About 5-6 lbs per thousand square feet. You can also tell by the seed distribution on the ground. It should be seeded denser than 100% KBG.

The ratio is what determines the chance that the KBG gets more than anything, not so much the seeding rate. Too dense and there will too much TTTF to compete with.

 

I have read that if seeded at too low a rate, TTTF can develop wider blades than if seeded densely. Anyone else ever heard this? Is this the case with the modern TTTF varieties or just older tall fescues? If so, how long does it take for this phenomenon to manifest? First year?

Trying to determine seeding rate for my buddy's reno. Doing 90/10 TTTF/KBG.

 

Everyones setup is different but I'm curious when using a blend. KBG does take some time to germinate. Then it pauses, then it grows. I've never done a mix together at the same time, but when I originally did my TTF/KBG seed a few years ago, I did my KBG 1st . Then came back 3 weeks later and did the tttf. Mainly as I wanted to at least give the KBG the same opportunity of sunlight and not get shaded out.

Does KBG germinate decently when you seed it down at the same time with other faster germinating seed ?

 

I have read that if seeded at too low a rate, TTTF can develop wider blades than if seeded densely. Anyone else ever heard this? Is this the case with the modern TTTF varieties or just older tall fescues? If so, how long does it take for this phenomenon to manifest? First year?

Trying to determine seeding rate for my buddy's reno. Doing 90/10 TTTF/KBG.

Yes, like in a golf course rough, where it can grow tall and spread out. Occasionally it happens in the lawn, too, but I don't have a good handle on the circumstances that cause that yet.

You could probably get away with as high as 8 lbs per thousand...

Half the grass seed is TTTF, so: 8x0.9= 7.2 lbs TTTF is being put down
Half is KBG seed: 8x0.1= 0.8 lbs of KBG is being put down

 

Kbg seed is tiny so theres way more seed per pound. If you really want the kbg to take well I've found 80/20 a better mix. It spaces out the tttf enough that the kbg has a chance to germinate in the spaces between the tttf blades. On a overseed it's very hard to get it to go. I slice seed the kbg in and then watch for germination and you can then seed tttf and topdress compost or peat so they grow kind of evenly

 

Everyones setup is different but I'm curious when using a blend. KBG does take some time to germinate. Then it pauses, then it grows. I've never done a mix together at the same time, but when I originally did my TTF/KBG seed a few years ago, I did my KBG 1st . Then came back 3 weeks later and did the tttf. Mainly as I wanted to at least give the KBG the same opportunity of sunlight and not get shaded out.

While I think think this is a great tactic, I'm not sure it would work for @occamsrzr as he lives in Minnesota. If he is a couple weeks out now and then needs three more weeks to get KBG up and running he is looking at mid-October for seeding fescue. I don't live in MN but I'd think it would be too late to seed anything at that point.

 

Yes I understand the seed counts and how different the % by weight would be vs % of seeds. My concern was in shaded areas of my friends lawn. I expect the Blue Note KBG I included in the mix will not do as well in those spots and that if I went too light on the TTTF, it would become thin and suffer from the wider blade problem. As with most things I have a feeling I am over thinking it. Ill go a little heavy with the TTTF under the tree and seed the rest as normal.

 

Everyones setup is different but I'm curious when using a blend. KBG does take some time to germinate. Then it pauses, then it grows. I've never done a mix together at the same time, but when I originally did my TTF/KBG seed a few years ago, I did my KBG 1st . Then came back 3 weeks later and did the tttf. Mainly as I wanted to at least give the KBG the same opportunity of sunlight and not get shaded out.

While I think think this is a great tactic, I'm not sure it would work for @occamsrzr as he lives in Minnesota. If he is a couple weeks out now and then needs three more weeks to get KBG up and running he is looking at mid-October for seeding fescue. I don't live in MN but I'd think it would be too late to seed anything at that point.

I agree. It's getting to be a bit late here to start seeding. My seed went down Aug 1st. Just celebrating a month today. It's coming in great. Wasn't sure if putting down too much TTTF would germinate too quickly and crowd out the KBG. It seems to be doing just fine, however. I wasn't aware of the TTTF density affecting blade width. That's an interesting concept. I wonder if cut height also plays a role in this. I've been keeping mine cut at 1.5" so far.

 

Here's the progress so far. I was able to run a test before seeding into the entire yard. KBG germinated only a few days later than the TTTF. I had TTTF germination within 3 days with widespread germination being at 4-5 day mark. KBG started at 6 days. I've been keeping mine low to try and get some of that KBG to take off without the TTTF crowding it out. Hoping I can get some of that KBG to start spreading into the bare spots before our first frost.

 

Yes I understand the seed counts and how different the % by weight would be vs % of seeds. My concern was in shaded areas of my friends lawn. I expect the Blue Note KBG I included in the mix will not do as well in those spots and that if I went too light on the TTTF, it would become thin and suffer from the wider blade problem. As with most things I have a feeling I am over thinking it. Ill go a little heavy with the TTTF under the tree and seed the rest as normal.

I personally think from my experience with TTTF that the blades widen based on growth height more than density. I have TTTF from recent falls near my sidewalks/driveway that the blades have stayed nice and thin and I have kept them between 2.25" and 2.75" HOC. I think it makes sense that sense fescue blades have kind of a triangle shape that the taller they get the wider the base of the blade gets. I think if you can prevent the TTTF from growing out of control at any point, the blades should not widen noticeably.