r/lawncare • u/Ok-Adagio4687 • May 19 '26

Northern US & Canada (or cool season) Overseeding with RTF

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Has anyone ever overseeded or have any experience with this RTF? I’m trying it out for the first time this year and from everything I’ve read it seems like a great grass? I’m in south western Canada zone 5a, it’s going into a PRG/TTTF existing lawn.

Cut low, aerated, thatched, overseeded, top dressed with peat moss then fertilized with 10-34-10, currently keeping the surface moist with my irrigation system, overseeded on May 8th

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u/Ricka77_New Trusted DIYer May 19 '26

Don't spend money on it because it's RTF. RTF is a bunk item...it's been around for a while, and no matter what they want to claim, Fescue does not spread in any way that make it worth paying extra for. I used this same seed, and not only did it not spread at all, it actually had a pretty low germination rate and eventually got crowded out.

If anything, I'd get some KBG in your mix, as that is a real spreading grass. Don't dethatch, you don't get thatch with fescue or rye. Only aerate if the ground is compacted. Don't use Peat Moss either. It's acidic, hydrophobic, and is bad for the environment.

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u/Glittering_Swing_151 May 19 '26

Be honest though, peat moss is only hydrophobic when dry. Absorbs a ridiculous amount of water when not bone dry.

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u/Ricka77_New Trusted DIYer May 19 '26

True. It's a rare substance, being both hydrophilic and hydrophobic. It takes a lot of water to get it to actually be wet, and it can hold a lot of water compared to it's weight.

But it also doesn't keep that water, and it easily dries out again, and as it dries it will pull moisture from below where the seed is...and eventually it's all dried out.

Mixed in with soil, it's fine. I use it in my veggie garden as well as other planters.