Where can I get good fescue seed?

[kirk1701]

I just killed off the majority of my backyard due to weeds, had I tried to kill just the weeds I wouldn't had much else left so was round-up happy hour :)

My problem in the past has been not much luck with grass seed, always ends up dying out on me due to one thing or another usually drought and heat.

Best luck I've had and would be the most expensive bag I could find was this:
Couldn't find this on Pennington site.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=193802-303-193802&lpage=none

The other fescue I used was the Pennington's better then Kentucky 31 shown here:
http://www.penningtonseed.com/section/lawn_02.asp?type=products&category=tall+fescues&id=489

Problem with this was it's not drought risistant and ends up dying out first signs of any hot humid weather.

So, Looking for any sugestions to what seed to try next before its time to plant.

EDIT: Might be worth mentioning I'm looking for tall fescue in south central Kentucky.

No, No No Bluegrass LMAO!!!

[Diamond Dave]

I've had good luck with Winning Colors Tall Fescue. It is a blend of 4 fescues made by Lebanon Turf Products. I don't know where to get it in south central Kentucky though........

[kirk1701]

Here's what I got everyone so looking for opinions here?

http://www.penningtonseed.com/section/lawn_02.asp?type=articles&id=535

I was told at Lowes it was what all the contractors use. Plus, my bag looks different and though it says Rebel IV it also looks like its in a different bag and says "Contains the Number 1 turf type tall fescue" and bag looks more like this:

http://www.penningtonseed.com/section/lawn_02.asp?type=products&category=tall+fescues&id=731

Now I have not opened it yet so opinions welcomed.

[NINER]

Teamates Plus From Lesco. Check The Soil Ph. I Have Had Yards In My Early Years That Would Come In Great Then Die Off Cause Ph Was Low.

[kirk1701]

Teamates Plus From Lesco. Check The Soil Ph. I Have Had Yards In My Early Years That Would Come In Great Then Die Off Cause Ph Was Low.

YEP! Sounds exactly what happens when I try to plant in the spring so this year I just let the weeds grow as it was better then bare ground. :)

Had good luck last year with what I planted in the fall with exception to the brown patch I ran into this year.

[kirk1701]

Just wondering,
haven't got much replies to my thread so did I confuse everyone with what I'm asking? ;)

I got the seed, just need to know if I got the best or is there better?

[RedWingsDet]

There will always be better.

Have you tried JDL?

[kirk1701]

There will always be better.

Have you tried JDL?

We have a john deere equipment dealer but nothing like that in our area.

So pretty much, there is always better so would you also say its a trial and error thing?

[Barefoot James]

The reason your lawn dies every summer is probably lack of organic matter and water. The best seed would be seed innoculated with mycorrhizae as this will help the grass in times of draught. I would recommend Pennington Smart Seed - Fescue. If you are looking for the BEST seed this would be it. There are a little less expensive routes like not having to buy from Lowes and having an account with mycorrhizae.com and buying raw myco from them and innoculating the seed yourself - but this would probably be way to involved for this fall and takes some studies + trial and error.

Just get the smart seed from Lowes and top dress with a light coating of compost after you slit seed it and water 4 times a day for 10 mins per cycle @ 11AM, 2PM, 4PM and 6 PM for 3 weeks then cut back to AM and PM and then AM until the first frost. If you get OM, myco and some humates on your lawn this fall it will not die out next summer.

[JB1]

We have a john deere equipment dealer but nothing like that in our area.

So pretty much, there is always better so would you also say its a trial and error thing?


should be a Miles Farm Supply or a Southern states in your area, look them up. Here is a link for Southern States http://www.southernstates.com/articles/ca/index.jsp

[rcreech]

As stated....JDL's Team Mates and/or Team Mates Plus is are great products!

[kirk1701]

The reason your lawn dies every summer is probably lack of organic matter and water. The best seed would be seed innoculated with mycorrhizae as this will help the grass in times of draught. I would recommend Pennington Smart Seed - Fescue. If you are looking for the BEST seed this would be it. There are a little less expensive routes like not having to buy from Lowes and having an account with mycorrhizae.com and buying raw myco from them and innoculating the seed yourself - but this would probably be way to involved for this fall and takes some studies + trial and error.

