If you notice any errors or would like to add anything (I.e. seeding rates for other grasses) please don't hesitate to say so. I just wanted to get something out there for folks who are new to this to make it a little easier than it was for me.
First, determine how much of each type of grass you want in your blend. For example, let's say you want a blend of about 50% Kentucky bluegrass, 40% tall fescue, and 10% perennial rye.
Now convert these percentages to sq ft according to your total sq ft. So for example if you have 12k sq ft this would be about 6k sq ft of kbg, 5k sq ft of tttf, and 1k sq ft of prg.
Now determine how much of each you need using the seeding rates of each type. So for example 6k sq ft of kbg, which has an average seeding rate of 2.5 lbs/1k sq ft means you need about 15 lbs of kbg. For 5k sq ft of tttf which has an average seeding rate of 9 lbs/1k sq ft, you need 45 lbs of tttf. Prg has an average seeding rate of 7 lbs/1k sq ft so you need 7 lbs.
Now the only thing left to do is find your seeding rate of your mix. Take a weighted average of your seeding rates and the percentage of each. So, I.e. 50% @ 2.5 lbs/1k sq ft = 110; 40% @ 9 lbs/1k sq ft = 360, and 10% @ 7 lbs/1k sq ft = 70. Add those together = 540 and divide by 100, 5.4. So your mix would have a seeding rate of about 5.4 lbs/1k sq ft.
Tip: A good way to "calibrate" your spreader is to mark off 1k sq ft area, fill your spreader with the amount you calculated, set your spreader near the lowest setting, and apply the seed until you run out, going in perpendicular directions every time. Adjust accordingly, mark off another 1k sq ft, and repeat until you use up all the seed in two perpendicular passes.
First, determine how much of each type of grass you want in your blend. For example, let's say you want a blend of about 50% Kentucky bluegrass, 40% tall fescue, and 10% perennial rye.
Now convert these percentages to sq ft according to your total sq ft. So for example if you have 12k sq ft this would be about 6k sq ft of kbg, 5k sq ft of tttf, and 1k sq ft of prg.
Now determine how much of each you need using the seeding rates of each type. So for example 6k sq ft of kbg, which has an average seeding rate of 2.5 lbs/1k sq ft means you need about 15 lbs of kbg. For 5k sq ft of tttf which has an average seeding rate of 9 lbs/1k sq ft, you need 45 lbs of tttf. Prg has an average seeding rate of 7 lbs/1k sq ft so you need 7 lbs.
Now the only thing left to do is find your seeding rate of your mix. Take a weighted average of your seeding rates and the percentage of each. So, I.e. 50% @ 2.5 lbs/1k sq ft = 110; 40% @ 9 lbs/1k sq ft = 360, and 10% @ 7 lbs/1k sq ft = 70. Add those together = 540 and divide by 100, 5.4. So your mix would have a seeding rate of about 5.4 lbs/1k sq ft.
Tip: A good way to "calibrate" your spreader is to mark off 1k sq ft area, fill your spreader with the amount you calculated, set your spreader near the lowest setting, and apply the seed until you run out, going in perpendicular directions every time. Adjust accordingly, mark off another 1k sq ft, and repeat until you use up all the seed in two perpendicular passes.
