Your right, all the sun/shade mixes at big box stores have fine fescus not turf type fescus. Would the turf type blend in with my existing KBG? I like KBG because it spreads but the extensions states this is high maintenane for MO. I was wondering how it would work if I mixed a bag fo KBG with tall fescus. So that where there are holes the KBG would fill them in. What do you think?

KBG/TF blending is pretty common. Most sod farms sell a TF/KBG sod, in fact you need the KBG so the sod will hold together. It won't look bad as long as the lawn is fairly consistent in color and texture. TF germinates and grows pretty quickly, a lot quicker than KBG, so it's a lot easier to overseed KBG with TF than the other way around. TF is not a plant and forget however. It needs about the same amount of water and fertilizer, and it grows faster than KBG in most cases, as long as temps aren't too high. With above 90 days you will see little top growth in all cool season grasses. I understand your desire for a low maintenance lawn, but if you want a beautiful lawn, you will have to do some work, there's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to mow less frequently then you should overseed with a dwarf type TF.

I dont care about the maintenance. I, not my husband, does all the research and fertilizing of the grass/ watering ect. My only concern is that even with watering, my grass dies/thins during the summer or gets a fungus. I just want thicker grass that can take the heat. Since I overseeded last year with KBG, should I only put down TF or should I try to find a mix with both?

There are probably mixes with both, but be careful that the tall fescue that is listed is not K31 (or Ky31 or Kentucky 31). Those all sound like they might be KBG, but they're not; they're a form of unimproved tall fescue.

The K-31 or Kentucky 31 is a Pasture-type Tall Fescue, NOT recommended for home sites.

Your local big box stores should have bags of Turf-Type Tall Fescue/Kentcuky Bluegrass mix. This seed combination is very common in the Transition zone (from NC and VA west to central and Southern California) that's what sod farmers sell around here (raleigh, nc)

It works very well, however, you still need to water the turfgrass during the summer.

Another option is Zoysiagrass, a summer grass that turns brown in the Fall and does not green up again until Mid to late Spring in most places, but it will provide you with thickest lawn during the summer months.

The recommended cultivars for your climate are Meyer or Zenith. Both grasses look very much the same. They also look a lot like Dwarf type Fescue lawns. But unlike fescue, it poor shade tolerance, so a full sun to light shade site is very important to the long term success of these turfgrasses.

I was looking on websites and what I am seeing is 90%Fescus and 10%KBJ. Is this typical? I was also looking at Lesco's Tuf Turf which has this same combination. If the names on the bags do not say K-31 or Kentucky 31 does this mean they are turf fescus?

Those mixes include a little KBG so that the KBG will fill in bare spots and keep the lawn from getting a bunchy look. 10% is fairly typical in a mix like that (IOW, mostly fescue with just enough KBG to keep it from getting sparse).

If it names the fescues and they don't include K31, you should be good.

Every bag of seed should have a tag listing what cultivars are used in the mix. Always check the tag to be sure you are getting what you want. The 90:10 TF/KBG ratio in reality gives you a 2:1 mix of TF to KBG. TF seeds are big, average count is 225,000 seeds per pound. KBG is 1,400,000 seeds per pound. So in 10 lbs of seed you should have 2,250,000 TF seeds, 1,400,000 KBG seeds. Over time this will probably work out to a 50/50 percent cover as the KBG will spread into areas of the lawn while the TF spreads very slowly, and only when the grass is mature after growing a few seasons.

Thanks a lot guys. I thought something was wrong with the 90%Fescus/10%KBJ. Why dont they put perrineal rye in these mixes like the Sun/SHade mix? I think I'm going to get my seeds from Lesco. All the internet sites want you to buy huge bags. I'm just overseeding and my lawn is just a small typical residential lawn.

I'm pretty sure Lesco sells big bags for the most part. If you want smaller quantities take a look at the Hogan Company. I have bought seeds from them and they will sell you any amount, at good prices. Their TF selection is mostly newer cultivars that perform well in the NTEP trials.

