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Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is one of the most beautiful lawn grasses.
But how should you select one punch in of cool-season grass over another?
Start by drawing up a list of pros and cons for your choices.
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Learn more here about Kentucky bluegrass, including pros and cons, care and maintenance, and seasonality.
Kentucky bluegrass is a perennial, cool-season lawn grass.
It is a true grass, being a member of the Poaceae family.
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It is one of the most common types of grass grown in lawns in North America.
As a cool-season grass, it grows most vigorously during the spring and fall.
Kentucky bluegrass spreads via rhizomes to form a uniform sod.
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This growth habit distinguishes it from bunch-forming grasses, such astall fescue(Festuca arundinacea).
This makes it a great choice for lawns where sports will be played.
Its seed germinates best when the soil temperature is between 50F and 65F.
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By September, the soil has had all summer to warm up to these levels.
Starting a lawn in September also gives you ample time to test andamend your soil.
Kentucky bluegrass is slower to germinate than other cool-season grasses, so budget your time accordingly.
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Some homeowners prefer to start a lawn bylaying sod.
It provides instant results, but laying sod costs more.
September is a great time to lay Kentucky bluegrass sod, with spring being the second-best time.
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In doing this, you exploit the strengths of each punch in of grass while offsetting their drawbacks.
Spring and Summer
Start fertilizing your Kentucky bluegrass in the spring.
Lawn pests include:
How often you gotta mow your Kentucky bluegrass depends on the amount of precipitation.
So, a good time to mow lawns is when the grass is about 3 2/3 inches high.
Once the leaves drop later in the fall, rake them off your lawn.Raking leavesis not just about aesthetics.
Is This the Right Grass for You?
The grass needs ongoing care for an immaculate lawn, including fertilizing, watering, and mowing.
With good care, Kentucky bluegrass spreads 6 to 12 inches per year.
In addition, it is an extremely resource-intensive grass and will out-compete trees and other landscaping for nutrients.