Just get the smart seed from Lowes and top dress with a light coating of compost after you slit seed it and water 4 times a day for 10 mins per cycle @ 11AM, 2PM, 4PM and 6 PM for 3 weeks then cut back to AM and PM and then AM until the first frost. If you get OM, myco and some humates on your lawn this fall it will not die out next summer.

Sounds like the route I planned to take unless I found different before mid september when I plan to seed, thanks Barefoot.

One thing different I am thinking about that I didn't plan on is actually renting a power seeder to do the seeding rather then just spreading the seed with the scotts hand held spreader and washing the seed into the ground. :)

should be a Miles Farm Supply or a Southern states in your area, look them up. Here is a link for Southern States http://www.southernstates.com/articles/ca/index.jsp

ahh, now your talking launguage I understand JB, yea we do have a southern states close by and another place I can't think of the name of it now but sounds simular to the Miles Farm supply you speak of.

But I am liking Barefoot's idea since that sounds like the seed I already bought, just think I'm going to need another bag.

[Barefoot James]

Apply 5 to 6 lbs of seed per thousand (for over seeding - 8 to 10 lbs for total revamps) and set the tines at about a quarter inch. 9just barely scratch the surface) all you need is seed to soil contact - not buried seed. So many newbies set them so deep they pop up in china and not you lawn - LOL. Make sure you got the Pennington SMART Fescue and not just regular Pennington Fescue - The Smart seed has Myco (mycorrhizae).

I would also strongly incourage you to spread compost over the top (topdress) just dump it in Looong thin lines and hand rack it with a leaf rake. 1 cu yad does 1000 to 1500 sq ft. it takes 1 man about an hour per 2000 sq ft to do this buy hand. You can probably have the compost drop shipped in your driveway. MAKE SURE it is finished compost and not unfinished horse poop or any poop (finished poop is good! or it can burn your lawn - if it is finished it will have a great earth smell to it. It will germinated better and have use less water with a nice 1/8 inch top dress of compost. I can't believe you did not take David Cook up on his offer to do this for FREE!

[kirk1701]

Apply 5 to 6 lbs of seed per thousand (for over seeding - 8 to 10 lbs for total revamps) and set the tines at about a quarter inch. 9just barely scratch the surface) all you need is seed to soil contact - not buried seed. So many newbies set them so deep they pop up in china and not you lawn - LOL. Make sure you got the Pennington SMART Fescue and not just regular Pennington Fescue - The Smart seed has Myco (mycorrhizae).

I would also strongly incourage you to spread compost over the top (topdress) just dump it in Looong thin lines and hand rack it with a leaf rake. 1 cu yad does 1000 to 1500 sq ft. it takes 1 man about an hour per 2000 sq ft to do this buy hand. You can probably have the compost drop shipped in your driveway. MAKE SURE it is finished compost and not unfinished horse poop or any poop (finished poop is good! or it can burn your lawn - if it is finished it will have a great earth smell to it. It will germinated better and have use less water with a nice 1/8 inch top dress of compost. I can't believe you did not take David Cook up on his offer to do this for FREE!

Here's a pic of the seed bag Barefoot, now from what I understand Rebel is Pennington?
http://home.insightbb.com/~joe.henson/Seed.jpg

I'll check into the compost tomorrow.

Since I just got rid of ChemLawn I might take Dave up on his offer after I see how things go now and if needed and the offer still stands for next fall I might be calling on him. :)

[Barefoot James]

I don't think I can be more CLEAR - PENNINGTON SMART SEED WITH MYCO - FESCUE.

[kirk1701]

I don't think I can be more CLEAR - PENNINGTON SMART SEED WITH MYCO - FESCUE.

OK I found it Barefoot, just wasn't what I expected I guess I was thinking was what I had have this smart seed in it but you were talking about the actual label. My bad. :dizzy:

Only one small problem, its pretty darn pricey is it not? Out of my league at least for $60 per 20 Lb bag ;)

Yea I know what your thinking but at that price it will cost over $300 to reseed the lawn.

I'm going over buget as it is thinking about renting the power seeder.

[rcreech]

LESCO TeamMates will work just fine!

TTTF is a great seed to use.

