Dantis, My re-seeding attempt from last fall is the same way - it never got much past the "sprouting" stage before an early (for us) winter hit. But with the 70+ degree days we've been having here, it's started growing again. Oh - some of what I've put down is KBG. I want to say that the high N fertilizer you put down may have been a little strong for the young grass - but it's survived the winter, so please let us know what effects you see. Anyway - I would think that you just need to give it a few months - it's KBG, it will spread. The overseed project I did 2 years ago with some KBG took at least one growing season to really darken up, and a previous poster (Morpheus?) had a similar experience IIRC - his young reseed lawn didn't really impress him until a year or so later. Also - which cultivar did you plant? There are many varieties being bred now to have lower growth patterns - perhaps yours is one of these? Lastly - I wouldn't aerate - if the lawn is still "new", I wouldn't risk tearing it up with any kind of machinery such as an aerator. If you're in Mass., it early - just "give Spring a chance". --Gags

Likely just needed more water. BUT also check if the soil is staying too soggy and air starving the roots! For instance, if sitting in a saucer, make sure it doesn't stay in standing water for more than a day or two. This summer I had a large Brug tub on the lawn, whose hefty root growth plugged the container. It was wilting and watering didn't help. I put the tub on its side and used an electric drill to open the drainage holes. This fixed the problem within a couple days. Take home lesson is to put Brugs in planters elevated with feet or if flat bottomed place them on a hard patio surface or piece of flat tile or plastic. Otherwise ground soil contact with the planter bottom can encourage roots to creep out seeking water, and plug the planter.

I would not be so categoric as to state 'should be put down in the spring' . There are many variables including climate. In mine, for example, both Spring and Autumn mulching are standard practice. An autumn mulch will protect soil from compacting winter rain. It retains warmth for those plants which flower in winter and for perennials and woody subjects which are planted throughout the winter. The soil rarely freezes and if it does only an inch or two for brief periods. An Autumn mulch can prevent freezing completely. So I stick to my contention that you can mulch whenever you have the material, if that is suitable to your climate.

Just now saw this thread, so I'm late to the convo. I'm in 10b south florida and I use one of those battery operated leaf chippers? mulchers? to chew up our oak leaves. We have a literal forest of avocado trees... that grow like weeds in our 'oak leaf amended soil' (much like @sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish) said above. Now that I'm putting in a front garden... I'm going to put them on my rose beds as mulch. I've heard it's great!