Purdue says you're past the optimum time:
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-3-w.pdf
As does Illinois extension service:
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/planting/planting_a_new_lawn.cfm

Both articles discuss spring seeding and dormant seeding. It's a fairly small lawn so I would try seeding now and see what happens. If it doesn't establish, you could try a dormant seeding. Another alternative, which you ought to at least check into, is sod.

 

Give it a shot. Post pics.

 

Will do but i just found out half an hour ago after raking that I have tons of mature grubs! OMG! My extended drought assumption was wrong. I'm going to buy a 24 hr grub killer. Is that good?

 

Purdue says you're past the optimum time:
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-3-w.pdf
As does Illinois extension service:
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/planting/planting_a_new_lawn.cfm

Both articles discuss spring seeding and dormant seeding. It's a fairly small lawn so I would try seeding now and see what happens. If it doesn't establish, you could try a dormant seeding. Another alternative, which you ought to at least check into, is sod.

WOW, I'm interested about dormant seeding. Those are awesome links!

Thank you for sharing!

 

Article on grubs:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_choose_and_when_to_apply_grub_control_products_for_your_lawn

 

Thanks a lot! Great document!

 

Purdue says you're past the optimum time:
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-3-w.pdf
As does Illinois extension service:
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/planting/planting_a_new_lawn.cfm

Both articles discuss spring seeding and dormant seeding. It's a fairly small lawn so I would try seeding now and see what happens. If it doesn't establish, you could try a dormant seeding. Another alternative, which you ought to at least check into, is sod.

Check UPS tracking. My seeds are arriving this Saturday, Sept 26. It's small about 1600 sqft area.

 

If you have an entirely KBG lawn, it might make more sense to push it hard with fertilizer - see the Fall Nitrogen Blitz - and hope it fills in. If it doesn't you could always do a Spring Blitz.

 

If you have an entirely KBG lawn, it might make more sense to push it hard with fertilizer - see the Fall Nitrogen Blitz - and hope it fills in. If it doesn't you could always do a Spring Blitz.

I really think 85% of my KBG lawn died. It's because all of my neighbors' lawns have already greened up 3 weeks ago. Mine is still brown. Also, the dead grass detaches easily from the dirt. A dormant grass doesn't do that. Yes, I have an entire KBG lawn. I really want to try TTTF. I read it's more drought and heat tolerant and I think it's true. It's because I saw small patches of fescue on my lawn that are very green. Please see picture. It's from my first lawn, the one put down by the builder. I don't like it because blades aren't as soft as kbg. However, the tttf varieties I purchased has finer blades. This is what is arriving this Saturday - https://www.seedsuperstore.com/catalog/p-100003/ss1000-tall-fescue-blend I'm hoping the blades will be different from the picture I attached. The dead grass around it is my sod quality KBG lawn. It looks like I sprayed RoundUp to it, LOL.

 

If you have an entirely KBG lawn, it might make more sense to push it hard with fertilizer - see the Fall Nitrogen Blitz - and hope it fills in. If it doesn't you could always do a Spring Blitz.

I really think 85% of my KBG lawn died. It's because all of my neighbors' lawns have already greened up 3 weeks ago. Mine is still brown. Also, the dead grass detaches easily from the dirt. A dormant grass doesn't do that. Yes, I have an entire KBG lawn. I really want to try TTTF. I read it's more drought and heat tolerant and I think it's true. It's because I saw small patches of fescue on my lawn that are very green. Please see picture. It's from my first lawn, the one put down by the builder. I don't like it because blades aren't as soft as kbg. However, the tttf varieties I purchased has finer blades. This is what is arriving this Saturday - https://www.seedsuperstore.com/catalog/p-100003/ss1000-tall-fescue-blend I'm hoping the blades will be different from the picture I attached. The dead grass around it is my sod quality KBG lawn. It looks like I sprayed RoundUp to it, LOL.

