I think that may be overcomplicating things. I used the thatch and dried clippings from scalping as seed cover last year and it worked fantastic. It's free and available right on the spot. It basically all melted into the ground in about 3 weeks from all the water and the starter fertilizer.

Personally I think the big prize when it comes to seeding would be successfully pre-germinating the seed. You could in theory pre-soak and get germination overnight if you put it down at exactly the right time. I had success mixing the TTTF seed with sand, wetting it and putting it down after 3 days, but on a very small scale, it was just a patch.Of course, fescue germinates quickly anyway, but in my situation with water being very expensive it would still save me about $150 not having to water the whole surface for 3 days. Now if you can get that working with KBG, then you're on to something, you could really cut down on those 2-3 weeks.

I have used a product called Soil Moist Seed Coat. It's very fine stuff you mix with seed right before sewing it. From what I understand it's similar to what they use in diapers to absorb moisture. The grass grew. I was diligent about watering anyway but it gave me some peace of mind. There is also a product just called Soil Moist but that has much bigger granules and might be useful in a potted plant. For coating seeds, get the kind that says Seed Coat. I don't know much about the coconut mulch. I imagine it would be similar to peat moss. They make pots out of coconut coir so it seems rather durable. Either the coconut or peat would add organic matter after serving as topdressing. Peat also changes color as it dries.

FWIW, we've had a piece of that coir from a fake plant laying in the corner of the yard for nearly 10 years >_<

Coir is used for all kinds of stuff in commercial agriculture. Very absorbent, lasts forever, ultra lightweight. I'm not sure it's the right product for your intended use though. It certainly won't stunt root growth.

But you know...If you ground it up & mixed it with a tackifier like you said, maybe it would work. Lots of effort, but just crazy enough to work.

"Either the coconut or peat would add organic matter after serving as topdressing. Peat also changes color as it dries."

Neither contributes much at all in the way of organic matter. And peat as a top dressing is extremely problematic - one, it is far too acidic to be used extensively on a lawn and two, once it dries out - as it will do if exposed to air - it becomes hydrophobic and repels water. It is also extremely difficult to rehydrate once this happens.

The easiest thing to do when topdressing a newly seeded or overseeded lawn is to apply a thin layer (1/2" or so) of good garden soil or screened compost. Both will protect the seed until germination and neither are inclined to dry out excessively or become hydrophobic if they do.

gardengal48 said: And peat as a top dressing is extremely problematic - one, it is far too acidic to be used extensively on a lawn

I had never heard that, so googled it and found this discussion.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1542648/peat-moss-and-acidity

FWIW, here's another thread on coconut coir vs peat moss. (Maybe you've already seen it).

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1657244/coco-coir-vs-peat-moss

My concerns with coir is the cost and that its high ligneous content (why thatch is so hard to decompose.) I've used peat moss for years as both a soil amendment and a topdress for seed. Never had a problem regarding acidity or its innate hydrophobia.

We put coconut core over a 5,000 sq. ft. lawn seed in the month of august which is a very hot month but kept it watered every day off and on. In a week the grass had sprouted. The coconut core came in compact blocks so we had to soak them in a wheelbarrow half filled with water. After the core had soaked up all the water (just enough water to just wet the core, no more), we then spread it by hand over the entire back yard at about 1/4 inch thick ((a lot of work but well worth the time). COCONUT CORE HOLDS WATER MUCH BETTER THAN PEAT MOSS and it DOES NOT CRUST OVER like peat moss. I DEFINITELY WOULD RECOMMEND cc OVER pm .