Lawn Care and Landscape for Bluegrass

Where to Landscape Bluegrass

• Bluegrass varieties are cool-season turf types that are grown in the northern United States during the early fall to the late spring. Bluegrass cannot tolerate shady locations of poor draining soil. Landscape the grass only in areas that receive full sunlight. If bluegrass is planted in poor draining soil, it becomes at risk for developing fungal diseases such as root rot. Gardeners who plant their bluegrass in the shade will find that the grass exhibits thinning or bare areas.

Bluegrass Soil Temperatures

• Bluegrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass need soil temperatures around 60 degrees F for their roots to develop, according to Texas A&M University. You will see stunted growth if soil temperatures exceed 80 degrees F. Plant bluegrass after the heat of summer subsides. For yards that have dormant bluegrass, start a watering schedule in the early fall to encourage the grass to green up. Grass can easily go back into dormancy if your region experiences drought or dry spells.

Fertilizer

• Soil doesn't contain enough nutrients for bluegrass to thrive. Gardeners need to supplement the soil's nutrients with nitrogen. Newly planted bluegrass needs more nutrients than established yards. Give your bluegrass 5 to 6 lbs. of soluble nitrogen throughout the growing season. Established yards need 2 to 3 lbs. of soluble nitrogen throughout the year. Don't apply more than 1 lb. of nitrogen at one time to prevent burning up the grass or causing dehydration.

Mowing

• Bluegrass needs to be kept at a mowing height of 2 inches to keep from having a weak root system. Allow your grass to grow to at least 2 1/2 inches before mowing. Don't take off more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. Sharpen your mower's blades every year to keep from tearing the blades. Bluegrass with ripped or torn blades is more likely to succumb to a fungal disease.

Watering

• Bluegrass needs 2 inches of water each week during the summer, especially if it is planted in the transitional zone -- states such as Tennessee between the southern and the northern United States. Give your bluegrass 1 inch of water each week during the growing season. Gardeners should water their bluegrass in the morning. The water should soak into the first 6 inches of soil. You can tell if your lawn is draining if you dig a 6-inch hole to see if the soil is moist at the bottom. Avoid watering at night, because it encourages fungal diseases. You can allow your grass to go dormant in the summer if you have warm season grass planted. Revive the grass in the fall when temperatures begin to dip by watering every week.