Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass is a cool season grass that is one of the best known and most common grasses. Kentucky bluegrass produces a nice, thick lawn and will spread over time to fill in bare areas. It prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade as well. It has shallow root systems, so it does not perform well in drought or hot conditions. It can also be susceptible to weeds and diseases. To provide a more disease resistant, drought tolerant lawn, Kentucky Bluegrass is most often combined with other grass types, such as Perennial Rye Grass to form a “blend”.

Identifying Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass produces a dark, medium-textured lawn. The blades have a boat shaped tip, and the sides are parallel, which give the grass a stiff appearance. Kentucky Bluegrass produces a thick, dense turf.

Kentucky Bluegrass Planting and Maintenance

Mowing
Kentucky Bluegrass lawns should be mowed at 3 ½ inches during the growing season. If temperatures are high, 4 inches may be recommended. If possible, clippings should be mulched and left on the lawn. They will provide moisture for the lawn. However, if the clippings are long, you will want to bag them so they do not damage the lawn.

Watering
Kentucky Bluegrass needs frequent watering, approximately once every 1-3 days. However, Kentucky Bluegrass has low drought tolerance, so it will go into dormancy when the weather is hot and dry.

Planting
Kentucky Bluegrass can be planting using seed or sod. It can be used in overseeding applications or to create brand new lawn. If overseeding, 1-2lbs of seed per 1,000 square feet should be used. If creating a new lawn, or repairing a damaged lawn, amounts as high as 5-6lbs per 1,000 square feet are sometimes optimal.