How to Grow Creeping Bentgrass

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) is a cool-season grass. Introduced into the U.S. from Europe, the perennial grass is commonly used on Southern golf courses and putting greens and as a lawn grass in areas with milder, moister climates. It spreads through shallow-rooted stolons that cover exposed soil surface with a dense mat. It features thin creeping stems and narrow, blue-green leaves with smooth upper surfaces and ridged lower sides. The high-maintenance grass is considered invasive because it can choke out desirable grass varieties, including bluegrass.

Shovel
Soil pH testing kit
Sulfur or lime
Seed-starter fertilizer
Garden rake
Seed spreader
Sprinkler or drip irrigation system
Nitrogen fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Locate well-draining loam, sandy or clay-loam soil with full sun exposure. Loosen the soil to a depth of 4 inches. Test the pH level of the soil with a soil test kit or send a sample to your local county extension office to determine whether it falls between 5.5 and 6.5.
- 2
  Add sulfur or lime according to the instructions on the packet to adjust the current pH level as needed. Incorporate shovelfuls of seed-starter fertilizer into the soil to improve chances of germination. Rake the area well to level it.
- 3
  Pour 8 ounces of creeping bentgrass seed per 1,000 square feet in a handheld seed spreader and sprinkle it evenly over the prepared soil in one direction. Pour the same amount of seed in the spreader and walk in the opposite direction to provide complete coverage.
- 4
  Rake the seeds to cover them 1/4 inch in the soil, establishing good seed-to-soil contact.
- 5
  Irrigate the area lightly two to three times a day until seeds germinate, which usually occurs in 10 days to two weeks. Avoid heavy irrigation that makes the soil boggy and dislodges the seeds, but use a sprinkler system set to a fine mist or a drip irrigation system. Once seeds germinate, water the creeping bentgrass once every five to seven days, depending on the climate, to maintain its shallow root system.
- 6
  Feed creeping bentgrass 8 ounces of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet monthly between mid fall through early summer. Between midsummer and early fall, provide one-fourth pound nitrogen fertilizer, to account for a total of 5 to 6 pounds of nitrogen annually.

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