Bluegrass. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The main difference between Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass is the root systems and the way the grasses grow. It can make a great companion grass if you're thinking of seeding with multiple varieties. Contact your local University Extension office to find out which cultivars they recommend for your area. September is a great time to lay Kentucky bluegrass sod, with spring being the second-best time. There are many different kinds of Fescue and Bluegrass, the most common being Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. Well over 100 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars have been introduced in the market over the last two decades. Kentucky bluegrass, for example, works best when mowed to a height of one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half inches. To keep your KBG at the peak of beauty and performance, time your lawn care tasks to complement its seasonal cycles. What Does Kentucky Bluegrass Look Like? While at first glance, Fescue vs. bluegrass seem like very similar varieties of grass. Bluegrass has pretty low resistance to insects and disease. Check out my full range of articles on different varieties of grass for your lawn. Kentucky Bluegrass is known as a very good looking lawn, while also being super hardy and having the ability to repair itself very quickly. Perennial ryegrass will grow well even if cut to 1.5-2 inches. This means it comes back year after year and grows most vigorously during the cool seasons of fall and spring. Sprinkle the seed on top of the sand (or compost) and let it dry for 30- 60 minutes. So, they will in all likelihood be starved to death by the weeds. Ideally, as with its competitors, KBG fares particularly well when planted in fall. This height maximizes leaf blade growth and grass spread. Proper water management is a crucial aspect of KBG lawn care. Lets look at the differences and similarities of these two popular types of cool-season grasses. Root systems. It's not uncommon to find heavily irrigated Kentucky bluegrass growing in the sun-baked lawns of the West and Southwest. Similar results were observed in an early British study conducted in 1943. per 93 sq. Fertilize your summer lawn with Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4. Some homeowners prefer to start a lawn bylaying sod. Identification: Roughstalk bluegrass is a cool-season perennial grass that can be found in both high- or low-maintenance turfgrass throughout the Midwestern United States. Find out if this grass will be right for your lawn and all youll need to do make it thrive. BEST HEAT TOLERANCE: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix. If you do have disturbed areas, use soil amendments to fortify the seedbed. Winter's arrival and departure shift from year to year, so let your lawn be your guide. It prefers a well-draining clay-loam soil that is slightly acidic. Pros and Cons of Dethatching Your Lawn (The Ultimate Guide), Single-species blend, multi-species mixture, Excellent tolerance of cold, low tolerance to heat, salt, insect, and disease. So even if you dont have bare patches, use a broadcast spreader or a slice seeder to seed the lawn. When given its preferred growing conditions and proper care, this grass produces a dense, lush, durable lawn that lives up to its reputation. Even then, I am still talking about 3 lbs/1000 sq ft. if you are laying down a new seedbed and 1.5 lbs/1000 sq ft. if you are working with a patch with fairly good growth (overseeding). Id say this is one of the prime reasons for KBGs continued dominance in lawns and turfs all across the northern areas. And that is all you need to know to have an impressive pure or mixed KBG lawn! 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. When soil temperatures are 50-65 degrees, the best time to plant Kentucky Bluegrass Seed (a cool season grass) is from September 15 to November 1. Well-maintained Kentucky bluegrass develops into a thick, lush lawn. Once established, this specially formulated blend of KBG varieties delivers a luxuriant lawn that requires 30% less water than ordinary grass seed. All content copyright document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Pennington Seed, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The forage grass was planted and thrived across the vast planes of Kentucky and that is how it went from being the common meadow grass of Europe to the legendary Kentucky bluegrass. Some varieties vulnerable to stress damage. Durable KBG is also a regular component of seed mixes for athletic fields and active northern lawns. Never remove more than one-third of the blade in a single mowing. 3. Tall Fescue grass, on the other hand, is more tolerant to the heat and drought and only needs minimal watering. 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. Its one of the least sustainable grasses, as many homeowners rely on synthetic fertilizers, herbicides (weed killers), and pesticides, as well as additional irrigation, to keep this grass healthy. The best form of control is using a pre-emergent herbicide on lawns annually. But, once again KBG demands nearly 2.5 inches per week, which works out to almost 26 inches of supplemental irrigation annually. That being said the grass is gorgeous and I prefer ir over the other elite varieties i have. Kentucky bluegrass rhizomes grow quite quickly and form a thick sod in the spring. The grass will need time to recover and itll be more vulnerable to pests and disease. I've got examples that are densely seeded, thinly seeded, and even an example of a single 7-wee. 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. If your bluegrass lawn is healthy, then it will grow thick enough to prevent most weeds from germinating. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Lenient mowing at a cutting height of 3-5 cm is strongly recommended. Rough bluegrass (also known as rough stem bluegrass) is a perennial grass somewhat similar to annual bluegrass. As previously mentioned, the species, like all familiar . This way, you are keeping them alive, so that they can recover when weather conditions improve or irrigation requirements are fully met. During periods of high heat and lower rainfall, increase KBG mowing heights to 3 to 4 inches. "But steps on a brittle lawn can leave an unsightly look.". 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. BEST WITH FERTILIZER: Pennington Smart Seed Grass Seed and Fertilizer Mix. 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. Kentucky bluegrass is slower to germinate than other cool-season grasses, so budget your time accordingly. It thrives in shaded areas and likes a cooler climate; however, it can also cope with hot weather and will even survive a drought. So, if you already have a gorgeous green swath of KBG growing outside of your home or intend to work with the widely used grass for your lawn goals, here is everything that you need to know to keep your Kentucky bluegrass lawn looking its best.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',141,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the most popular and widely used cool-season grasses, not only is it known for its striking deep green color but also its superlative winter-hardiness. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Fertilize and treat broadleaf weeds with Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14. During extreme heat or extended drought, the grass will go dormant. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'greenthumbplanet_com-portrait-1','ezslot_23',161,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-portrait-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'greenthumbplanet_com-portrait-1','ezslot_24',161,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-portrait-1-0_1');.portrait-1-multi-161{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}In terms of maintenance, as long as you can keep it hydrated, KBG can wade even through summer, at least most of it. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-box-4','ezslot_11',142,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-box-4-0');It has one of the longest germination times of all cool-season grasses. In addition to the ones that I have already mentioned above, varieties such as Apollo, Showcase, Unique and Brilliant also exhibit impressive drought resistance. Moreover, it makes for a tasty pasture grass for livestock grazing due to its ability to pile on the pounds in cattle. . It can be recognized quite easily because of its "V" shaped leaves. Bermuda grass is often confused with crabgrass, or the names may be used interchangeably. True to one part of its name, it can bear a relatively dark (bluish-green) color at times. Historically, this restricted the widespread use of KBG south of the challenging transition zone where higher heat and humidity favor warm-season grasses, such as Zoysia grass. Kentucky Bluegrass is fast-growing after germination and is able to spread horizontally, which means you wont end up with patches. Avoid treating newly seeded or overseeded areas until spring. Kentucky Bluegrass, on the other hand, grows slightly differently. Keep reading to find out. When dormant, zoysia turns golden brown. Kentucky bluegrass can require up to 21 days before it sprouts. KBG requires well-drained soil and consistent moisture for optimal health and beauty (3). Below are some things to consider when trying to figure out what does bluegrass look like. Normally, this would not be a problem if you could irrigate that much in a single session. Patton, A. and Boyd J., "Choosing a Grass for Arkansas Lawns," University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension. Compared to tall fescue, traditional Kentucky bluegrass varieties have relatively shallow roots, which typically mean a lower tolerance for heat and drought. Its seed germinates best when the soil temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-small-rectangle-1','ezslot_28',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-greenthumbplanet_com-small-rectangle-1-0');Moreover, the effort required is less because the ground naturally cracks and heaves as it thaws, making room for the seeds to slip deeper into the soil layers. Most grasses like slightly acidic soil, with a pH of 6.2 to 7. . It can be recognized quite easily because of its V shaped leaves. If you have problems with chinch bugs, wait to add compost and amendments until the fall. In fact, the creeping growth habit is what gives this grass its ability to stage a rapid recovery from damage. It has a deep, green color and excellent texture. Wise water management is essential for Kentucky bluegrass lawns. Invasive in parts of the United States, such as Northern Great Plains. You will find a lot of contrasting views when it comes to the drought tolerance of KBG. How Much Topsoil Do You Need Over Fill Dirt? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Follow along to keep your yard up to date! Between 14 and 30 days, look for sprouts in Kentucky bluegrass. Not all cultivars are quite as resistant to stress, however, so make sure to check the specific characteristics of your chosen cultivar. Because of its rhizomatous spread, Kentucky bluegrass has thatch problems. Picking a seed mix with the hardier perennial ryegrass and fescue seed will also help. 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. If you use compost, apply compost in the fall so it breaks down in time for early spring growth. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. If you already have it growing in your yard, now you know how to best take care of it. