So if I understand correctly, you had some areas that had no TF seeds, and you seeded these areas with the wrong mix? If that's the case then what's the problem? If you ran out of TF, then how can the rye overshadow it? Most TF now germinates in about a week, especially in warmer weather like you have, and will be ready to be mowed in about 3-4 weeks. If you have the rye mixed in with the TF, and there are no TF seedlings up yet, then cut the rye with a weed whacker or lightly rake the rye, with the intent of uprooting it, but only if no TF seedlings are poking up through the soil.

I guess I didn't explain that very well.

There was one area that was seeded exclusively with the bad mix, and the rest of the main yard over which the left-over "bad mix" was dumped on top of the previously seeded TF mix.

There are problems in both areas, but the problems are different. In the "bad mix only" areas, I seeded way too heavily with the mix, which will result in an overapplication of the quick sprouting annual rye, which already looks like it could choke out the other seeds in that mix. In a panic, I decided to buy another bag of tall fescue and seed directly over the contractors mix, but of course my problem now is that the rye will of course outcompete that too.

In the main part of the yard, where we dumped the excess contactors mix over the TF mix, I'm just a bit concerned that there is rye popping up so much more aggressively than the fescue.

So I guess, at this point, the problems in both areas of the yard are the same, but it's more severe out in the death strip.

...plus, out in the deathstrip, the rye and the rest of the contractors mix has a 7 day head start on the fescue...

I think there are a few issues you have to think about. First off, seeding rates. Seeding rates are pretty important. Too much seed can lead to damping off and/or disease if the grass is always wet with no air circulation. Not enough means a thin lawn with lots of soil exposed for weeds and erosion. I think you should try to kill the rye without hurting the TF and CRF you have down. Again, if no TF seedlings are visible, cut the rye as low as possible. Not sure how much area we are talking about, but a weedwhacker would be the best way. Raking the rye enough to pull it up would also work, but as long as it doesn't create a thick layer over the TF seeds. Or you can just let it go and see what happens, chalk it up as a learning experience and do it right next fall.

Thinking about seeding rates, I think I've made such a mess of things that I should take your second piece of advice: let it go and see what happens. Come to think of it, I've probably got too much seed everywhere.

At day 9, you should probably be seeing a good deal of tall fescue. For the areas seeded exclusively or heavily with contractors mix, I would kill that off with roundup and the next day seed with tall fescue at the proper rate. In any case, sorry to hear about the mistake. That is a lot of work done.

hmmm.. we used to use perennial rye in small proportions as a "nurse" crop to shade the young seedlings of desirable turf. so maybe you don't really have a problem after all. the rye will look pretty nice this fall and spring, then pretty much burn itself out next summer - that's why we don't use it on a regular basis in KC and St Louis. so maybe you don't have to do anything until a year from now!

brian

Yeah, I think what I am going to do is adopt a "wait and see" mindset because I can think of several potential outcomes here, some bad and some okay. Worst case scenario, I might end up having to do this all over again next fall. More than likely though, it won't be as bad as all that. And the only way to know is to wait and see.

I might weed whack a bit of the rye in the strip (we'll see how it goes), but I'm just going to let the main lawn do its thing for sure.

You can just hit the "bad" areas with roundup and reseed. Most of the rye should have germinated already, so that will get rid of most of your problem.

Lord. Good luck on that ryegrass. That stuff is the devil here in VA...almost as annoying as bermuda. I don't understand why they put such garbage seen in grass mix.

Well, here is my two cents and you can decide if it is good news or bad news on your own. ;)

I too have put down a little P Rye only to discover its early aggressive growth does just what you suggest, it will take over much more than its "percentage" would indicate to the average yard guy (or gal).

The good news is that Brian suggested above, it is a beautiful yard from now to next summer. Really, you can hardly beat it for that time period.

The problem is it will then brown out in most places in the heat and look pretty bad until cool weather returns. My experience is it takes it two or three summers to die out on its own to the point where you can get something else established. Soo, you can take the good and live with the bad and overseed with P Rye every fall, or roundup it sooner or later and start over.

Personally, I'd take the lazy man approach and wait to next fall to make a decision.

I'm hoping that by next summer, the main part of my yard (roughly 1000 sq. ft.) will be mostly tall fescue, since that part of the yard really only received a sprinkling of the bad mix. That will allow me to drop pre-emergent crab grass killer next spring without fear of having to re-seed prior to summertime.

However, out on the death strip, I expect the ratio of rye to fescue to be tipped seriously in favor of the rye. If it turns out that way, I'll nuke the strip with roundup in the spring and re-seed with fescue then. Or should I wait to do it until Fall?

A) wait till next fall. Especially in a high heat area. It is hard to get cool season grasses planted in the spring through the summer (not to mention the weeds you will get with it next spring. B) From my experience, any amount of P Rye over about 10% of the total runs the risk of it being the predominant variety because it grows so fast from seeding.

But, if it does, you'll love it for about the next 8 or 9 months.

this is exactly what i did but im thinking to core aerate all those dark perenial rye so my fescue could choke it out