North east of Knoxville, we had major damage to our 'lawn' this fall because of the drought. Lawn being defined as assorted grasses and interfillings with also assorted weeds.

It was after we started getting rains and cold weather that (because my husband kept muttering about the bare ground) that I suggested we try planting rye grass. From what I'd read, there was a good chance it would come up in cold weather and it would improve the soil

So we did plant it in early December. It came up rather successfully filling in the bare spots and is still growing well. TIme will tell how long it will last and how spring reseeding will work with it.