What Is the Difference Between Blue & Bent Grass?

Bent Grass

• Bent grass is most often used for golf courses, parks and some lawns. This long-lived, perennial grass likes cool, humid climates. As the name implies, creeping bent grass spreads by sending out stolons that form a dense, shallow-rooted mat. Creeping bent grass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) spreads aggressively and tolerates extreme cold but not heat. Velvet bent grass (Agrostis canina L.) has the finest texture and needs plenty of moisture. Velvet needs cooler temperatures and higher levels of fertilizer than creeping bent grass. Colonial bent grass (Agrostis capillaris L.) has excellent color, and the newer varieties are hardier and more disease resistant. Colonial bent grass grows best in the northern tier of states and naturalizes well in the upper range of the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. Bent grass leaves are typically light yellowish-green to dark green or bluish-green and about 3 inches long. In winter, the grass usually turns dark blue to purple.

Bluegrass

• Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is a dense, perennial grass with an upright growing habit. The grass blades' tips are curved like the bow of a boat and a rich, bluish-green color. Leaves can grow up to 4 inches long. Bluegrass grows 1 to 3 feet tall and produces greenish flowers on slender stems. Bluegrass grows vigorously in spring and fall but slows down or stops when soil temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Growth then resumes in the fall, as soil temperatures drop.

Bent Grass Cultivation

• Bent grass thrives in fertile, well-drained, low-acid soils. Creeping bent grass is easier to grow than colonial. Fertilize monthly during the growing season, using up to 1.4 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Colonial bent grass needs up to 6 lb. of nitrogen annually, broken up into applications three weeks apart. Bent grasses tolerate extremely low mowing, but a height of 1 to 3 inches prevents excess thatch. Provide extra water during periods of drought. Creeping bent grass is generally more suited to the golf course than the home landscape, while velvet bent grass produces a top-quality but labor-intensive lawn. Bent grass requires constant, almost daily mowing and watering to look its best.

Bluegrass Cultivation

• Use 2 to 3 lb. of seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn to get the proper density of grass established in your yard. The best time to plant bluegrass is in the spring and fall, though you can generally plant seeds anytime. Water the seeded area lightly three times per day for two weeks, and cut back when the seedlings emerge. During the first year of growth, apply 5 to 6 lb. of nitrogen at the rate of 1 lb. per application per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Follow package directions. If your soil is alkaline, the grass may develop an iron deficiency and fade. Use an iron-rich foliar spray to restore the rich, blue-green color of the grass.