Is Scotts Quick Grass Good?

When to Plant Quick Mix Grass

• Annual rye grasses are traditionally planted around Labor Day, when temperatures drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but you still have six to eight weeks of mild weather before the first frost date. Rye grass prefers soil temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees for germination. The grass sprouts in three to five days under ideal conditions. However, once temperatures drop below 40 degrees, the seeds won't germinate.

Planting the Rye Grass

• Bare soil and dead grass should be raked thoroughly to loosen the topsoil, and remove dead grass and thatch before spreading the seeds. For an even distribution of Scotts Quick Fix grass seed, use a drop spreader set at 16 or a rotary spreader set at 10. A hand-held spreader may also be used; set it at 5. A 3-pound bag of seed will overseed 1,200 square feet of lawn. After spreading the seed, rake the lawn, then water thoroughly. Keep the lawn moist until the seeds germinate and the new grass is 2 inches tall.

Winter Lawn Care

• The lawn may be mowed when the grass is 3 inches tall. Set the lawn mower at a height of 2 inches for the fall and winter, then reduce the height of the mower to 1 1/2 inches in spring, when the Bermuda grass revives. Water regularly during dry spells, applying 1 inch of water per week when the soil is dry to a depth of 4 inches. Fertilize six to eight weeks after the grass has sprouted, using 1/2 pound of lawn fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. Repeat every eight weeks through the rye grass' growing season.

It's Just a Temporary Fix

• While annual rye grass grows quickly, it's a temporary solution to a brown lawn -- literally a "quick fix." Because it's an annual, it will die at the end of its growing season when the weather warms and the Bermuda grass springs back to life. The Bermuda grass will crowd out any seedlings; thus the lawn must be reseeded every fall. In cold climates, the lawn may also be reseeded in early spring, when temperatures rise above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.