You should be able to get it for somewhere between $1.50-2.00/lb or less.

[Barefoot James]

Basically there is all kinds of good quality seed. Rebel, rcreeches suggestion and tons of others. I go to the UK turf day every year and they even rank them. But the bottom line is mycorrhizae tilts the scales - WAY tilts the scales. Less water, better germination, better growth, more disease resistance, darker green, the list goes on and on. YOUR problem started with brown patch and fungus issues - your yard is bad - you are looking for help and advice - we give it - you are looking for the BEST alternative or BEST seed - we give our OPINIONS. We all have opinions on the best seed but WITH mycorrhizae this skews the game. Do you even know what myco does?? - most on this thread do not or they would invest in it too and will in time. I don't think you realize the power of this fungus. I'm spending thousands of dollars on this one product as an addition to my seeding business this year alone. Why because I have tested it and it works - in fact thousands have tested it and it works - why did Pennington invest in it?? You get what you pay for. What does it cost you an extra $50. Big deal. You are a home owner (don't do this for a living like most of us) and I think very wise in utilizing this site to get the best info available, so let me tell you a little secret - $300 for a yard your size is NOTHING - you turned down a free job??? You are talking in circles with no end. Hate to sound harsh but ....

So do what you need to do - I'm out!

[kirk1701]

Basically there is all kinds of good quality seed. Rebel, rcreeches suggestion and tons of others. I go to the UK turf day every year and they even rank them. But the bottom line is mycorrhizae tilts the scales - WAY tilts the scales. Less water, better germination, better growth, more disease resistance, darker green, the list goes on and on. YOUR problem started with brown patch and fungus issues - your yard is bad - you are looking for help and advice - we give it - you are looking for the BEST alternative or BEST seed - we give our OPINIONS. We all have opinions on the best seed but WITH mycorrhizae this skews the game. Do you even know what myco does?? - most on this thread do not or they would invest in it too and will in time. I don't think you realize the power of this fungus. I'm spending thousands of dollars on this one product as an addition to my seeding business this year alone. Why because I have tested it and it works - in fact thousands have tested it and it works - why did Pennington invest in it?? You get what you pay for. What does it cost you an extra $50. Big deal. You are a home owner (don't do this for a living like most of us) and I think very wise in utilizing this site to get the best info available, so let me tell you a little secret - $300 for a yard your size is NOTHING - you turned down a free job??? You are talking in circles with no end. Hate to sound harsh but ....

So do what you need to do - I'm out!

OK ok, sorry for the confusion my fault. The brown patch is in the front yard, thats fixing to be remedied today by taking soil samples to Southern States and see exactly what it is and what to get to fix it before next year.

The seed I want is for my backyard which I have killed off with round-up, never had the brown patch in it because it was mostly weeds and I just want a better looking backyard now. Most of where this seed is going to go stays pretty moist most of the time anyways due to the garden being water or drain fields from septic. That being said, I also have this area to experiment with but lets say I wanna do it the best I can the first time but don't want to spend a fortune, hope that makes sense?

[kirk1701]

OK Barefoot
I went looking this evening for the Pennington smart seed and was going to get 1- 20Lb bag to experiment with BUT.....

ONE BIG PROBLEM :confused:

there's always one right?

We'll, the bag says for area's with 6 to 8 hours of sun and this backyard is full sun so in the summer itsfull sun all day so I backed out and didn't buy the seed before I asked if it would still work?

[Barefoot James]

Get the fescue blend - not the KY Blue. 6 -8 hours means "at least" and it would grow with less too - It is tall fescue.

[kirk1701]

Get the fescue blend - not the KY Blue. 6 -8 hours means "at least" and it would grow with less too - It is tall fescue.

OK, I'll look again the next time I'm in town. :)

[zim bob the landscaper]

also an other problem might be because you seed in the spring and your backyard is full sun the young grass it just getting burnt. seed this fall with the compost and the seed you want to use, and then over seed in the spring the reason to seed in the fall is the temps are going to get cooler and the grass wont burn

[kirk1701]

also an other problem might be because you seed in the spring and your backyard is full sun the young grass it just getting burnt. seed this fall with the compost and the seed you want to use, and then over seed in the spring the reason to seed in the fall is the temps are going to get cooler and the grass wont burn

Yep, alreay learned that lesson long ago, hence why I'm seeding mid sept this time.

