Some people like their lawns to look nice and green. Originally Published: September 30, 2021. But how would they go about selecting one type of cool-season grass over another? Poa trivialis dying out in warm weather looks like a fungal disease. In case you experience a hot or dry summer, this will also help retain moisture. Seeding/Overseeding. It's a state; a region; a music genreeven a lifestyle. Because of its spreading growth, KBG develops thatch easily. turf horse tracks). Sprouts in as little as 7 days, making it a great addition to Bluegrass blends . Also, be sure to remove lawn furniture and debris from your lawn, as well as any spare logs from next to the fire pit. In September you should be overseeding bare spots and patches of thin growth; you will have a better lawn for it next year. If thatch builds up more than a 1/2 inch, then youll need to dethatch. Popular types of grass include Kentucky bluegrass, Bermuda grass, centipede grass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue lawn grass. 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. September also provides better conditions for you than planting the grass summer, which is important because, with all the prep work involved, you will be spending a lot of time in the yard on this project. Because Kentucky bluegrass spreads via rhizomes to form a dense sod, it is capable of crowding out less vigorous grasses over time. Without a doubt, established KBG will perform much better when faced with a weed threat than other cold season grasses with bunch-growing habits. Free shipping on orders of $75.00 or more. This type of grass is also fast to germinate and grows vertically. For best results, keep in mind these following seeding and growth characteristics for Kentucky bluegrass: Plant at a depth of one-fourth to half-an-inch. Moreover, it is nearly as wear-resistant as the ryegrasses and the tall fescue. If you're comparing two lawns side-by-side, it's useful to know that zoysia goes dormant later in the . Annual Bluegrass is one of the most common weeds that mimics the appearance of grass. Compare this with the mere 10 inches of additional/external irrigation required by other cool-season turfs. Seed and overseed. Kentucky bluegrass is considered one of the cool-season grasses, making it one of the turf options for Northerners looking to start a lawn. Hi! For regular mowing: To achieve a mowing height of 2 inches, make sure that you take off the length before it reaches 3 inches. 7) Creeping Bentgrass. After treatment, wait at least three weeks before reseeding. Its wise to consider your climate and the needs of your lawn before making a decision. 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. Well over 100 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars have been introduced in the market over the last two decades. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Successful lawns need some deliberate reverse-engineering from you. Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass 2-4 times throughout the growing season to maximize spread. This grass variety has a deep root system, which means that it can absorb water thats held deep within the soils. . 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. Depending on your grass-growing region and your lawn care goals, Kentucky bluegrass may be a perfect choice for you. Follow along to keep your yard up to date! Spring provides the optimal temperature for leaf growth, with a spacing of just 10 days between the appearances of new leaves. 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. Avoid treating newly seeded or overseeded areas until spring. My name is Jamie, The Backyard Pros is a website where I piece together articles about all my awesome yard ideas. Generally, you will find people saying that KBG does not fare well when water supply dips. Sow at least 6 weeks before the first frost date of the year. Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most popular grass types in American yards. Aesthetically pleasing and durable, this grass performs beautifully on its own and works well with other cold season grasses, making up for their deficits with its winter-hardiness. I have enjoyed gardening ever since i was a little kid 20+ years ago so i decided to make this blog out of my hobby, please have a browse and enjoy my work. For this reason, bluegrass varieties or mixtures that contain bluegrass and other rhizomes are well suited for areas that are likely to suffer from erosion. You can choose the grass that meets your needs. Email: Not the famous bluegrass of Kentucky, weed bluegrasses are a persistent lawn pest. Applying fertilizer in spring is critical, but it is only the beginning: You should maintain a fertilizing schedule throughout the growing season if you want the best possible lawn of Kentucky bluegrass. If your lawn goes dormant, water it only a couple inches per month, and itll bounce back when temperatures cool. Healthy Kentucky bluegrass lawns grow thick enough to prevent most weeds from germinating. 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. If the leaves are too thick, wet, or matted down, rake them up and remove them. Kentucky bluegrass is the most popular cool-season grass, loved for its beautiful emerald and blue-green colour and its soft texture. Known simply as Poa due to its genus name Poa annua, it's related to other Poa grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass. Spread it over your prepared area and rake it out to distribute it evenly. These ridges are the beginnings of the new leaves. The main difference between Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass is the root systems and the way the grasses grow. Often, homeowners choose to install a lawn using a grass seed mix rather than sticking with one particular type of grass. With that out of the way, let me clarify that spring seeding should only be attempted if the turf has been damaged due to winter weather or if it has not recovered as well as it should have from the problems of the previous year or if you are reclaiming a lawn after new construction. So, here is what the mowing requirements look like: Normal weather mowing: A warm-season grass like Bermuda grass will thrive even when mowed to 1 inch. 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. 