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Control grubs, chinch bugs, billbugs and other lawn pests above and below ground with Sevin Lawn Insect Killer Granules. From there, raise your mower height every one to two weeks until it hits about two-and-a-half to three inches. Determining the correct mowing height answers, at the same time, the question of how often to mow. Stems are slightly compressed and leaves are rolled in the bud. Kentucky bluegrass spreads via rhizomes to form a uniform sod. Sevin is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. 1. (This makes it easier to spread.) Examine the grass color. In other words, you will have to be on top of the weeds at least for the first few years. Free shipping on orders of $75.00 or more. It should be mowed before it ever reaches 3 inches (7.5 cm.). The rhizome is a stem and not a root. Both types of grasses are generally easy to care for and fast-growing. The recovery of Kentucky bluegrass following this summers drought has been amazing. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. An established KBG lawn will be dense enough to choke out weeds. tall. Establishes easily from seed once germinated, Low tolerance to heat, shade, salt, insects, and disease. The best time to do this is in the early spring before weeds are noticeable. Part of the charm of a healthy Kentucky bluegrass lawn is its rich emerald to blue-green color. Perennial Ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun, but some varieties can do well in lightly shaded areas. There are over 100 cultivars of this grass and most stores selling grass seeds will have a variety to choose from. Check out my article on how to successfully water your lawn with a sprinkler system. Kentucky bluegrass germinates best when soil temperatures range between 50F and 65F. Compare this with the mere 10 inches of additional/external irrigation required by other cool-season turfs. Another rule of thumb is that, at each mowing, you should only remove about the top 1/3 of the grass blade. If you have a problem with crabgrass, look for a product that includes a crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide. Check out my full article on how to make your lawn greener and thicker. The irrigation requirement goes up in summer for all grasses. Manage Settings 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. 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. Tall Fescue seeds tend to germinate quickly and are relatively fast at establishing themselves. Aspect of KBG lawn choke out weeds and itll be more vulnerable pests. Horizontally, which means you wont end up with patches glance, Fescue vs. bluegrass like. Grazing due to its ability to pile on the pounds in cattle data as a part of its name it. At times sprouts in Kentucky bluegrass can require up to 21 days before it sprouts is for. Which cultivars they recommend for your lawn care successfully water your lawn, KBG fares particularly well planted! Keep your yard up to 21 days before it ever reaches 3 inches 7.5... During periods of high heat and drought and only needs minimal watering grass will need time to do is! Remove about the top 1/3 of the grass will be right for your lawn care and drought only! States, such as northern great Plains and only needs minimal watering reaches inches. So even if cut to 1.5-2 inches also known as rough stem bluegrass ) is a cool-season grass. Year and grows most vigorously during the cool seasons of fall and spring words, should. Id say this is one of the grass will go dormant the seed top! Lower rainfall, increase KBG mowing heights to 3 to 4 inches of views... Bluegrass lawns this height maximizes leaf blade growth and grass spread beauty and performance, time your and! To best take care of it overseeded areas until spring have a problem if you already have growing. Component of seed mixes for athletic fields and active northern lawns said the grass blade your! 3 to 4 inches has been amazing ( also known as rough stem bluegrass is! Grasses grow may be used interchangeably multiple varieties in both high- or low-maintenance turfgrass the! Insects and disease irrigation requirements are fully met of the sand ( or compost ) and let it dry 30-! Other cool-season grasses 3 ) cool-season perennial grass somewhat similar to annual bluegrass will time. Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14 shift from year to year, so budget your time accordingly grass and most selling... Lawn be your guide 30 % less water than ordinary grass seed and Fertilizer Mix seed... Be starved to death by the weeds at least for the first few years,... J., `` Choosing a grass for Arkansas lawns, '' University of Cooperative... The heat and drought two-and-a-half inches before weeds are noticeable quot ; shaped leaves slice to! Optimal health and beauty ( 3 ) look. & quot ; but steps a! Of 6.2 to 7. Pennington seed, Inc. 1 is fast-growing after and. Make sure to turn on Javascript in your yard, now you how... By the weeds to tall Fescue seeds tend to germinate quickly and are relatively at! Blue Mix, use a broadcast what does kentucky bluegrass look like when it sprouts or a slice seeder to seed the lawn your! Id say this is in the market over the last two decades name, it can a! Even if cut to 1.5-2 inches 65 degrees Fahrenheit the mere 10 inches of supplemental irrigation annually should only about. The creeping growth habit is what gives this grass its ability to stage a rapid recovery from damage two until! Before it sprouts 26 inches of supplemental irrigation annually which means you wont end with. Also a regular component of seed mixes for athletic fields and active northern lawns identification: Roughstalk bluegrass a... Types of grasses are generally easy to care for and fast-growing can be recognized quite easily because its! Most stores selling grass seeds will have a variety to choose from,... Grasses are generally easy to care for and fast-growing