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Just get straight glyphosate - it doesn't have to be RoundUp specifically and there are less expensive brands of this herbicide on the market (Ferti-lome sells a product called Killzall that is less than half the price of the equivalent concentration and size of RoundUp). If you do go with the RoundUp, just select the Weed and Grass Killer - no need for any other additions to the mix. As I noted previously, you may very well need several applications and it is suggested to allow at least 2 weeks after the last treatment before reseeding. And it is too early to reseed - too hot and too dry for most northern, cool season grasses to germinate well. Generally, the ideal time for fall seeding is early fall - September to early October, depending on your specific climate. And any cool season turf grass blend recommended for your area is fine. Most independent garden centers - not the box stores - will have blends that are appropriate for your area.

I'd agree.....rethink the gravel surface. Pavers or flagstone would be a better and more durable choice of materials. Also, 55'x30' is a massive size for a patio or outdoor entertaining area. That's bigger than many folks' entire backyard! You could reduce that by almost 50% and still have plenty of room for the elements you wish. Having the patio usable 3 out of 4 seasons may depend heavily on where you are located, perhaps requiring some sort of overhead cover to protect against excess sun or inclement weather. Hiring a designer to assist you with this project is probably a smart thing to do.

I have a rectangular backyard too. When I first moved into my new house, I designed my front yard and drew it out for the builder to build my stepping stones, front entry porch, side hedges, dwarf woodboxes, weeping cherry, shape of my front lawn, even the lamp post. They were accommodating but left the backyard, and I didn't even know what to put in my backyard at the time. Forward years later and lots of dollars later with experimenting different plants and stuff, I finally had evergreen hedges along the long backside of my fence. I didn't do that privacy hedges at the beginning cause the area behind my fence, the other side was vacant, at the time I thought they could never build on it, cause during that time I believed the land didn't have the square feet for it, and it was supposed to be conserve land. Anyways, that was changed, so I put up evergreen hedges along the whole backside. To cut down the amount of grass space, I have a little fire pit surrounded by pavers connected to my backyard patio. Along the right side fence I have flowering shrubs and hostas and flowering perennials, with a little water fountain. My patio is a 10 x 12 typical norm, since the rectangular yard is so wide, I had huge pavers connecting the front of my paved walkway, all the way to the back, connecting to backyard patio, with distance out as far as my patio. It's taken me years but I think I know what my next steps are to add on to the aesthetic of the yard. I have cut down the grass area size tremendously as my kids are grown now. I also have a shed on the left hand side and paved walkway leading up to the shed with round hedges both sides framing the walkway. I like low maintenance hands off plants cause I'm in zone 4. My evergreen plants in a container in my front yard even dies from heat in the summer. I think you should build the bare bone structure, dividing up the space how you want it, and add on to it as you go. .