What planting zone are you in? If 6 or higher, I would get that seed down ASAP. If 5 or lower, you are probably too late. Enter your zipcode here to find out:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

The advantage to fescue is it germinates and establishes faster than KBG. FWIW, underdeveloped cool season grass tolerates cold better than heat and I wouldn't worry about light frosts. I planted tall fescue 11 days ago. We had a few nights here around freezing and I'm seeing healthy sprouts now.

The newer turf-type tall fescues (TTTF) are generally finer bladed than the older KY-31. However different cultivars are bred for different qualities - blade width, color, heat and drought tolerance, etc., and you probably find something that shines in one or two categories or does all of them just OK.

If you are too late now, I personally would not bother with spring planting and wait and do a late summer seeding. Unless the seeding area has some afternoon shade, a spring seeding will have a rough time in the heat of summer unless you are prepared to baby it all summer long.

 

Seeding large areas in the spring is going to be brutal on you mentally and physically. You will have major weed contention and you will have to commit the babying that areas ALL summer. Ask me how I know lol. Personally I think you are passed the window right now to have much success. TTTF can take up to 14 days to germinate, you could have a frost in 14 days from now. A light frost wont kill things but it can really slow down progress. I seeded 9/6 in SE michigan, and only waiting that late because I was using Perennial RYE.

 

What planting zone are you in? If 6 or higher, I would get that seed down ASAP. If 5 or lower, you are probably too late. Enter your zipcode here to find out:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

The advantage to fescue is it germinates and establishes faster than KBG. FWIW, underdeveloped cool season grass tolerates cold better than heat and I wouldn't worry about light frosts. I planted tall fescue 11 days ago. We had a few nights here around freezing and I'm seeing healthy sprouts now.

The newer turf-type tall fescues (TTTF) are generally finer bladed than the older KY-31. However different cultivars are bred for different qualities - blade width, color, heat and drought tolerance, etc., and you probably find something that shines in one or two categories or does all of them just OK.

If you are too late now, I personally would not bother with spring planting and wait and do a late summer seeding. Unless the seeding area has some afternoon shade, a spring seeding will have a rough time in the heat of summer unless you are prepared to baby it all summer long.

It says i'm in zone 5b. The reason I wanted to risk is because for the past 3 years, it's been warmer. From one of the articles above, it says Sept 1-30 for southern Illinois. OUCH! I'm in northwest. When I did renovated my lawn 10 years ago, I dropped seeds August 15 and it was a success. It's just that it's too long of a wait for August 2021.

fyi, I bought an active grub killer this morning. I continued raking the dead grass and wow, there's tons of mature grub about an inch long. I had a dead spot last year in front and my neighbor approached me and said "I know why you have a dead spot there, it was killed by grubs. Grab me a shovel and I'll show you." He cuts the grass and dirt deep and lifted the it. We didn't see anything. LOL! With my findings few days ago, I now know he was only assuming and I think he thinks that grubs live 6-10inches deep. LOL 🤣. Grubs just lives half inch to 1 inch deep, just a little below the roots. He saw me today while I was raking my lawn. He didn't bother to come and ask why I'm pulling out the dead grass. His lawn is also dead.

Do you think I'll be happy with TTTF? It looks very nice on youtube and on pictures.

 

Seeding large areas in the spring is going to be brutal on you mentally and physically. You will have major weed contention and you will have to commit the babying that areas ALL summer. Ask me how I know lol. Personally I think you are passed the window right now to have much success. TTTF can take up to 14 days to germinate, you could have a frost in 14 days from now. A light frost wont kill things but it can really slow down progress. I seeded 9/6 in SE michigan, and only waiting that late because I was using Perennial RYE.

I won't plant in spring. It's going to be a battle between letting young grass grown and killing weeds or applying pre-em like you said. I wasn't really planning on doing a renovation. I love my kbg lawn but also tired of seeing it look ugly during summer. I really assumed it was only dormant about a month ago. I got worried when my neighbors' lawns have already green up 3+ weeks ago and mine hasn't. Also, pulling the color paper bag grass was very easy which means the grass is really dead. I did see 1 to 5 green blades underneath the dead grass I removed on a 5x5 sqft area. That's going to take 2-3 years before it spreads.