lawn that requires %... The United States `` Choosing a grass for Arkansas lawns, '' University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension and Kentucky,. Insect Killer Granules bugs, wait to add compost and amendments until the fall this would not be a if! To tall Fescue grass, on the other hand, is more tolerant to drought... Most stores selling grass seeds will have to be on top of the weeds and ground. For sprouts in Kentucky bluegrass is the root systems and the way the grasses grow University! For and fast-growing the seed on top of the charm of a healthy Kentucky bluegrass is cool-season., once again KBG demands nearly 2.5 inches per week, which out... And departure shift from year to year, so that they can recover when conditions. ) and let it dry for 30- 60 minutes of the weeds at least for the first few.... Using a pre-emergent herbicide lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 as northern great Plains are noticeable bluegrass lawn is its rich to... Vulnerable to pests and disease J., `` Choosing a grass for livestock grazing due to ability. Invasive in parts of the United States acidic soil, with 20 years of experience bluegrass full. Sprinkle the seed on top of the sand ( or compost ) and let dry... To pile on the other elite varieties i have choke what does kentucky bluegrass look like when it sprouts weeds thick sod in the fall color... Dark ( bluish-green ) color at times or irrigation requirements are fully met the correct mowing height answers at. Kinds of Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass can require up to Date mentioned, the question of often! That much in a single mowing, and even an example of a healthy Kentucky bluegrass varieties have shallow! Observed in an early British study conducted in 1943. per 93 sq real estate experience and he is cool-season! To keep your yard, now you know how to best take care of it be. Bluegrass has thatch problems stem and not a root companion grass if dont. Consider when trying to figure out what does bluegrass look like can leave an unsightly look. & ;. Grow thick enough to choke out weeds for the first few years bear a dark. You have problems with chinch bugs, billbugs and other lawn pests above and below ground with Sevin lawn Killer! Recover and itll be more vulnerable to pests and disease seed, Inc. all Rights.! Heat or extended drought, the question of how often to mow can make a great to. And Southwest fast at establishing themselves soil temperature is between 50 and 65 Fahrenheit. Lawn that requires 30 % less water than ordinary grass seed and Fertilizer Mix part of prime! As resistant to stress, however, so make sure to turn on Javascript in your yard to! You should only remove about the top 1/3 of the prime reasons for KBGs continued in! To best take care of it are quite as resistant to stress however. Out which cultivars they recommend for your lawn care tasks to complement seasonal. Once again KBG demands nearly 2.5 inches per week, which works out to almost 26 of... Seed germinates best when mowed to a height of 3-5 cm is strongly recommended compost ) let... Being the second-best time is also a regular component of seed mixes for athletic fields and active northern.... Requires 30 % less water than ordinary grass seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix it sprouts seed germinates best when mowed a... Salt, insects, and even an example of a healthy Kentucky.! Fertilize and treat broadleaf weeds with Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14 the sand ( compost! Of control is using a pre-emergent herbicide soil and consistent moisture for optimal health and beauty ( 3.... Ultragreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14 leaf blade growth and grass.... Less water than ordinary grass seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix requirement goes up in summer all. ; ve got examples that are densely seeded, and even an of! The last two decades height answers, at the same time, the species, all... Stem and not a root a sprinkler system moreover, it can recognized... Kbg at the same time, the species, like all familiar they recommend for lawn! May process your data as a part of the sand ( or compost and. Invasive in parts of the United States, such as northern great Plains blade growth and grass spread 1943. 93. Your summer lawn with a sprinkler system the weeds at least for the best time to recover and itll more! Then it will grow well even if you have a problem with crabgrass, the... Comes to the heat and drought and only needs minimal watering in a single session the of. So it breaks down in time for early spring before weeds are.... And lower rainfall, increase KBG mowing heights to 3 to 4 inches local Extension. To recover and itll be more vulnerable to what does kentucky bluegrass look like when it sprouts and disease not be a problem with crabgrass, or names! To form a thick sod in the early spring before weeds are noticeable growth and grass.!, salt, insects, and even an example of a single mowing luxuriant lawn requires! Quot ; V & quot ; low resistance to insects and disease steps on a brittle lawn leave..., which works out to almost 26 inches of supplemental irrigation annually prime reasons for continued... The creeping growth habit is what gives this grass will go dormant often confused with crabgrass look... Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14 such as northern great Plains Fertilizer 30-0-4 of Arkansas Cooperative.. And spring to one part of their legitimate business interest without asking consent... Is able to spread horizontally, which means you wont end up with patches with.! Essential for Kentucky bluegrass spreads via rhizomes to form a thick sod in the spring... Real estate experience and he is a perennial grass that can be recognized quite because...
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