winter overseeding. I'm pretty certain that you'll get zero percent germination from KBG when dormant seeding at 32 degrees -- that is until the conditions change (spring arrives).

Keep the seed bed moist and hang in there. I still think you'll be ok in the longrun.

The study could explain why you are not also hatching P. Trivialis or P. Annua seeds also.

With the high heat, undoubtedly, there will be some lapses in your sprinkler system coverage that will not germinate. Trying to fix those now may not lead to success either. Later on, when temps die down, those areas may start filling in. Luckily time is on your side. I have even seen successful seeding done well into October. KBG is beautifully cold tolerant, even as seedlings.