Where are you specifically, and what kind of grass?

Thanks for the reply. I'm in southern Michigan, zone 5, 5A or 5B, depending on which website you use. The existing lawn is very old and contains several kinds of grasses. I do not know which ones as I'm new to this.

Next time I am there I will try to take a photo and post it here.

Thanks.

TYG

If this lawn is not going to be getting weekly irrigation of mowing care, you might want to consider planting a mix of wheatgrasses with blue grama instead of traditional turf grass. Why? Because these prairie grasses will survive without weekly watering. Monthly mowing is usually all that's needed to make it look like a lawn. Here's a pic from bpgreen's prairie grass lawn in Utah.

{{gwi:79340}}

He also has strawberry clover in his mix which can be seen in the bottom of the picture. You would want to select cultivars of wheatgrass which grow in your area.

dchall_san_antonio,

Thanks very much for the advice. Yes irrigation is going to be a problem, especially since this lawn is not at my house and the person living there is elderly. I can make sure its watered well when I'm there but thats only a couple of times per week.

Last time I tried to seed it I used the Scott;s "Sunny Blend" from Lowes but that might not be the best choice. Its also possible that it didnt get enough water to really become established, and last year was well above average here for heat with near-drought conditions.

TYG

If you can be there every week, then any normal lawn grass will work. Getting the new seed established is what takes daily watering. Once established all the normal turf grasses can get by on watering once per week in the summer heat and less often for the rest of the year.