Hi. I am very confused as to what seed mix I should be using and, in particular, should I be incorporating Perennial Rye.

I'm in CT, and most Sun & Shade products contains some varying mix of Rye, KBG and Fescue (usually a creeping variety). Sunny mixes generally contain 90/10 Turf Type Tall Fescue and KBG. Part of my lawn is sunnier than others, and over the years I've generally used Sun and Shade mixes (before having done any research and learning more about this).

Recently however, as I've been doing more research and learning more, I was leaning towards a 90%/10% mix (TT Tall Fescue/KBG). I was also told by 1 local lawn care company and a reputable seed company that I should not use Perennial Rye in a mix (nothing to do with my yard, but that Rye is aggressive and will 'overpower' the Fescue/KBG in the mix, and I'd end up with just Rye anyway).

But I then had another reputable seed company tell me that the notion of not using Rye in a mix is nonsense, and that, like most sun/shade mixes around CT, I should use a mix of Rye/Fescue/KBG (of about 65% TT Tall Fescue/20% Perennial Rye/15% KBG).

Therefore, I'm so confused and can't decide if I should be including Rye in my search of good seed mixes, or not.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Also, this is generally for overseeding my lawn which is already some mix of Rye/Fescue/KBG. I want to start incorporating (every fall) the best mix of dark green, weed free, seed I can get, and really need to know if I should be including Rye or not.

 

Rye will not over-power. Shade you have to use the fescue and the rye germinates the fastest but the bluegrass is typically what people want in their yard.

 

Especially if you are overseeding you have no need of a fast sprouting rye. I would only plant the grass you want in your yard.

 

Thanks for the input so far. Aside from Rye germinating quickly, is there any other reason to use it in a mix?

Which grasses are the thick/plush/stand up straight ones that I see on the 'nice' yards around town? Is that always definitely something in particular?

For areas that I might need to do fresh seeding from scratch, should I stick with a mix including Rye? Or, again, if I don't care about quick germinating, are fescue/kbg just fine?

Thanks again!

 

Nope, no need for rye. It's put into seed blends because it germinates quickly. It makes the purchaser think the seed mix is good because stuff popped up quickly. Then it helps hold the soil in place until the other grasses come in.

Even if the area is bare I use Fescue only blends with no rye. The negative is that you may have to wait another 5 days to see grass sprouting. In my area Rye is often used for late spring to summer planting when you know it likely won't survive anyhow but want to get something up to hold the soil in place until fall when you can really get grass to grow.

 

Thanks so much. That's what I suspected...