Hi gle-

The short answer is that the rye should germinate in a week, the fescue in 2, and the KBG in 3.

Let's hope the temperatures don't drop too quickly. I seeded 9/28 and I used rye for a side patch I wanted to come in quick, and it has, and then overseeded the front with KBG, and am just starting to see slight germination.

Hi Joe,

Do you know if it is a substanable blend? Meaning a good looking lawn that can withstand northeast winters and stay lush.

Thanks

Shouldn't be too late. Irrigation need should be a lot less this time of year also. Just don't expect it to look full this year but by fall next year, it'll look great.

Do you know if it is a substanable blend? Meaning a good looking lawn that can withstand northeast winters and stay lush.

Thanks

I was researching this last month for my own purposes. I used to use a blend like that but every summer I'd get killed with fungus. Apparently KBG is the most disease resistant, whereas rye and fescue are more prone to disease. This is why I chose to overseed the front only with KBG, as that's where my fungus problems were. The side patch never had fungus problems but it was zoysia that someone planted before we bought the house. I decided to kill it and put in rye.

As far as the winters, I don't think that mix should be a problem. Make sure you do the late November fertilizing.

gle2011, there is probably too much PR in your blend. That said, as long as the CRF and KBG germinate, they will slowly start to become the predominant grasses...it just might take a few years.

PR is useful as a nurse grass when seeding on loose soil...but at 10-20% of the blend. Not 50%.

thanks mishmosh,

Would you recommend overseeding with a fescue and kbg blend/

I was fearful the kbg would not have time to germinate and what did germinate would not be strong enough to survive the winter

The seed was just put down yesterday.

Do you think I could overseed with a higher ratio of kbg at a lower coverage rate?

Thanks

if it were me, I probably would. maybe 0.5 lb per 1000 sq ft of pure kbg seed? is your lawn mixed shade/sun or full sun?

https://turf.purdue.edu/tips/2009/08102009_grassmix.html

check out table 2 in the link. your 50% PR will likely mean a 90% makeup in your initial stand.

Perennial ryegrass germinates quickly and provides quick cover and soil stabilization when used in a blend. However, too much perennial ryegrass leads to long-term problems from dollar spot, brown patch, red thread, and other diseases. Kentucky bluegrass has better disease, drought, and wear tolerance the perennial ryegrass, but is very slow to germinate.

This supports what I found. From my own personal experience, I believe I had too much rye in the mix on my front lawn, which contributed to disease the past 3 summers. I was not aware of that before, nor had I been aware of the fungicide routine.

That's why this year I overseeded the front with only KBG.

" I had too much rye in the mix on my front lawn, which contributed to disease the past 3 summers. "

It does depend on the particular cultivars chosen, but most tri-mix seed contains cultivars picked for their color and growth rates (to be similar to the fescue and KBG) rather than a modern one with good disease resistance.

KBG and fescue also have some susceptibilities, so somewhere, there's a poster saying he went heavier with rye or fescue to compensate for the diseases common in his area! :-)

Hi Joe,

If you don't mind me asking; where did you buy a straght KBG blend?

Thanks

For only KBG seed, I like Preferred Seed or Outside pride (if not too picky on certified seed). Both have fast fulfilment in my experience. Others include seedland, superseedstore, or even Amazon. For local, I'd try to track down Scotts KBG mix.

I used the Scott's KBG because that's all I could afford this year. Let's see how it turns out.

I couldn't afford a $300 bag of Barrington or whatever....

Hi mishmosh,

The front of our home faces southeast. The side yard gets plenty of sun, the front yard gets afternoon sun. My only concern would be the backyard because of the woods behind our house.

My wife thinks the sun if filtered in the backyard but still get approximately 4 hours of direct sun.

Will that be enough sun for KBG.

Thanks

Backyard is not enough sun for KBG more than likely...or PR for that matter. tough to say because it's in the gray area where some cultivars may do OK. The CRF should do well there. I would also consider adding TTTF under those conditions. Hopefully it's not moist back there. I'm a firm believer in catering your grass types for the conditions. If a grass doesn't like the conditions, it can decline quite rapidly and often due to disease. Disease can spread to healthy grass and then you have a problem.

JoeBigBlue. Who said Scotts kbg mix isn't premium? Scotts started out life as a seed company and that tradition carries on today albeit with some noteriety (Google Roundup resistant creeping bentgrass escape!). Their kbg mix no longer are just common KBG cultivars, but newer, named, improved cultivars. You'll probably get good results if any of it actually establishes with your overseeding.

I am going to give the Scott's Bluegrass a try in the front and side yard at 0.5lbs per 1,000 sq ft.

Fingers crossed.

Would it be okay put down some pre-emergent next spring?

pre-m? Definitely! Avoid the urge to overseed in a new lawn. focus on feeding, proper care and weed control next year.

"focus on feeding, proper care and weed control next year."

With that said; can I assume it is okay to apply a high nitrogen fertilezer around Thanksgiving.

Anybody have experience with Jonathan Green seed blends? Their Triple Rye is pretty dark but like most have said the disease susceptibility is an issue. I tried some Pennington rye grass that germinated amazingly but once it established I wasn't too pleased. It grows pretty fast and it's a different green than the surrounding grasses.

z t

I have used Jonathan Greene's Black Beauty Ultra in the past and had really good luck with it.

Well we had downpours yesterday afternoon and I don't know if the grass seed the landscapers put down will have a chance to germinate or washed away. Please see the attached photos. As you can see we have a grading problem with the front yard as well as puddling in the backyard. The landscaper said underground piping needs to be run from the gutter downspouts to elivate the puddling in the front yard. We are still waiting for them to be installed. Any thoughts or recommendations?

Front yard.

Back yard below.

Isn't the landscaper responsible for the final grade? Especially concerning is the puddling right next to the house. that needs addressed ASAP.

mishmosh,

The landscaper claims he was hired by the builder to rake out and install the lawns throughout the developement. His first attempt, which he claims was against his better judgement was a hydro-seed application in late June. But the builder insisted on it.

The puddling next to the house is our biggest contention and we have contacted the builder on several occassion including a text message with pictures yesterday evening. We haven't heard back from the builder as of yet.

Thanks