[kirk1701]

I would also strongly incourage you to spread compost over the top (topdress) just dump it in Looong thin lines and hand rack it with a leaf rake. 1 cu yad does 1000 to 1500 sq ft. it takes 1 man about an hour per 2000 sq ft to do this buy hand. You can probably have the compost drop shipped in your driveway. MAKE SURE it is finished compost and not unfinished horse poop or any poop (finished poop is good! or it can burn your lawn - if it is finished it will have a great earth smell to it. It will germinated better and have use less water with a nice 1/8 inch top dress of compost. I can't believe you did not take David Cook up on his offer to do this for FREE!

Got the compost today Barefoot, didn't have it delivered just got bags at wally world for the area's that were bare or little to no grass and going to use it the compost in those area's.

For the rest of the backyard which was grassy, now its dead but I didn't mow it before I killed it and was thick. Those area's I'm just going to wash the seed into the roots and keep it wet, then seed again in late february.

Have another question but its off topic to this so look for a new thread I want your opinion on. :drinkup:

[kirk1701]

Get the fescue blend - not the KY Blue. 6 -8 hours means "at least" and it would grow with less too - It is tall fescue.

Barefoot, this is all our Lowes has? ;)

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=289565-303-118913&lpage=none

[BostonBull]

What are the benefits of having a straight Fescue lawn vs. KBG?

[kirk1701]

What are the benefits of having a straight Fescue lawn vs. KBG?

Unsure, just going by what Barefoot recomended.

I di know I'm allergic to bluegrass :confused:

[Barefoot James]

BG in Mass is great. But in Bowling Green it is too hot. BG likes cooler weather and/or lots of water it would survive in Bowling Green with lots of water however straight fescue is a better option - plus they do not offer a fescue plus Blue Grass - Smart Seed Mix. The important thing is to have the myco which the Smart Seed is the only seed I know of that is offered for retail sales. But up in Mass go for it - much more moisture and cooler.

[Barefoot James]

The only other benefit for KY BLUE is that it has ribozomes so it fills into voided spots in the ground unlike fescue that only spreads buy clumps or more seed _ however fescue is more drought tolerent and more disease resistant and hardier

[kirk1701]

BG in Mass is great. But in Bowling Green it is too hot. BG likes cooler weather and/or lots of water it would survive in Bowling Green with lots of water however straight fescue is a better option - plus they do not offer a fescue plus Blue Grass - Smart Seed Mix. The important thing is to have the myco which the Smart Seed is the only seed I know of that is offered for retail sales. But up in Mass go for it - much more moisture and cooler.

BF you got me all confused now :confused:

Did you check the link above? Yes they do offer a Fescue/Blue mix and thats all Lowes here has???

http://images.lowes.com/product/021496/021496269221.jpg

I was waiting on your reply before I bought this?

[Barefoot James]

This will be fine. I'm sure it is around 10% BG which can't hurt and will be very nice in the Fall, Winter and Spring - even early Summer - yu will just have to water more to keep it during the heat or it will go dormate - it comes back. The fescue blend is a majority of the seed and it comes up in 7 to 11 days - the BG germinates in 20 to 30 days. There are some perks to having a little Blue in your mix! The bottom line is this product is coated (innoculated) with myco which will help your grass in MANY ways and help your soil too. The myco should also help the BG survive better in drought too - I just have never used it with myco - so let us all know how it does next summer - but the fescue will thrive. Again it is only a small percent of the seed so it should be fine. I personally errored and did not know they had this product. Now I do.

[kirk1701]

This will be fine. I'm sure it is around 10% BG which can't hurt and will be very nice in the Fall, Winter and Spring - even early Summer - yu will just have to water more to keep it during the heat or it will go dormate - it comes back. The fescue blend is a majority of the seed and it comes up in 7 to 11 days - the BG germinates in 20 to 30 days. There are some perks to having a little Blue in your mix! The bottom line is this product is coated (innoculated) with myco which will help your grass in MANY ways and help your soil too. The myco should also help the BG survive better in drought too - I just have never used it with myco - so let us all know how it does next summer - but the fescue will thrive. Again it is only a small percent of the seed so it should be fine. I personally errored and did not know they had this product. Now I do.

