I always recommend a seed mix/ratio that contains these three seeds:
50% - Kentucky Bluegrass
25% - Creeping Red Fescue
25% - Perennial Ryegrass
Madison Parks is the best I’ve ever found and/or sold when I was in The Biz. It was designed for conditions in the public parks. This mix/ratio is recommended for Zones 4-6. We use it in our own house yard, Zone 5.
You don’t have to buy THIS specific brand, but the seed combo works really well the next time you have a dead patch or have done some landscaping or just want to do an over-seeding in Fall or Spring.
(I pinged a few ‘Lawn Guys’ for ya!)
Also - DON’T fertilize this fall. You’re wasting your money. Grass will be going dormant soon. Fertilize in the Spring with a good quality ‘Weed & Feed’ granular product. Follow the direction on the bag. If you don’t have a ‘seeder’ most Garden Centers will let you borrow one or charge a small fee.
Thanks for your recommendations. I would differ with you a little on Fall fertilizing. My lawn is mostly 'Turf type tall fescue', which is a cool-season variety. I've read that the primary reason for fertilizing cool-season grasses in early fall is that their growth shifts to root development during this time and fertilizer can help this activity.
50% - Kentucky Bluegrass 25% - Creeping Red Fescue 25% - Perennial Ryegrass
100% agreement on the species blend. I use pretty much the same thing here in zone 6b. The local farmer stores call it Boone County Blend.
When we have a dry August like we did this year it all goes dormant and gets overgrown with crabgrass. I don't water the lawn so I don't dare use any sort of weed-n-feed product. If I did that I'd have nothing but bare dirt in my yard this time of year.