The grass is always greener on the other side, or so the saying goes. But all that can change, and you can have the greenest grass in the neighborhood by following the information in our guide to growing Kentucky bluegrass. Called KBG for short, this is already one of the most attractive turfgrasses, and it shines even brighter with proper planting and maintenance.
Soon, your neighbors will envy your thick, lush, emerald-green Kentucky bluegrass lawn, and the grass will be greener on your side of the fence!
In this article:
Kentucky Bluegrass at a Glance
The Basics Of Kentucky Bluegrass
Pros and Cons of Growing a Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn
Understanding Cool-Season Grasses
How Do You Establish Kentucky Bluegrass?
How to Care For An Established Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn
FAQ
Kentucky Bluegrass at a Glance
Classification: Cool-season grass
Spreads by: Rhizomes
Soil type: Fertile, well-draining
Soil pH: 6-7
Mowing height: 2 to 3 inches
Shade tolerance: Low to moderate
Drought resistance: Moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: Low to moderate, but recovers quickly
Maintenance needs: High
Potential for disease: Moderate to high
Insect pest tolerance: Moderate, but varies by cultivar
Other notes: Produces a dense lawn under ideal conditions; shade tolerance, drought resistance, etc. vary widely by cultivar; newer cultivars are generally hardier, more resistant to disease, etc.; mow taller in summer; typically mixed with other grasses in home lawns
The Basics Of Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass Blades Close Up
Photo Credit: Joshua Boman / Shutterstock / License
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is revered as a premier lawn grass across most of the United States. This thick, dense grass comes back year after year, giving you a gorgeous rich emerald to blue-green lawn that is soft and comfortable on bare feet.
Commonly known as KBG, it has the greatest cold tolerance of all the widely grown cool-season turfgrass species. Similar to other cool-season grasses grown in northern climates, growth slows during the summer months, and the grass may go dormant during extreme heat or extended drought. However, it quickly returns to its normal color with irrigation and the onset of cooler temperatures.
Kentucky bluegrass thrives in full sun yet still grows in partial shade, albeit not as thickly. It recovers quickly from foot traffic, and bare or damaged spots fill in quickly, but a shorter root system means it’s only moderately capable of staying green through a drought.
However, keeping your Kentucky bluegrass a beautiful deep, dark green color will take more lawn maintenance and patience than other cool-season lawns. You can’t forget to water, fertilize, and mow!
Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties
More than 200 varieties of KBG are available worldwide! Kentucky bluegrasses are grouped into three general categories:
Elite turf types
BVMG (‘Baron,’ ‘Victa,’ ‘Merit,’ & ‘Gnoma’) turf types
Common types
Classifications of the turf-type Kentucky bluegrasses (Categories I and II) include Aggressive, Bellevue, Compact, Compact America, Compact-Midnight, Julia, Mid-Atlantic, and Shamrock types.
For more information on the different classifications and varieties, the University of Tennessee Cooperative Extension has a great resource.
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