Usually sod in the field gets a much higher rate of nitrogen than most homeowners apply. It could be withdrawal from that high nitrogen. It could be the specific cultivar of TTTF that was planted. It could have been the lack of rain from last year. I overseeded TTTF last fall and mine has stayed pretty green all winter. It is just coming out of dormancy and I'm seeing new growth. In fact I just cleaned up all the winter debris yesterday (more today). I wouldn't necessarily try to jump start it. Let nature happen - the temps are coming up. Especially, don't try a high nitrogen application. Get on a good maintenance schedule for this year and you should find a good healthy lawn that will maintain color through the winter. Mulch mow at 3 inches or higher, 3-5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 sq-ft with most in the fall, and water at 1" per week. Organically maintained has a reputation of better winter color.

There are parts of the lawn that have clumps here and there.But there is a newer section of lawn(third season)that is overcrowded with TF.That was the main reason for not spot treating,i just figured i would do the entire lawn with my sprayer.The newer part was seeded with midnight which is very slow growing especially in the spring when temps are still on the cool side.It won't start gaining height until temps are in the 80-90 range and by then the TF gains it's ground.I think it would also help if i overseeded this fall with something that would fill in the bare spots while the midnight matures.

You can give it a try. I'm sure the product is as presented, which is to say, they're giving you a quality seed mixture, and it will grow. There's only one problem, but it's a big one: You can't grow turfgrass in the shade. You can't grow turfgrass in the shade. Now that we have the basics down, we can start looking at the problem right-side-up, rather than looking at the problem upside down. There are a few grasses that can tolerate partial shade, for part of the day. Those grasses tend to be fescues, and some perennial ryes. The various companies tend to mix them together and call them a 'shade' mix, knowing very well (which you now know) that the rule above will still apply. My advice would be to buy the product you mentioned, in the absolutely smallest container you can buy. Get the one pound, rather than the five pound, bag off the shelf. Then go to Home Depot, and buy a different brand of 'shady mix'. Then go to Lowes, or Meijer, and buy yet ANOTHER different brand of 'shady mix'. Maybe a fourth stop, and maybe not, to get yet another different brand of shady mix. Here's why: Brand One will have 14% Name A Tall Fescue 24% Name B Chewings Fescue 20% Name C Tall Fescue Brand Two will have 12% Name B Chewings Fescue 20% Name D Hard Fescue 23% Name E Tall Fescue Brand Three will have 15% Name C Tall Fescue 21% Name E Tall Fescue 22% Name F Chewings Fescue As you can see, there is some overlap, but now you've got six or seven or more varieties of grass that will tolerate some (but not a lot) of shade. Mix them together, thoroughly, in one of those orange paint 5 gal buckets from Home Depot, or similar dry bucket. Plant, water, and grow. Every spot there in your shade problem is a little different, as shade tends to come and go during the day, as the sun passes over. And now, every spot of that shaded area has six or seven different grasses that might grow there. You have planted them all at once. One of those varieties will like the spot better than others, and (we already know) at least half of them won't like the spot at all, and won't grow. We're hoping that something will thrive there. As to some spots, nothing will thrive. That is not your fault. You know the rule: You can't grow turfgrass in the shade. You gave it a heck of a shot, but the fact is, that spot won't support turf, as it's in the shade. So let's look at the problem right side up: let's decide whether we can thin (I prefer 'thin' to 'remove') nearby trees to create LESS shade in those problem areas. A tree service can give you advice how to thin the tree while still keeping a tree good looking, and there are some trees that just aren't worth keeping, when looking at the lot overall. You have to make those decisions. But you're looking at the problem the right way: the problem isn't you, and it isn't the grass seed. As to those areas where you prefer (for any of a lot of reasons) to keep the shade, talk to the same tree service: they can bring you a load of wood chips, which can be spread in those shady areas, and look quite nice.

Thanks. I just don't want to cause problems with competition. I purchased it from United Seeds Inc. (http://www.unitedseedsonline.com/Turf-Type-Tall-Fescue_c5.htm). I didn't know exactly what the blend was going to be since they can be swapped out on availablity. I double checked on Seed Research of Oregon's website and it listed possible cultivars (http://www.sroseed.com). I researched (stressed) over for weeks and then went for it. In this mix, two cultivars are a smidge older and the other is very recent.