 

In the worst case (seeding is a failure), you will likely get weeds to grow. They are at least roots in the ground, something to prevent erosion, and are green. You can have mowed weeds next year until time to renovate in late summer. Mowed weeds is what a lot of people have for a lawn.

 

In the worst case (seeding is a failure), you will likely get weeds to grow. They are at least roots in the ground, something to prevent erosion, and are green. You can have mowed weeds next year until time to renovate in late summer. Mowed weeds is what a lot of people have for a lawn.

Yup, that's what I'm planning to do. Thanks!

 

What planting zone are you in? If 6 or higher, I would get that seed down ASAP. If 5 or lower, you are probably too late. Enter your zipcode here to find out:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

The advantage to fescue is it germinates and establishes faster than KBG. FWIW, underdeveloped cool season grass tolerates cold better than heat and I wouldn't worry about light frosts. I planted tall fescue 11 days ago. We had a few nights here around freezing and I'm seeing healthy sprouts now.

The newer turf-type tall fescues (TTTF) are generally finer bladed than the older KY-31. However different cultivars are bred for different qualities - blade width, color, heat and drought tolerance, etc., and you probably find something that shines in one or two categories or does all of them just OK.

If you are too late now, I personally would not bother with spring planting and wait and do a late summer seeding. Unless the seeding area has some afternoon shade, a spring seeding will have a rough time in the heat of summer unless you are prepared to baby it all summer long.

It says i'm in zone 5b. The reason I wanted to risk is because for the past 3 years, it's been warmer. From one of the articles above, it says Sept 1-30 for southern Illinois. OUCH! I'm in northwest. When I did renovated my lawn 10 years ago, I dropped seeds August 15 and it was a success. It's just that it's too long of a wait for August 2021.

fyi, I bought an active grub killer this morning. I continued raking the dead grass and wow, there's tons of mature grub about an inch long. I had a dead spot last year in front and my neighbor approached me and said "I know why you have a dead spot there, it was killed by grubs. Grab me a shovel and I'll show you." He cuts the grass and dirt deep and lifted the it. We didn't see anything. LOL! With my findings few days ago, I now know he was only assuming and I think he thinks that grubs live 6-10inches deep. LOL 🤣. Grubs just lives half inch to 1 inch deep, just a little below the roots. He saw me today while I was raking my lawn. He didn't bother to come and ask why I'm pulling out the dead grass. His lawn is also dead.

Do you think I'll be happy with TTTF? It looks very nice on youtube and on pictures.

The depth of the grubs depends on the time of year. They are shallow when they hatch and start feeding, but travel deeper as we get into cooler weather, then overwinter quite deep. In spring, they come back up and feed on more roots before pupating and becoming adult beetles.

I find grubs too, but only about 1-2 per sq ft of soil. Adult Japanese beetles were more of a problem for me feeding on leaves. I think my lawn failure had more to do with other things including user error - too many seeds, not enough organic matter. Not to mention a hot, dry summer didn't help either.

Whether you will be happy with TTTF depends on the cultivars. Unless specified otherwise, most as I said before try to do everything just OK. Some mightstate in description things like "thinner blades and deep green color" while others might state "extra tolerant of heat and drought". My guess is that the ones marketed for Southern or transition lawns will probably be thicker bladed and lighter green while the ones marketed for Northern lawns will be just the opposite. All will look more like lawn grass than KY-31.

 

Cool info on grubs. I will make sure to stick a schedule on the wall right in front of where I always use my computer. I'll put 2 applications of grub killers next year(preventer and active killers, different dates).

Guess what? It will be 80s above the whole week next week! WOOHOOO! LOL! It really wasn't like this many years ago. Usually around this time, it's already in the mid 60s. It feel like it's 80 right now.

