Lawn patch repair mixes?

[Quattro Pete]

Reading some of the reviews online of these premixed grass repair solutions... seems like there are a lot of mixed feelings about them. They appear to grow quickly initially, but the grass apparently dies the following year.

Scotts, Encap, Amturf... has anyone had any experience with any of them and can recommend something? I need something quick and easy to apply.

 

[andrewg]

Just make sure your lawn patch does not contain an annual rye grass. Those don't live past one year. The seed mixture should be a perennial mixture.

 

[fdcg27]

A mix of annual rye and a perennial grass will work well, and you don't need to buy the ridiculously priced patch kits to get it.
Read the grass seed bags, and buy a bag of annual rye seed, along with a bag of some perennial grass seed, like fescue or even perennial rye.
Mix at about 50/50, and spread the seed.
Cover very lightly with soil.
The annual rye will germinate and grow quickly, while the perennial grass will do so more slowly.
The perennial grass will overwinter and fill in where the annual rye died out.
If you do this early enough in the season, suplemental watering will not be needed.
Also, a pound each of each seed will go a long way.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27

If you do this early enough in the season,

So, when's a good time to do this? I'm guessing it's way too early to do it now. I'm in northern IL.

 

[doitmyself]

I spot seed areas with quality grass seed blend (Bluegrass,fescue,perennial rye) and mulch it with straw (very cheap) or a commercial pelleted type hydro mulch (Expensive, google Lesco seed starter). The perennial rye component will germinate in about 10 days.

There's nothing special about those lawn patch products and they are a rip off IMO.

The seed will not germinate until the soil warms. Too early and there is more chance it will wash away or rot. I'm guessing mid April +/- in northern Illinoise.

 

[fdcg27]

It is too early now.
If the weather in Chicagoland has been anything like it has been here, about 250 miles south, it should be an early spring, so I would think anything after April 1st should be okay.
The seed won't germinate until until it's warm enough, as doitmyslef noted, but it won't rot very quickly either.
If you do use some annual rye, it is virtually instant grass, and will germinate and grow very quickly.
This will help to hold in place and protect the slower germinating perennial grass seeds.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
It is too early now.
If the weather in Chicagoland has been anything like it has been here, about 250 miles south, it should be an early spring, so I would think anything after April 1st should be okay.
The seed won't germinate until until it's warm enough, as doitmyslef noted, but it won't rot very quickly either.
If you do use some annual rye, it is virtually instant grass, and will germinate and grow very quickly.
This will help to hold in place and protect the slower germinating perennial grass seeds.


Yes true but also you want a quick grass to establish itself on bare surface. On bare surface weeds will grow also. The annual rye grass will help fill in those cracks in the soil quickly to establish itself against weed growth. Once it gets warm enough weeds seeds will sprout also. Annual rye grass is used here also plus once it dies off it adds decompose nutrients into the soil.

 

[fdcg27]

Agreed.
That's why I recommended a mix with around 50% annual rye in my first reply to the OP.
I like annual rye as a component in a mix to provide for quick cover.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks guys! That Amturf mix seems to be getting the best reviews, but I can't figure out what mix of grasses it uses. I'll have to find one locally and look at the label.