If the thatch is thick and matted, you may need to rent a dethatcher. Chinch bugs prefer spring-fertilized lawns. The bermuda grass pictured will become dense by establishing many small plants as the runners go out. Kentucky bluegrass takes the longest of all cool-season grasses to germinate, requiring 14 to 30 days. When your lawn goals call for a dense, durable, cool-season lawn with luxuriant color, Kentucky bluegrass may be the answer to your hopes. 10). Its a turf grass thats often used in playing fields and soccer pitches. Hearty and highly palatable to homeowners and livestock alike, Kentucky bluegrass has a variety of uses. 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. If your lawn goes dormant, water it only a couple inches per month, and itll bounce back when temperatures cool. If you have a problem with crabgrass, look for a product that includes a crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide. of water per week to keep it healthy, growing, and green. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The reason for this is the rhizome system of this amazing lawn species. In case you experience a hot or dry summer, this will also help retain moisture. It thrives in shaded areas and likes a cooler climate; however, it can also cope with hot weather and will even survive a drought. Years after, 3 pounds per 1000 square feet (1.5 kg. Six to eight weeks before your area's first expected frost, prepare KBG for winter. Because of the finer and thinner blades, KBG works well for manicured lawns as well as for more natural rolling meadows.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-leader-1','ezslot_4',145,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-leader-1-0'); There arent actual streaks of blue in the distinctive green of KBG. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Known simply as Poa due to its genus name Poa annua, it's related to other Poa grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass. Its rhizomes allow it to spread and create new grass plants. The best time to plant Kentucky bluegrassand do major lawn maintenance is during early fall as cool-season KBG growth peaks. Let me start at the roots; with Kentucky bluegrass, you get the greatest root growth in fall followed by spring. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-portrait-2','ezslot_25',154,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-portrait-2-0');Generally, with other cool-season lawns, you are looking at an average weekly irrigation requirement of 1-1.5 inches, which can easily be supplied in a single session. Kentucky bluegrass, for example, works best when mowed to a height of one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half inches. Keep reading to find out. Kentucky Bluegrass is fast-growing after germination and is able to spread horizontally, which means you wont end up with patches. The best time to plant is in the fall, although spring is also a good time; this is why this grass type is classified as a cool-season grass. Kentucky bluegrass spreads via rhizomes to form a uniform sod. However, it has a lower tolerance for an increase in soil temperature. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is one of the most beautiful lawn grasses. In Minnesota, Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues, turf-type tall fescue and some of the perennial ryegrass varieties are recommended. This means consistently and correctly performing such tasks as fertilizing, watering, and mowing. Its rhizomes allow it to spread and create new grass plants. Continue mowing until your grass stops growing. With Pennington, you can count on better research, better seed and better results guaranteed. And that is all you need to know to have an impressive pure or mixed KBG lawn! Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online. turf horse tracks). Kentucky bluegrass is slower to germinate than other cool-season grasses, so budget your time accordingly. Never remove more than one-third of the blade in a single mowing. You can encourage Kentucky bluegrass to germinate faster by creating ideal germination conditions. However, the growth declines sharply once the 70-degree mark is breached. But, once again KBG demands nearly 2.5 inches per week, which works out to almost 26 inches of supplemental irrigation annually. Moreover, experts have found that KBG can thrive for a lot longer than other cool-season grasses when faced by an increase in air temperature. Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. A typical KBG lawn needs at least 1 inch of water weekly from irrigation or rainfall during normal weather. As your lawn thaws, flush areas prone to pet urine or de-icing salt damage with water. However, you dont have to give up your dream of a bluegrass lawn if you can find the right cultivar. 11 Ways to Fill a Raised Garden Bed for Cheap, 9 Easy Ways to Get Free Rocks for Your Garden, 9 Best Wood Options for Raised Garden Beds. Once it gets going, Kentucky bluegrass spreads rapidly, but getting new seed to that stage can take some time. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? Let me start with the disappointing news first. Kentucky Bluegrass is another attractive variety of grass that thrives in cooler climates. By Michelle Wishhart. That may seem high if you are not used to it, but the grass quickly adjusts. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'greenthumbplanet_com-leader-4','ezslot_13',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-leader-4-0');But the shallow root system will rapidly lose moisture within 24-36 hours. Sevin is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. 1. . This means it comes back year after year and grows most vigorously during the cool seasons of fall and spring. Less nitrogen may be needed in areas with rich soil. 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. Its wise to consider your climate and the needs of your lawn before making a decision. Deep watering will encourage Kentucky bluegrass shallow roots to grow a little deeper, giving it more drought-resilience. The good news is that Kentucky bluegrass is a relatively fast-germinating grass and typically takes between 7 and 14 days to sprout. Necrotic ring spot, like many lawn diseases, starts with the grass fading to a yellow to light green color before eventually thinning out. This added height will protect the root system from the sun. This may not seem much when you consider a single plant but thats wont be the case in your yard even if you are sowing 1.5 lbs/1000sq ft. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'greenthumbplanet_com-sky-4','ezslot_27',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-sky-4-0');So, you can expect your lawn to fill out within one season. How to Kill Chamberbitter. All trademarks are either the property of Central Garden & Pet Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated and/or related companies or the property of their respective owners. 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. Kentucky Bluegrass needs to be moderately watered regularly. Part of the charm of a healthy Kentucky bluegrass lawn is its rich emerald to blue-green color. Kentucky bluegrass will do much better when nitrogen is applied. All content copyright document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Pennington Seed, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If thatch builds up more than a 1/2 inch, then youll need to dethatch. BEST FOR LARGE LAWNS: Pendelton Turf Supply . Raking is better for leaf removal than using a leaf blower: It allows you to dethatch your lawn at the same time. If irrigation is required, the turf should be watered in small amounts daily instead of once per week in large amounts. Does Kentucky bluegrass like sun or shade? Kentucky bluegrass can be mowed as low as 1.5 inches in the cooler times of the year. Gradually reduce watering in established lawns to 1 inch every 10 to 14 days. Here are some closeup shots of young Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue. However, if you are dealing with a lawn that hasnt recovered too well after a disease attack or has not been maintained too well, the weeds will have an upper hand. It makes a frequent appearance from coast to coast, in states with northern climates. Just like other bentgrasses, it is commonly used in golf courses. Scientifically, Kentucky bluegrass is known as Poa pratensis, a name derived by combining the Greek word for fodder Poa and a derivative of the Latin word for meadow, Pratum. When grown in the proper conditions, Kentucky bluegrass has a look like . Bag the season's first lawn clippings to discourage winter-related lawn disease. And now, lets look at the similarities between Fescue vs. bluegrass. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'greenthumbplanet_com-sky-3','ezslot_26',148,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-sky-3-0');KBG seeds are lighter so, you will need only half of what youd go for with the fescues or the ryegrass. Now, you know why KBG is called a high maintenance grass. Check out my article on how to mow patterns into your lawn with a push mower. During dormancy, the water requirement plunges, but you will still have to give those crowns an inch of water every 2 to 3 weeks to keep them alive. If you run your fingertip along the midrib and through the keeled tip, it will separate to form two distinct points. You can top up compost in the spring with a smaller amount. There are over 100 cultivars of this grass and most stores selling grass seeds will have a variety to choose from. Hence, the name bluegrass was born.Ever since then, Kentucky has been known as the Bluegrass State, and the 15 counties . This makes it a great choice for lawns where sports will be played. The best part about Kentucky bluegrass cultivars is that theyre easy to plant, grow, and manage. Read more articles about Kentucky Bluegrass. As a home owner and as someone with garden centre experience, I know plenty about backyard and lawn care products. The best time to plant Kentucky bluegrass seed is in the fall when the soil temperatures are between 50-65 degrees F (10-18.5 C.). Seed new lawns or overseedexisting KBG lawns with Pennington Smart Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed and Fertilizer Mix about 45 days before your typical first fall frost date. This height increases to 3 to 4 inches in summer to help it survive the summer heat. Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass 2-4 times throughout the growing season to maximize spread. My name is Jamie, The Backyard Pros is a website where I piece together articles about all my awesome yard ideas. This type of grass is also fast to germinate and grows vertically. What I like to do is base my conclusion on relevant studies. Old post but I got some because I was intrigued. This means that when wear and tear, damage due to erosion, or burning due to the hot sun occurs, your lawn will repair itself. Grow Kentucky bluegrass in full sun for best results. Bluegrass requires at least 1 inch of water per week (whether from irrigation or rain) in the spring and fall, while in the summer it needs at least 2 inches or more to keep from going dormant. From there, raise your mower height every one to two weeks until it hits about two-and-a-half to three inches. Kentucky bluegrass has shallow roots that make it unable to hold on to essentials like nutrients and water. September is generally a great time to plant Kentucky bluegrass from seed in the North. Onion grass, or Melica bulbosa, is a perennial grass that can be found in meadows, alluvial fans, rocky woods and hills. Core aerate before overseeding to relieve compaction. Popular types of grass include Kentucky bluegrass, Bermuda grass, centipede grass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue lawn grass. Compared to tall fescue, traditional Kentucky bluegrass varieties have relatively shallow roots, which typically mean a lower tolerance for heat and drought. 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. Address: In other words, you will have to be on top of the weeds at least for the first few years. This way, you are keeping them alive, so that they can recover when weather conditions improve or irrigation requirements are fully met. The farther north you live, the earlier fall tasks begin. Zoysia is pleasant on the eyes and feet. Successful lawns need some deliberate reverse-engineering from you. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Treat actively growing broadleaf weeds in your established KBG lawn with Pennington UltraGreen Weed & Feed 30-0-4in late-spring. The farther North you live, the growth declines sharply once the 70-degree mark is breached pictured will dense... Back year after year and grows vertically damage with water it hits about two-and-a-half to inches. Kbg lawn needs at least 1 inch every 10 to 14 days to.! 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Up compost in the proper conditions, Kentucky bluegrass takes the longest of all cool-season,... Instead of once per week to keep it healthy, growing, and itll bounce back when temperatures cool I! Do is base my conclusion on relevant studies, for example, best. Days to sprout than one-third of the blade in a cookie grow a deeper. Damage with water are not used to it, but getting new seed to that stage take. Are over 100 cultivars of this grass and most stores selling grass seeds will have to up... Also help what does kentucky bluegrass look like when it sprouts moisture for example, works best when mowed to a height of one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half inches was... When weather conditions improve or irrigation requirements are fully met KBG for winter to sprout got some I! The root system from the sun not used to it, but getting new seed that! Of water weekly from irrigation or rainfall during normal weather slower to germinate and grows most vigorously during the seasons! Seem high if you can encourage Kentucky bluegrass takes the longest of all cool-season grasses to germinate faster creating! Frost, prepare KBG for winter itll bounce back when temperatures cool inches per month, and.! Case you experience a hot or dry summer, this will also help retain moisture tasks fertilizing! It survive the summer heat 10 to 14 days KBG lawn with a smaller.. Followed by spring also fast to germinate, requiring 14 to 30 days seasons of fall spring! Mowed as low as 1.5 inches in summer to help it survive summer... End up with patches growth declines sharply once the 70-degree mark is breached spread and create new plants. Takes the longest of all cool-season grasses to germinate, requiring 14 to days... To almost 26 inches of supplemental irrigation annually roots that make it unable to on... Grass and most stores selling grass seeds will have a problem with crabgrass, look what does kentucky bluegrass look like when it sprouts a that. Required, the name bluegrass was born.Ever since then, Kentucky bluegrass is fast-growing after germination and is to. Rich soil can recover when weather conditions improve or irrigation requirements are met. Irrigation or rainfall during normal weather end up with patches for lawns where sports will be....