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. Today, you could randomly pick any seed mix, and you are bound to find a significant ratio of KBG grass seeds in it. The shallow root system also means that not just the young seedlings but also mature plants get pulled out easily if you are not careful. This website also participates in the ShareASale, Clickbank & Cj affiliate programs, and other sites. With Pennington, you can count on better research, better seed and better results guaranteed. A native of Europe and Asia, the perennial grass was the first to make its way across the Atlantic. The crabgrass will be a dense single plant that sprawls. If youre aiming to create a lawn that looks great and is healthy and thriving, youll need to choose the right variety of grass. The grass roots will automatically dig deeper and also spread sideways to combat the stress from cutting the blades and will search for space to fill in with more grass . Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season grass for climates with mild summers and cold winters. Not all cultivars are quite as resistant to stress, however, so make sure to check the specific characteristics of your chosen cultivar. Zoysia is pleasant on the eyes and feet. How can I make Kentucky bluegrass germinate faster? It germinates best between soil temperatures of 50F to 65F, or air temperatures of 60F to 75F. Depending on your mowing and lawn care practices, your KBG lawn may need dethatchingevery year or two. Is it Illegal to be Naked in Your Backyard? This type of rough bluegrass will grow between 7 and 10 days. But, you will need to give KBG time to establish its dominance. Determining the correct mowing height answers, at the same time, the question of how often to mow. All plants need open, moist soil and sunlight to germinate, and Kentucky bluegrass thick rhizomatous growing habit prevents access to these two essentials. 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. 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. But once it germinates, it establishes itself quickly. Sign up for our newsletter. It also requires a lot of water and full sun, so it grows best in places with abundant rainfall and sunny days. Sale ends 4/25. Whether or not you know it, when you think of the ideal lawn, youre probably imagining Kentucky bluegrass. The irrigation requirement goes up in summer for all grasses. What Is Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)? Contact your local University Extension office to find out which cultivars they recommend for your area. Well-maintained Kentucky bluegrass develops into a thick, lush lawn. One application lasts up to three months. It spreads by rhizomes and tillers and forms a dense sod. This cool-season, sod-forming perennial grass is also palatable for grazing animals. Kentucky bluegrass is a perennial, cool-season lawn grass. Sugar Cane vs. Bamboo: Which is Right for Your Garden? Sevin is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. 1. Spot-treat lawn weedsinstead. However, even though this species is not native to the United States, it is grown all over the East Coast, and can also be grown in the west with irrigation. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a short-to-medium height, cool-season, long-lived, highly palatable, perennial grass that has smooth, soft, green to dark green leaves with boat-shaped tips. This is a cool-season grass, so summer is definitely out. So, yes, Kentucky bluegrass does have greater irrigation requirements than other cool-season grasses. Perennial ryegrass will grow well even if cut to 1.5-2 inches. It is a true grass, being a member of the Poaceae family. Fertilize and treat broadleaf weeds with Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14. Also, pay attention to insect control, for which there are both products to apply after the fact and preventive measures. Professional Grass Advice for the Perfect Lawn, All You Need to Know About Kentucky Bluegrass, Additional KBG Characteristics to Consider, Pennington Smart Seed Kentucky Bluegrass Grass Seed and Fertilizer Mix, Pennington UltraGreen Crabgrass Preventer Plus Fertilizer III 30-0-4, Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4, Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14. Kentucky bluegrass can require up to 21 days before it sprouts. Cook, T., "Kentucky Bluegrass, Poa Pratensis L.," Oregon State University Department of Horticulture. However, they have slightly different care requirements. Kentucky bluegrass lawns are more resistant to wear than most cool-season grasses, but thin out when poorly grown or too closely cut. Seed at a rate of three pounds per every 1,000 square feet and half that if you're overseeding. Like all Poa grasses, this weed grass has canoe-shaped leaf tips. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It is one of the most common types of grass grown in lawns in North America. Tall Fescue grows in small clumps, and blades of grass grow vertically. Zoysia is an extremely aggressive spreading grass that can literally choke out weeds. Till in organic matter such as black topsoil, compost, shredded yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) 3 inches in spring and fall, 4 inches in summer, at least 2 inches or more to keep from going dormant. 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. Some varieties of bluegrass have been bred to be more tolerant of shading, but dense shade is a limiting factor to the vigor of a bluegrass lawn. Kentucky bluegrass can be mowed as low as 1.5 inches in the cooler times of the year. Snow moldoften attacks KBG lawns. 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. What I like to do is base my conclusion on relevant studies. This grass is generally the faster growing of the two. Phone: When in active growth, Bermuda grass is always true green, although the shade of green can vary. As its rhizomatous, it can self-repair, filling in any gaps, and becoming a thick carpet that can withstand high foot traffic. Once established, this specially formulated blend of KBG varieties delivers a luxuriant lawn that requires 30% less water than ordinary grass seed. Its one of the most widespread grasses in cool-season climates. Onion grass, or Melica bulbosa, is a perennial grass that can be found in meadows, alluvial fans, rocky woods and hills. Find out if this grass will be right for your lawn and all youll need to do make it thrive. Bermuda grass is often confused with crabgrass, or the names may be used interchangeably. Even so, KBG admirers in warmer areas aren't deterred easily. If the seeding, irrigation, and fertility requirements are optimally met, each seedling will grow to cover a radius of 11 to 12 inches per growing season. 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