I think it is too early to really make an definitive statements about the success of your overseeding. It still might exceed your expectations. It is early.

+1 Rutgers1. It's really early. Day 14 on a KBG planting doesn't show much, but by day 28 it sure does.

I think this is going to surprise you by mid October.

uneven compost spread

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:119518}}

first time posting pictures, but just wanted to show that areas that got no compost, nothing is happening 'though i do realize that it's early. areas that got too much, same thing. areas where the compost is 1/4 to 1/2" thick, a lot of activity. in time, do you think all the seeds will sprout?

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do you think all the seeds will sprout?

On the too-thin areas, yes. They're not holding water as well so they're not as biologically active. They'll be along. I still have sprout on day 60 in the areas that really got dry.

On the too-thick areas...a qualified yes. If we're talking 3/4 of an inch, they'll probably make it. An inch and maybe not--although it'll still probably surprise you. Again, it takes longer to grow through the overhead cover so you won't see it as fast.

Even there, it'll send out rhizomes and spread neatly into the holes. I wouldn't count on it (and dormant seed this winter a bit if you end up needing to do so), but it would eventually work.

Having just completed my own overseeding (which was almost like a renovation given the stress I subjected the lawn to), and having just helped a neighbor with a renovation, I actually think there might be something to your worry now that I think about it a bit more. Wherever I topdressed lightly and evenly, I got a ton of germination. Wherever I topdressed too light or not at all, I didn't get much germination at all. I didn't have any areas where I topdressed too much, so I can't comment on that part of your scenario. BUT, if I were you, I would give it a couple more days and then go back and rake some seed into the areas that didn't get the compost and then lightly sprinkle it over.

By the way, just for future reference: don't scalp prior to Roundup. For the Roundup to make a clean kill, the grass has to be able to absorb the chemical and it has to be actively growing. The reason the Roundup didn't work quickly is because the grass was dormant.

Jen, I don't think you're going to have a problem. You may have an ulcer, but not a problem with the lawn.

Here's the deal: once you get grass seed onto dirt (good soil to seed contact), it's pretty hard to get that stuff NOT to germinate. Same with weed seeds, when you think about it. They'll sit there, and pick up some moisture, and bingo! We have germination. And after germination, the grass will likely grow, assuming some sort of fertilization, some sort of moisture, and a lack of traffic on the lawn. It just plain happens, and it would be hard to prevent it from happening.

Oh, you want it NOW? Oh, you want it to happen more or less immediately? Gee, that's a little tougher: you'd have to 'optimize' that seeding process, and get almost all of the seed into contact with the soil, and then moist, at the same time, all of it.

Oh, you want to be able to prevent the seeds from accidentally drying out, and thus losing a few? Oh, well, then, you'd have to either get lucky with mother nature, and the moisture thing (July should be avoided, eh?), and you'd have to be careful on your watering (NO puddles. NO puddles), or you'd have to put a little something down for a mulch, to try and keep things moist, keep things from evaporating quickly.

Oh, you want things to move along, more or less as you planned? No intermittent problems, those things that always seem to come up, with any huge project? You wanted a small project? Well, that's not what you started. Nope. As you figured out, a lawn renovation is a HUGE project. So small-project expectations will not apply. (Hah! In SPADES, babe.)

And then there's the Rolaids. Not really needed. Patience helps. A lot. So does keeping the kids, dogs, hoses, and other traffic off those seedlings.

But let's work on the "attitude" or "expectation" thing for just a moment, in hopes that I can convince you not to worry. As much.

1. The seed is there, and it's more or less evenly spread.
2. It's getting some moisture, and hopefully no puddles. None. Do not let that sprinkler system make puddles, float the seed, and thus kill the seed. There's no root yet, to hold it in place, as the root hasn't yet grown.
3. We don't have to put up with July, nor August, heat, and September, with it's occasional heat, is gone as well.
4. We will resolve to stay off that lawn, even when the FIRST seedlings are an inch or two high, because the REST of the seedlings may come along a little more slowly. We know they're there. They will come in.
5. We're going to lose a few seedlings. By the way, even if you had done the job in the manner you now perceive as 'perfect', you'd STILL lose a few, now wouldn't you?
6. If you perceive that there is a CLUMP, a one inch thick chunk of compost, likely to smush just about anything down, feel free to walk over there and pick it up gently, and get it outta there. Don't re-distribute it, just get it outta there. This little bit of tuning is about all that's needed now, other than the patience thing.

So, to sum up: it's gonna be fine. You did the right things, if all you want is a million fine bluegrass seeds, sprouting, spreading out, turning dark green, and filling in.

You don't need it to all come in at once, kinda like installing a carpet. Think about it. Think about it while staying off the lawn, please.

But it's gonna be great. Let us know how it turns out.