BLUEGRASS BLEND CHARACTERISTICS

This cool-season grass has a dark green color and dense, beautiful appearance. Medium leaf texture with excellent leaf uniformity. Bluegrass blend forms a strong sod via rhizomes.

RECOMMENDED USAGE FOR BLUEGRASS BLEND

Widely adapted basic lawn grass of the cool, humid, semi-arid and temperate regions – recommended for residential and commercial lawns. Also, bluegrass blend sod is widely used on sports fields and play areas, parks, cemeteries, commercial lawns and roadsides.

TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE

Thrives in cool weather. Will tolerate very cold winters. Bluegrass/fescue blend sod undergoes stress during extremely hot weather but will maintain good color and appearance with proper care and watering.

DROUGHT RESISTANCE

Medium – can go into summer dormancy when irrigation is withheld. Upon return of moisture supply, will green up again. Some varieties of bluegrass blend have better tolerance to heat and drought.

SHADE ADAPTATION

While shade tolerance is fair to poor for bluegrass alone, our bluegrass blend sod thrives in sunny areas. It will moderately adapt to partial shade.

BLUEGRASS BLEND LAWN MAINTENANCE

Taking good care of your lawn often requires no more work overall than taking poor care of it. A lawn that is properly mowed, fertilized and watered has far fewer problems with weeds, diseases and insects. A well-kept lawn also remains dense and attractive, providing you much more enjoyment and environmental benefits.

WATER NEEDS

Moderate – apply 0.5 to 1 inch of water as a deep soaking every 5 to 7 days. This will encourage a deep healthy root system during dry or hot periods. Avoid frequent, shallow watering that results in shallow roots, permitting weed germination and growth.

MOWING AND THATCHING

Bluegrass blend’s optimum mowing height is 1.5 to 2 inches for a high quality lawn. Mow regularly with a sharp rotary or reel mower. Allow clippings from frequent mowing to remain on the lawn. Never remove more than 1/3 of the shoot growth at one mowing. Kentucky bluegrass may develop some thatch at higher nitrogen levels. Early fall is the prime time to dethatch.

SOIL AND FERTILIZATION NEEDS

Bluegrass blend performs best in fertile, non-acid reacting soil with good drainage. Fertilize twice a year in spring and fall. For best results, use a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. Apply 2.5 to 4 lbs. actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per year. For varieties requiring higher nitrogen, also apply fertilizer at 0.5 to I lb. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. every 4 to 6 weeks. During summer, reduce fertilizer rates by 50%. Water thoroughly after fertilization.

DISEASE, WEED, AND INSECT CONTROL

New varieties of bluegrass blend sod have improved resistance to diseases such as leafspot, stripe smut, powdery mildew, dollar spot, Typhula blight, summer patch and rusts. If broadleaf weeds need to be controlled with herbicide, the turf should be well established and in vigorous condition. Practically all insects that damage lawns can be controlled biologically or with insecticides. All information is based on average/normal conditions. Individual sites and situations may differ. Therefore, contact your local nursery or county Extension Office for more detailed information on specific maintenance questions.