Good explanation by Tiemco on the Fescue/Bluegrass mix ratio. Most people think is 10% Bluegrass of the entire lawn and that the seeds are the same size.

Anyway, I'm familiar with Lesco's Tuf Turf, the Fescues are Magellan, Padre, and Biltmore - Shamrock for Kentucky Bluegrass. It does ok, I wish the they will include a Hybrid or Midnight type Bluegrass intead of the Shamrock.

Good explanation by Tiemco on the Fescue/Bluegrass mix ratio. Most people think is 10% Bluegrass of the entire lawn and that the seeds are the same size.

Anyway, I'm familiar with Lesco's Tuf Turf, the Fescues are Magellan, Padre, and Biltmore - Shamrock for Kentucky Bluegrass. It does ok, I wish the they will include a Hybrid or Midnight type Bluegrass intead of the Shamrock.

I was thinking the same thing Auteck. I was looking at the NTEP and saw that the fescus cultivators did okay but Shamrock wasnt that great. I was looking at the superseed store and saw that I could make my own mixture of seeds. I picked out their choices for fescus (Rhambling, Firecracker )and was able to add Midnight. The only problem is that it would cost $50 for a 10 pound bag. The cost would not be a problem if I knew my grass would turn out okay next year but I am afraid I would do something wrong and get another fungus that would kill all my grass like this year and that would be $100 wasted.

Yes, SSS is very pricey, especially for small batches. Instead of buying your TF and KBG blended, I suggest you get them seperately. Seed them seperately too, you will get more even coverage since you will be able to change the spreader setting to deal with the different size seeds. Stick with the lowest seeding rate as well, this will prevent crowding and areas that are too thick. Don't worry, they will fill in. Also do some internet searching for seed sellers that will sell small amounts. I bought Firecracker last year, had to buy 50 lbs, but it was 90 bucks with shipping. I know the Hogan Company sells small amounts, they carry Midnight II. Pawnee Buttes carries Midnight, $3.40 a pound, but that's the bulk rate, probably be 4-5 a pound for small amounts. If you can't find what you want call the grower, they will give you names of distributors.

When I called the Hogan Company, the man made it seem like you had to buy the 50 pound bag. Also, I don't know if I like that company. The gentleman was telling my all these different seeds I needed, but when I asked about approx price, he would not tell me unless I wanted to purchase right then. I was willing to buy today if the price seemed okay but that part through me for a loop and I decided I would better check around. I'm going to look for a grass seed calculator to determine how much I need. My yard is approx 7000 square feet that needs to be overseeded.

I HATE fine, chewings fescues. Before I knew there was a difference I overseeded my lawn with a mix that was supposed to be meant for "my area". I read the label and was more concerned with germination rates and test dat and percentage of ingredients than I was about what TYPE of fescue was mixed with KBG. I just found what I've been looking for in a Jonathan Green seed called "Black Beauty". I saw it in a sod that is sold at the same place I bought the seed. I cant wait to aerate, thatch, and hope to thin out enough to overseed with this, lime, and starter fertilizer. My fescu in the lawn now looks like very fine hair that has had a bucket of water dumped on it. It also is , as mentioned in other posts, DROUGHT resistant, but not HEAT resistant.

Wow, that's really surprising. I have dealt with the Hogan Company twice (2009, 2010) and they have been nothing but cordial and very customer friendly. I bought 15 lbs of two tall fescues, and 10 pounds of poa triv the first time, 10 lbs of poa triv the second time. If your yard is 7000 sq. feet, then you will need a good amount of seed. Tall fescue is usually 8-12 lbs. per thousand, KBG 2-4 lbs. per thousand. So even at the low end of the fescue you will need about 50 lbs. Not so for the KBG obviously, but I would think they would know that. Sorry for the bad experience. Sounds like you spoke to a sales guy, both times I called I spoke to the owner and he gave me prices upfront.