I finished removing 20ftx20ft wide of dead grass. Dirt is exposed. I have 10ft x 20ft and 5ft x 10ft left to work on tonight. I'll only be doing it on the lawn near the front of the house. I can see the dirt on hell-strip, I don't think I need to expose it more especially I'll cover it with peatmoss. I'm super exciting dropping the seeds tomorrow. I hope UPS arrives around noon.

 

Guess what? It will be 80s above the whole week next week! WOOHOOO! LOL! It really wasn't like this many years ago. Usually around this time, it's already in the mid 60s. It feel like it's 80 right now.

Of course warmer means you need to be more vigilant about watering. Nope, you can't win. :|

 

@grassbladepeeper Although I'm a couple zones south of you(Kansas 6a) my first frost date is the same, October 15. Kansas State recommends seeding TTTF from September 1 to October 15. They also say that you can seed TTTF later but you really have to keep it watered for good results. I have seeded a lot right up to the 15th with great results and later with pretty good results depending on the weather. If you seed this weekend you'll have 3 weeks before a potential first frost. You should be able to have some nice fescue in 3 weeks. I say seed it. Its along time until next fall. Good luck!

 

@grassbladepeeper Although I'm a couple zones south of you(Kansas 6a) my first frost date is the same, October 15. Kansas State recommends seeding TTTF from September 1 to October 15. They also say that you can seed TTTF later but you really have to keep it watered for good results. I have seeded a lot right up to the 15th with great results and later with pretty good results depending on the weather. If you seed this weekend you'll have 3 weeks before a potential first frost. You should be able to have some nice fescue in 3 weeks. I say seed it. Its along time until next fall. Good luck!

Great info! I'm seeding it tomorrow. I actually told my wife that if it doesn't make it, I'll just buy it again. I already told her all the things that can happen. She's good with my plans!

 

@grassbladepeeper Although I'm a couple zones south of you(Kansas 6a) my first frost date is the same, October 15. Kansas State recommends seeding TTTF from September 1 to October 15. They also say that you can seed TTTF later but you really have to keep it watered for good results. I have seeded a lot right up to the 15th with great results and later with pretty good results depending on the weather. If you seed this weekend you'll have 3 weeks before a potential first frost. You should be able to have some nice fescue in 3 weeks. I say seed it. Its along time until next fall. Good luck!

Ditto throw the seed down this weekend and hope the weather works in your favor. Worst case is you have to throw more seed down in the Spring but at least part of the lawn will be established.

 

@grassbladepeeper Although I'm a couple zones south of you(Kansas 6a) my first frost date is the same, October 15. Kansas State recommends seeding TTTF from September 1 to October 15. They also say that you can seed TTTF later but you really have to keep it watered for good results. I have seeded a lot right up to the 15th with great results and later with pretty good results depending on the weather. If you seed this weekend you'll have 3 weeks before a potential first frost. You should be able to have some nice fescue in 3 weeks. I say seed it. Its along time until next fall. Good luck!

Ditto throw the seed down this weekend and hope the weather works in your favor. Worst case is you have to throw more seed down in the Spring but at least part of the lawn will be established.

Will do. I'm prepared. I'll definitely take pictures and also create a youtube account so I can show what I've been doing, hahaha 🤣

 

Failed to drop the seeds because it was extremely windy plus I wasn't sure what settings to use on my drop spreader accugreen 2000 if putting 8 lbs/1,000 sqft. Any ideas folks?

 

Failed to drop the seeds because it was extremely windy plus I wasn't sure what settings to use on my drop spreader accugreen 2000 if putting 8 lbs/1,000 sqft. Any ideas folks?

Wind didn't matter for a drop spreader. Measure the seed, go to a small setting do multiple passes. Golf you want to get an idea take a look at any Scott's seed bag, should have the rate. I would still go half that and do atleast 2 passes.

 

Still seeding TTTF and PR here, but will not be doing much with TTTF soon. I feel like even Ryegrass should be seeded by early Oct in most northern areas. In a warm Fall, if you get one, it works well even that late. KY-31 could probably work too, but most aren't using that.