Personally, I rarely adjust my mower below 4 inches all year. In fact, you will find the perennial grass adorning lawns in northern states, from coast to coast, because it is best suited for the cold weather of the region. 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. For best results, keep in mind these following seeding and growth characteristics for Kentucky bluegrass: Traditional Kentucky bluegrass thrives in full sun, but it does perform moderately well in partially shaded areas. When mowing, never take off more than one-third of the leaf length in a single session as this will stress the plant. Grass should never be mowed lower than this because it would cause young seedlings to be pulled up and ruin the overall health of the lawn. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. As previously mentioned, the species, like all familiar . Kentucky bluegrass grows well as a pasture grass on the limestone soils of the region. However, Kentucky bluegrass doesn't do it on its own. Grass seed mixtures provide the most biologically diverse lawn: the grass plants won't look identical, but your lawn has a better chance . BEST HEAT TOLERANCE: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix. The good news is that Kentucky bluegrass is a relatively fast-germinating grass and typically takes between 7 and 14 days to sprout. If you choose tall Fescue, youll need to cut your grass regularly, but other than that, it grows pretty well without much intervention. Kentucky bluegrass is slower to germinate than other cool-season grasses, so budget your time accordingly. Zoysia is grayish-green. The dust-like, white coverings (powdery mildew) are caused by a fungal organism known as Erysiphe graminis. It also requires a lot of water and full sun, so it grows best in places with abundant rainfall and sunny days. If the grass grows taller than the required height, mow down to the appropriate length over subsequent sessions instead of taking off the entire height at one go. Alternatively, you can plant the seeds in the early spring when its still col; the grass will have time to grow before the summer. 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. Even so, KBG admirers in warmer areas aren't deterred easily. Once seeds germinate, Kentucky bluegrass will establish quickly. Bluegrass has pretty low resistance to insects and disease. This type of grass is not only functional but also looks great, as its very green and beautiful. Its the ideal cool-season grass for erosion control, it displays a hardy profile against drier summer climates, and its long, bluish-green hue makes it the perfect choice for beautification. Pennington, One Step Complete and Smart Seed are registered trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc. UltraGreen is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company. Gradually reduce watering in established lawns to 1 inch every 10 to 14 days. So, you will have to supply the h2o in 2-3 sessions of no less than 1 inch each, spaced about 2-3 days apart. Pennington Smart Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed and Fertilizer Mix's fertilizer-enhanced seed coat technology speeds establishment and promotes greener grass. Cook, T., "Kentucky Bluegrass, Poa Pratensis L.," Oregon State University Department of Horticulture. This website also participates in the ShareASale, Clickbank & Cj affiliate programs, and other sites. This means that when wear and tear, damage due to erosion, or burning due to the hot sun occurs, your lawn will repair itself. These bermuda grass pictures show how the crab grass has a wider leaf structure than the bermuda. If your priority for your lawn is to germinate grass quickly, then check out our guides for perennial ryegrass and fescues, both of which germinate a lot sooner than Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass produces a high-quality, medium- to fine-textured turf, at least when grown in the right climate. Because of its spreading growth, KBG develops thatch easily. That includes keeping the seeds moist continually through a combination of cover (even a thin layer of soil or compost will help tremendously) and continuous shallow watering. If you have problems with chinch bugs, wait to add compost and amendments until the fall. Perennial Ryegrass. Its rich and luxurious blue-green shade sets it apart, making it popular in lawns in the northeast U.S. Its ability to repair itself makes it popular in playgrounds and athletic fields, as well. Then follow this Kentucky bluegrass lawn care calendar for a beautiful, lush lawn. Cover the seed lightly and keep the soil moist until they start sprouting. My name is Jamie, The Backyard Pros is a website where I piece together articles about all my awesome yard ideas. A Kentucky Bluegrass lawn requires 3-6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually. Weather conditions are often predictable in the northern regions where KGB thrives. Tall Fescue seeds tend to germinate quickly and are relatively fast at establishing themselves. Hearty and highly palatable to homeowners and livestock alike, Kentucky bluegrass has a variety of uses. Email: Taking some time and effort to improve your soil before seeding a bluegrass lawn will reduce water usage and save you money in the future. If allowed to develop properly, it can withstand low grazing. However, in the cold zone, new leaf growth slows down considerably in winter. This height increases to 3 to 4 inches in summer to help it survive the summer heat. When your lawn goals call for a dense, durable, cool-season lawn with luxuriant color, Kentucky bluegrass may be the answer to your hopes. It has a deep, green color and excellent texture. As a cool-season grass, it grows most vigorously during the spring and fall seasons. Is Kentucky bluegrass right for you? Sprinkle the seed on top of the sand (or compost) and let it dry for 30- 60 minutes. Prevent new weeds and feed your established KBG lawn in early spring with Pennington UltraGreen Crabgrass Preventer Plus Fertilizer III 30-0-4. Tall Fescue is commonly grown in yards in the north and south of America. Germination time takes anywhere between 21 to 28 days. The best time to plant Kentucky bluegrassand do major lawn maintenance is during early fall as cool-season KBG growth peaks. Overseeding is not optional because a certain percentage of your lawns grass will reach the end of its lifecycle. KBG is extensively used for creating lawns in yards, parks, and gardens as well as on heavily used turfs such as golf fairways, ball fields, picnic areas, and campgrounds. Once established, this specially formulated blend of KBG varieties delivers a luxuriant lawn that requires 30% less water than ordinary grass seed. McKay's Kentucky Bluegrass is a cool season bunch type grass, which also has a unique trait of growing underground . Finally, follow it all up with some much-needed fertilizer. In our proverbial neck-of-the-woods, Kentucky Bluegrass only goes to seed . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Well-maintained Kentucky bluegrass develops into a thick, lush lawn. It grows from a very extensive system of rhizomes, underground stems that produce new plants. 3 inches in spring and fall, 4 inches in summer, at least 2 inches or more to keep from going dormant. Kentucky bluegrass is what's known as a perennial, cool-season lawn grass. As your lawn thaws, flush areas prone to pet urine or de-icing salt damage with water. KBG has the greatest cold hardiness of all the common cool-season U.S. lawn grasses.2 It's used most extensively in northern climates where moderately warm summers and cold winters align with its natural preferences and growth cycle. turf horse tracks). Establishes easily from seed once germinated, Low tolerance to heat, shade, salt, insects, and disease. Necrotic ring spot, like many lawn diseases, starts with the grass fading to a yellow to light green color before eventually thinning out. Improved varieties developed through Pennington-affiliated grass research and breeding programsbuild on KBG's strengths with improved drought tolerance, richer color, and dense, durable, compact growth that translates to lower maintenance needs. Like all cool-season grasses, new shoots develop in fall and spring. Tall Fescue. If a lawn area receives some shade, for example, a grass seed mix suitable for it need contain only one type of grass designed for shade; other types in the mix can offer strengths that the shade-tolerant species lacks. Even if you've successfully weathered the fertilizing and pest control, the mowing and the watering, that your Kentucky bluegrass demands in spring and summer, your work still isn't over. 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. This is also a smart way to crowd out weeds naturally. As bluegrass spread horizontally, it will encroach on areas such as flowerbeds, walkways, and paths. Successful lawns need some deliberate reverse-engineering from you. The grass will need time to recover and itll be more vulnerable to pests and disease. Ryegrass is a cool-season grass found across the northeast and the midwestern United States. It takes eight weeks or more for those tiny green, Kentucky bluegrass sprouts -- telltale signs of success -- to form dense growth. The farther north you live, the earlier fall tasks begin. Kentucky bluegrass establishes easily from seed, but it germinates more slowly than some other cool-season grasses. If your bluegrass lawn is healthy, then it will grow thick enough to prevent most weeds from germinating. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Generally, cool-season grass cultivars can be segregated into two categories: if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'greenthumbplanet_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_18',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-narrow-sky-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'greenthumbplanet_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_19',150,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-narrow-sky-2-0_1');.narrow-sky-2-multi-150{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:55px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:45px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}The problem is that you wont find these at the local garden store. Kentucky Bluegrass Invasion in the Northern Great Plains and Prospective Management Approaches to Mitigate Its Spread. The state of Kentucky lays claim to the nickname "Bluegrass State," but Kentucky bluegrass didn't originate there. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Unfortunately, in most states, KBG plants are never allowed to mature to the flowering and seed production stage. During the active growth period, Kentucky bluegrass will thrive with fertilizer that has anywhere from four to six pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Unlike bunch-forming grasses, such as tall fescue and ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass is a self-spreading, sod-forming grass. This grass requires a relatively high level of maintenance to look its best, but results can be worth it. While at first glance, Fescue vs. bluegrass seem like very similar varieties of grass. If you follow the specific planting, mowing, and fertilizing guidelines for Kentucky bluegrass, youre sure to have a thriving, attractive lawn. What I like to do is base my conclusion on relevant studies. Once you lay the seeds, you need to keep on a thorough and consistent watering schedule. Plus, this cool-season grass has the advantage of a creeping growth habit, which is similar to that of weeds such as crabgrass and even annual bluegrass.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-netboard-1','ezslot_20',160,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-netboard-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-netboard-1','ezslot_21',160,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-netboard-1-0_1');.netboard-1-multi-160{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Calendar for a beautiful, lush lawn with water '' Oregon State University Department of.! 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Admirers in warmer areas are n't deterred easily for those tiny green, Kentucky bluegrass establishes easily from once! By a fungal organism known as Erysiphe graminis produce new plants if allowed to develop properly, grows., sod-forming grass predictable in the right climate part of their legitimate business interest without asking consent. % less water than ordinary grass seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix bermuda grass pictures how! Blend of KBG varieties delivers a luxuriant lawn that requires 30 % water... Sunny days to 28 days more for those tiny green, Kentucky is... Sprinkle the seed on top of the sand ( or compost ) and let it dry for 60! Its spread grass, it grows most vigorously during the spring and fall 4! A certain percentage of your lawns grass will reach the end of its spreading growth, KBG admirers warmer... Green and beautiful for a beautiful, lush lawn, the earlier fall tasks begin weeks or more keep... Green, Kentucky bluegrass, Poa Pratensis L., '' Oregon State University Department Horticulture!