how to thinken up a newly seeded yard

I did a total yard renovation on my own yard about 2 months ago and seeded with a turf type tall fescue from lesco. My problem is that its pretty thin and i want to try to thinken it up as much as possible before spring. I have been using 32-3-8 fert and leaving the grass long because it looks beter. What is the best way to get the lawn to thicken up? Would it spread better if the grass was shorter? Should apply something else to give it a kick? Also if it helps at all the yard is pretty shady and i live in Tn. Any help would be greatly appreciated
thanks,
Dingo

 

First off change to a starter type fert. 6-24-24 or 8-32-32, you are putting down too much N for new seeding, you need to devlope roots not leaves, next how much seed did you put down per 1000 sq ft?
Turf type fescue needs 5 to 7 lbs per 1000 if drilled, I would up that if broadcast spread.

 

In that situation i would have probably used a blended seed with some creeping red for the shade.can you hit it again in spring?

 

PUT DOWN SOME MORE SEED NOW.SOMEKIND OF RYE MIX MIGHT BE GOOD FOR WEAR TOLERANCE AND HEARTY GROWTH....DO'NT FORGET SOME FESCUE FOR THE SHADE...ALSO AERATE AS SOON AS THE GROUND THAWS..YOUR LAWN WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT....BY PUTTING THE SEED IN NOW.YOU WILL HELP TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BATTLE WEEDS FOR NUTRIENTS AND IT WILL COME IN EARLY IN THE SPRING....ONLY POSSIBLE PROBLEM..HEAVY SPRING RAINS OR EXCESSIVE MELT OFF OF SNOW....MAY WASH THE SEED AWAY

 

Go rent a Ryan Mattaway slice seeder and hit it with that, going in perpendicular directions. then fertilize it with a low N fert and watch it grow!

 

The problem I see is the ground temps are to cold. I too am in TN and I believe that you will need to wait until spring to thicken it up. You could put some down now, but as Fireman said, you may have it wasted away. I would wait until early spring and put the seed down at an overseeding rate. Spring rains will help get it growing.

 

Thanks for all the post guys! I plan to slit seed early spring so it will hopefully grow in before the temps get to warm. I want to bring up another question i had, Is it bad for the grass to be too tall? Its a turf type fescue so it doesnt grow real tall i would say 5-6". Also are the products made for growing the roots real deep (ROOT'S) worth getting or should i just got with a low N. based fert.?
thanks for all the help
Dingo

 

Dingo,I always start new seedlings off with a high Phosphorus fertilizer,and hit it at least twice,sometimes 3 times with it before switching to a high N fertilizer.You need to establish a strong and healthy root system early,High N will give excess growth to the head of the plant,without the root system established,it will quickly die off or go dormant in times of high stress,and becomes more suspectable to disease.

 

"Turf type tall fescue" is tall fescue. If it is not planted dense enough, and maintained dense enough, it will grow as regular pasture tall fescue, semi-prostrate and thick bladed. Initial seeding needs to be 10# to 12# per 1000 ft², in order to achieve desired density. Depending on where you are in the country, you may have to overseed every year to maintain density in turf type tall fescues. That is because tall fescue is a cool season grass, and may experience dieoff and thinning in areas with hotter summers.

Best answer for anyone will be the turf specialists at their own state extension service. Find your state extension at http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/statepartners/usa.htm

 

FIREMAN PLEASE TURN OFF THE CAPS WE DONT WANT TO BE SHOUTED AT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!