Question
Dear LIG -
I have read many of your replies in the libraries of questions and thank you for your knowledge and expertise.  I am sold on CGM and was planning on laying it down in bulk this spring. We had a recent drought here in the Northeast (Ulster County NY) and it took its toll on my lawn that was always envied in the neighborhood.  
My question is: I have always had best luck overseeding in the fall.  I planned on taking care of my dead/thin spots after the weather cooled a bit.  Will this course of action be a bad idea if I plan on using the Corn Gluten in the Spring? Or should I seed and water now so that the new growth will not be affected by the CGM?
Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance for your time.

Sincerely,
Mike

Answer
Planning is important - but it is not quite time to throw in the towel for your old Lawn.

It is entirely possible that the heat and drought effectively triggered a Summer-long dormancy for your Grass.  Remember, chilly temperatures are heavenly for cool season Grass.  They call it "cool season" Grass for a reason.

You should also know that chlorophylls a and b don't work at all when the thermometer hits the 90's.  This summer, here on Long Island, when temps got into the 70s, I started putting on a sweater, I was so used to the heat.

But Grass does not get "used to the heat".  Their only choice is to hibernate and wait for the storm to pass.

That doesn't mean you should just let Nature take its course.  There's work to be done, drought or no drought.  To wit:

'If the homeowner cannot water, or elects not to water a dormant lawn, a light watering or rainfall of 1/2 inch every two to three weeks will help minimize damage to the lawn during the dormancy period. This watering practice will supply enough moisture to keep crowns, rhizomes and roots hydrated and alive. This volume of water will not regreen a dormant lawn, however, it will help to insure good recovery once rainfall occurs later in the summer.'

That's the Ohio State Extension Service report, 'Managing Turfgrass Under Drought Conditions:

ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/4000/4029.html

While you have a chance, why not walk through your brown Grass and pull out Weeds by hand?  They're easy to spot.  And they're getting ready to set seed as we speak.  Think of it as an ounce of prevention.

Autumn overseeding is an excellent practice, even for Lawns that look perfect.  It keeps them looking that way. Corn Gluten Meal does not affect new Grass; it affects sprouting seeds.  By Spring, any seed you put down will be approaching adulthood and will no longer be susceptible to interference by the CGM.  Overseeding in the fall gets my vote.

L.I.G.