Winter's arrival and departure shift from year to year, so let your lawn be your guide. https://www.naturesseed.com/skin/frontend/naturesfinest/vstyle/images/logo.png, Kentucky Bluegrass: How to Plant/Grow and When to Plant, https://www.naturesseed.com/media/wysiwyg/footer-logo.png, Plant at a depth of one-fourth to half-an-inch, Seed at a rate of three pounds per every 1,000 square feet and half that if youre overseeding, Plan to fertilize in the months of September, November, and May (this variety typically requires more fertilizer than tall fescue types), The optimal soil pH for Kentucky bluegrass cultivation is 6.0 to 7.0. True to one part of its name, it can bear a relatively dark (bluish-green) color at times. This website also participates in the ShareASale, Clickbank & Cj affiliate programs, and other sites. You can encourage Kentucky bluegrass to germinate faster by creating ideal germination conditions. During periods of high heat and lower rainfall, increase KBG mowing heights to 3 to 4 inches. Add its medium to fine texture, and a KBG lawn is both beautiful to look at and comfortable for bare feet. Part of the charm of a healthy Kentucky bluegrass lawn is its rich emerald to blue-green color. Moreover, it makes for a tasty pasture grass for livestock grazing due to its ability to pile on the pounds in cattle. Its very easy to care for and doesnt need much watering or maintenance. In the fall, gradually reduce the watering to every two weeks. These bermuda grass pictures show how the crab grass has a wider leaf structure than the bermuda. Some people like their lawns to look nice and green. Does Kentucky bluegrass like sun or shade? It is very compact in the northeast however plug spaced 12" apart haven't filled in within a year and probably wont completely until next year. Kentucky bluegrass blades have distinctive, boat-like tips. . Though the plant looks like it has clumping growth patterns, the plant survives from year-to-year through creeping, above-ground stems called stolons, which spread easily throughout the surrounding turfgrass canopy. Hearty and highly palatable to homeowners and livestock alike, Kentucky bluegrass has a variety of uses. Find Out Today, Can An Avocado Tree Grow In A Pot (yes + How To). . Young grass does best when kept at a 2-inch (5 cm.) Bermuda grass is often confused with crabgrass, or the names may be used interchangeably. Check out my ultimate guide for cool season grasses. Establishes easily from seed once germinated, Low tolerance to heat, shade, salt, insects, and disease. This structure looks like a small dome with ridges rising alternately from each side (Fig. KBG has relatively shallow roots compared to tall fescue and warm-season grasses. Do not treat seeded or overseeded areas until at least 60 days after seeding. Tall Fescue is a very hardy variety of robust grass that doesnt easily suffer from wear and tear. Its also the most needy of grasses, requiring a lot of fertilizer, a lot of care for insects and disease, and a lot of water. Regular soil testingevery three to four years can help you maintain a healthy pH balance and rich KBG color. Since seed would successfully germinate, Kentucky Bluegrass naturally produces it, thus the weedy appearance. Bluegrass. Let me start at the roots; with Kentucky bluegrass, you get the greatest root growth in fall followed by spring. Kentucky bluegrass is what's known as a perennial, cool-season lawn grass. The recovery of Kentucky bluegrass following this summers drought has been amazing. Is it Illegal to be Naked in Your Backyard? Both types of grasses are generally easy to care for and fast-growing. Like many common U.S. turf grasses, this versatile, widely used grass is native to Europe and northern Asia.1 Its first use in the U.S. came as a pasture grass in states like Kentucky, where it still covers the state's gently rolling hills. As previously mentioned, the species, like all familiar . There are many different kinds of Fescue and Bluegrass, the most common being Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. The light cover will absorb moisture and keep seeds moist longer than just leaving them on top of the soil. McKay's Kentucky Bluegrass is an extremely hardy, good-looking lawn with excellent repair capabilities. It's not uncommon to find heavily irrigated Kentucky bluegrass growing in the sun-baked lawns of the West and Southwest. Fast-growing perennial ryegrass, for example, germinates in one-third the time of KBG. Look on the seed tag labelof many grass seed mixes, including shade and sun-and-shade mixes, and you'll find KBG varieties alongside other cool-season grasses. Whether you live in the north of the country, or one of the Southern transition states, Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most common turfgrass for lawns. Yet, unlike in summer, you won't have the scorching heat to contend with, which dries out the seed. Zoysia is an extremely aggressive spreading grass that can literally choke out weeds. Keep your KBG lawn free of winter debris, such as sticks and rocks. It's a state; a region; a music genreeven a lifestyle. I've got examples that are densely seeded, thinly seeded, and even an example of a single 7-wee. Pennington, One Step Complete and Smart Seed are registered trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc. UltraGreen is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company. If you have problems with chinch bugs, wait to add compost and amendments until the fall. Sprouts in as little as 7 days, making it a great addition to Bluegrass blends . Zoysia is grayish-green. Some varieties vulnerable to stress damage. height. This means consistently and correctly performing such tasks as fertilizing, watering, and mowing. In addition, it is an extremely resource-intensive grass and will out-compete trees and other landscaping for nutrients. Proper mowing height for Kentucky Bluegrass is 2.5-3 inches. Fast-greening perennial ryegrass and shade-tolerant fescues complement Kentucky bluegrass' strengths to create versatile, lush, cool-season lawns. Kentucky Bluegrass Invasion in the Northern Great Plains and Prospective Management Approaches to Mitigate Its Spread. This can help stop the earth from being washed or blown away. That typically corresponds to daytime air temperatures of 60F to 75F. 7) Creeping Bentgrass. Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass 2-4 times throughout the growing season to maximize spread. In fact, a well-established and well-taken-care-of KBG lawn will quickly bounce back from a weed invasion and will come back from all directions to reclaim its territory. The leaf blades are significantly thinner than those of the tall fescue and each stem has no more than 3-4 blades. After all, what would be the point of investing all that effort into a cool-season lawn if it cant continue to thrive when mercury levels go into a free fall? The highest quality turf grass for sunny areas is Kentucky Bluegrass (at least 6 hours of direct sun). Peak growth is reached when soil temperature hits 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Because not all varieties will display the same extent of susceptibility to stressors, at the same time, you will get better performance by combining at least 3 different cultivars. When comparing Fescue vs. Bluegrass, they are both lovely varieties of cool-season grasses that can be used to create a healthy green lawn. Before planting, ensure that you correctly prepare your land by removing any old turf, flattening and raking the soil. If you have a problem with crabgrass, look for a product that includes a crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide. Years after, 3 pounds per 1000 square feet (1.5 kg. The best time to plant Kentucky bluegrassand do major lawn maintenance is during early fall as cool-season KBG growth peaks. It takes 14 to 21 days for the slow-starter KBG seeds to germinate. How Much Topsoil Do You Need Over Fill Dirt? Roughstalk bluegrass grows upright to 3-1/3 feet (1 m) tall from a dense tuft of short stolons (aboveground creeping stems) at the base. During extreme heat or extended drought, the grass will go dormant. Kentucky bluegrass has shallow roots that make it unable to hold on to essentials like nutrients and water. On the other hand, Tall Fescue isnt able to spread sideways, so you can grow it up against the edge of flower beds and paths without worrying. Kentucky bluegrass is available as seed or sod. Once established, it spreads readily via underground stems known as rhizomes to form a dense, thick turf. However, it does not grow well in deep . This makes it a great choice for lawns where sports will be played. Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. It germinates best between soil temperatures of 50F to 65F, or air temperatures of 60F to 75F. Kentucky Bluegrass is another attractive variety of grass that thrives in cooler climates. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online. Most areas that were completely dormant in September have now recovered. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a cool-season lawn grass with many usesit's a fast grower, a good companion for other grasses and seed blends, and it's low maintenance with many built-in resistances to pests and diseases.It has a few downsides, like patchy growth or difficulty handling shade or higher temperatures, but its pluses outweigh its minuses. For instance, even when the weather is normal, you would still need twice as much water for KBG as you would for other cool-season grasses. Fertilize your summer lawn with Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4. How fast the spread is from thereon will be based on the number of seeds broadcasted. Hi! Kentucky bluegrass establishes easily from seed, but it germinates more slowly than some other cool-season grasses. What your lawn craves most at this time is nitrogen, and, if you read the label on commercial products such as Scotts Turf Builder, you will see from the NPK ratio that nitrogen is the dominant element. In the first year of growing, 6 pounds per 1000 square feet (2.5 kg. Finally, follow it all up with some much-needed fertilizer. Kentucky bluegrass produces a high-quality, medium- to fine-textured turf, at least when grown in the right climate. Roughstalk bluegrass can be confused with Kentucky . This plant disease appears as white patches on grass blades, significantly diminishing the lawn's visual appeal. Begin by aerating your lawn. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Follow their instructions on where and how to have your soil tested. Kentucky bluegrass grows well as a pasture grass on the limestone soils of the region. 39-61 Days. Kentucky bluegrass spreads via rhizomes to form a uniform sod. Kentucky Bluegrass is fast-growing after germination and is able to spread horizontally, which means you wont end up with patches. When your lawn goals call for a dense, durable, cool-season lawn with luxuriant color, Kentucky bluegrass may be the answer to your hopes. Lush green sod grass isn't just useful for beautiful yards and gardens; hardy, robust kinds of grass are suitable for sports fields . Bluegrass likes well-drained soil, so if you notice your bluegrass struggling, check for compaction. Summer mowing: Once the mercury starts soaring, so should your mowing height. 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