All very good questions. I'm about a week behind you and I was beginning to wonder the same things. Kinda like being back at an overseeding situation....which to care for most...the established or the new?

Rob

If it were me, I would throw down seed in the bare spots now.

We're at mid September now so the "safe" seeding window will be coming to a close in the next few weeks. I would try to be careful of the new seedings. Don't walk on it when it is at it's wettest.

But get that seed out there now. With KBG taking longer typically to reach full germination, it might be sometime in October before all the seed you put down today will germinate.

Of course, we may have a fall like the last few years where it stays relatively warm into January. (My last cut of the lawn last year was on Jan. 1) In that case, you might still have a bit more time. But I wouldn't take the chance.

FWIW I don't think there is a solution that will satisfy all of the requirements for the new and older seedlings. I am two weeks in and have decent coverage. I expect more to fill in but will not wait to see. Plan is to spread some seed over the trouble spots today or tomorrow and stay on the 3x/day watering schedule for an extra 10 days (or less if I see some good filling in sooner), and then mow whenever the highest grasslings need it.

I suppose this will (1) delay deeper root development in the first seedings, (2) result in a lower germination rate for the new seeds, and (3) cause the most fragile of the new stuff to be ripped out during the first mow. Not ideal, but it is the best compromise I can think of.

But I would be glad to hear any better ideas!

What I do when I get to the point where weak areas can be determined is to hand seed those areas then sprinkle peat moss over it. Its light and doesn't smother the new seedlings but lets the new seed stay moist. Also helps keep the birds from eating the new seeds that are otherwise on top of the ground.

I'm getting strung out now as well. This might just be a case of the "patience" thing they talk about.

I have about 30% of my lawn showing SOMETHING - although a lot of it JUST starting to germinate now - and I am 10 days into it. I am nervous that my low water availability really destroyed my seedlings. Then I am thinking that maybe it was just the fact that it was watered on the low side and it will just take a little longer for it. I do see it coming in in many areas, but many other areas I literally see nothing at all.

I'm hoping for some serious change in germination between now and the weekend or I will start being very nervous. Ugh.

You can certainly overseed now if you want, and the peat topdressing is a great idea. With a quarter inch of peat atop the seed you can safely drop to watering once or twice per day once your original seeding is fully sprouted. Don't count on that before Day 28. By then temperatures will be down, so will evaporation, and the water you put down won't leave as fast.

Also, when sprouted it's really THIN. Like threads. It takes a while for that seedling leaf to garner enough energy to develop a good crown and start growing real leaves.

I know we all look at first frost as the end of the season, but for your grass it's a signal to start moving into fall mode. You don't want frost on new seedlings, but even if the root systems haven't developed yet, they have plenty of time--until the ground freezes solid. 'Round these parts, that's January most years. December in a few. Never November.

You can water at a higher rate through mid October and get away with it just fine. Yes, you'll have some losses, but you would have anyway.

Second...patience. Below are my photos from day fourteen and day 35.

Recap:

Day 14 (two weeks!):

{{gwi:112713}}

Day 35 (FIVE weeks):

{{gwi:116316}}

That picture helps. Your Day 14 pic looks like a few days away from my Day 10.

I need to update my pics'

When you guys talk about "throwing down some seed", do you mean literally, throw down some seed, topdress with peat moss, etc.? What I'm getting at is, do I need to rake to loosen the soil of bare spots? I'm worried about raking because if I have some old seed that is still in the process of germinating in the bald spots, raking will kill it. I've aerated, slit seeded, rolled, so the seed bed is prepared already. Granted it's been compacted by the roller, but do you rake before patching or not?

I just used a handheld whirlygig seeder thingy and watered them in. I think the advice to add some peat is good advice, but I won't bother this time. I did not rake anything for the reason you mentioned.