I'm wondering if it isn't too late to plant? I'm in PA. I've torn up my front yard and prepared it for seed, however the local seed company says it's probably too late, as the possibility of frost has to be considered for proper germination. They seem to feel that Oct. 15th is the cut-off date. I guess, it's kind of a crap shoot.

I don't know what to do.

You can't use Black Beauty in Maine, its basically 100% Tall Fescue, it won't make it through the winter.

Its definitely too late to seed in Maine. You might want to get some Annual Rye down. Up there you need fine fescue/rye or kbg.

This is sort of what I'm facing. DH's cousin does landscaping and he and DH say we can seed into November and then do another pass in the spring. But the seed I was looking at will cost about $250 per pass. I don't want to waste $500 seeding with it this fall if it won't work. I'll use a cheaper "name brand" seed that has some perennial rye grass.

This is the response I got from the Jonathan Green seed company"

"It all depends on the weather and what you expect. If you still are getting daytime temperatures into the 60'-70's, the ground temperature I assume is still above 50-55 degrees and with these conditions and some moisture, seed will germinate. How fast and how quickly it will fills
in depends on your ability to provide water if it does not rain and if Mother Nature makes the air temperatures plummet in your area under 50 degrees for 10-14 straight days. I think you still are okay, it just may not fill in as fast as it would have if you had planted Sept. 1st.
I would rather you seed now in order to avoid weed competition if you seed next spring."

I looked up our average highs and lows for October on weather.com and learned the average high is no longer above 60 as of October 20. The forcast shows higher temperatures than that for next week, but I don't know about the week after.

I guess I will watch the weather. If we will have above 60 then I will seed with JG products. If not, I'll use some other (cheaper) brand to help prevent erosion and weeds and then seed again first thing in the spring. Darn it!

I have a place in Maine and am familiar with the climate. You are better off seeding with what you want then putting some cheap seed which you'll regret later. If you are in a sunny area go for a mix of PR and KBG, but the odds that the latter will germinate (and survive the winter) are really low. Get a hold of Tupersan (enough for 2 applications) and be ready to seed in the late spring, probably May in Maine. I would seed lightly, just enough to keep the soil in place, and then do 100% KBG in the spring.

Here is the mix seedsuperstore recommends for southwest Maine (where I have a place):

SS5000: This outstanding sunny mixture combines four superior Kentucky Bluegrass varieties with our best fine fescue and perennial ryegrass to produce a lush, dark green lawn. Contains 15% each of Midnight II, Blue Velvet, Freedom III, and NuDestiny bluegrass, and 20% Longfellow II chewings fescue and Paragon GLR perennial ryegrass.

Well, I went out this afternoon and got some contractor's mix and starter fertilizer and put it down. I figured it will work or it won't. Even that, on a 1/2 acre isn't cheap. I just couldn't feel right without anything on it for the winter.

This lawn probably hasn't had a thing done to it in "forever". If I have to disk it under in the spring, it can't hurt.

I'll over-seed it and the remainder in the spring.

Why is SeedSuperStore so expensive?

My local seed store quoted me $2.25/pound for a mix (for PA) of 4 KBGs and a few other things mixed in. SSS is about $12.50/pound for a blend (SS5000).

You get really good service and guaranteed weed free seed.

It must be damn good for $10.25/pound more!

Well, after 18 hours, it finally rained on my new seed. It looks like there might be some more rain, yet today and then at least 4-5 days of sun in the 60s - 70s. So, I've got my fingers crossed that the seed will germinate and make it through the winter.

I may even have to mow it, yet this year!