Thanks Barefoot, I'll grab a bag next time i'm in town. I already got one section planted and don't plan to plant the next section till mid september.

I did it this way in sections as so I don't have to water so much all at one time.

Now onto another question. I decided not to slit seed, the area I killed off I left grow so when I killed it off was a good 5 inches high and after I seeded I washed the seed into the ground so now the dead high grass acts as cover and keeps it moist.

The area I have left to seed is not that big and not even worth renting a power seeder for. I killed this area off the same time I killed the area off I just reseeded but it had less cover so washing the seed into the high grass is not an option, I don't want to till this area due to I just did that last year and I hid some rock under the topsoil to get rid of them so I DON'T WANT TO DIG THOSE UP.

This is the area I'm going to use the compost as you recomended however is that enough? What I have done to help this problem was save the grass clippings from my front yard to lightly spread overtop of the compost so there lies my question, is that a bad idea or will it help?

[BostonBull]

What is best for high traffic/compacted areas? KBG, Fescue, or Rye? It is the area where we step down off my deck onto the lawn, and the dogs like peeing here as well.

[rcreech]

BF you got me all confused now :confused:

Did you check the link above? Yes they do offer a Fescue/Blue mix and thats all Lowes here has???

http://images.lowes.com/product/021496/021496269221.jpg

I was waiting on your reply before I bought this?


This product must not have much TTTF in it as a 20# bag covers 5K....and that is only 4#/K.

If it was mostly TTTF, you would be up closer to the 8#/K.

[kirk1701]

Me in a confused state ;)

Again as usual. :confused:

[kirk1701]

Apply 5 to 6 lbs of seed per thousand (for over seeding - 8 to 10 lbs for total revamps) and set the tines at about a quarter inch. 9just barely scratch the surface) all you need is seed to soil contact - not buried seed. So many newbies set them so deep they pop up in china and not you lawn - LOL. Make sure you got the Pennington SMART Fescue and not just regular Pennington Fescue - The Smart seed has Myco (mycorrhizae).

I would also strongly incourage you to spread compost over the top (topdress) just dump it in Looong thin lines and hand rack it with a leaf rake. 1 cu yad does 1000 to 1500 sq ft. it takes 1 man about an hour per 2000 sq ft to do this buy hand. You can probably have the compost drop shipped in your driveway. MAKE SURE it is finished compost and not unfinished horse poop or any poop (finished poop is good! or it can burn your lawn - if it is finished it will have a great earth smell to it. It will germinated better and have use less water with a nice 1/8 inch top dress of compost. I can't believe you did not take David Cook up on his offer to do this for FREE!

Barefoot, hope your not mad at me, cheer up I finally gave in and took your advice :)

Rented the power rake/overseeder for the back and had to rake up all the dead grass because the seed would not come up through it as I thought (trail and error). Got a great deal on the pwer rake 1 day rental for the entire weekend due to the place being closed for the weekend so I figured I better grab this :)

I left some pic's in another thread, while I had the power rake and for the whole weekend I figured OK, lets do the front to.

Also did the side I was having issues with and top dressed that with compost only thing I had to haul the bags in from Lowes and the seed is already germinated and poping up through the compost :clapping:

Only thing, used the seed I had not the Myco as I don't want a BG mix I want all fescue which Lowes did not have.

One last thing, and hope this makes some sense to you, I want to be able to say "I did this all myself" and be proud of it which is the main reason I didn't take David Cook up on his offer so hope you can understand that?

On a side note now, the backyard I killed off beginning of august, after several applications of round up everything was dead for weeks. Then I seeded, started watering and POOF! here comes the dam crabgrass, WHY?

I'm spending half a day pulling crabgrass and I'm finding these long vines under the soil where some of them are sprouting from which were there when I roundup but I assumed the round-up killed?

Now that I have new grass coming up there's not much else I can do but pull them. I am testing a small area with Weed Stop to see if it killed the grass along with the weeds which it propbably will.

any other choices I might have?

[EVM]

Do you guys know about NTEP? If you need to know anything about seed, this is where you go. http://www.ntep.org/