How to Plant Kentucky Blue Grass

With over 100 varieties available, there is some form of Kentucky bluegrass available to meet almost any requirement. Varieties have been developed for high traffic areas, shady areas and sunny areas. Kentucky bluegrass is often combined with other grasses so they may complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. Like most plants, proper selection, soil preparation and maintenance are the keys to a successful lawn of Kentucky bluegrass.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Kentucky bluegrass seed
• Lawn aerator or garden tiller
• Rake and/or "drag"
• Broadcast seeder
• Lawn roller
• Water source

1. Select a variety of Kentucky bluegrass that is intended for your climate zone. Bluegrass is normally planted in the fall, but some varieties will do well if planted in winter or early spring.

2. Take a sample of your soil to the local Farm Cooperative or other testing facility. Determine what fertilizer or additives are required for optimum germination and growth of the variety of Kentucky bluegrass you have selected.

3. Kill existing growth from the area to be seeded. A commercially available herbicide may be applied seven to 10 days before seeding. Remove as much of the old growth as possible. Any living roots will compete with the seeds for water and nutrition.

4. Break up the ground to be seeded. A garden tiller will do the best job. If you don't have access to a tiller, the ground may be broken up with a power aerator or a shovel.

5. Smooth and level the prepared ground using a rake or a "drag". A drag is a heavy skid or beam that may be dragged around the lawn using a riding mower or ATV.

6. Broadcast the Kentucky bluegrass seeds using a handheld broadcaster or a pull-behind seeder. Spread the seed at a rate of approximately two pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn.

7. Work the seed into the soil. Go over the seeded area with a rake or go over the area again with a drag. Kentucky bluegrass seed must have firm contact with the ground for proper germination. It germinates best when buried up to 1/4 inch.

8. Roll or tamp the lawn after broadcasting the seeds to make sure they are making contact with the ground.

9. Water the lawn daily until the seeds germinate. Kentucky bluegrass normally takes 4 to 8 weeks to germinate. Once the seeds are growing well, reduce watering to your normal schedule.

10. Fertilize the lawn if necessary. Fertilizer and other nutrients may be applied while breaking up the ground or immediately after sowing the seeds. Once the grass is established, a regular fertilization schedule may be followed.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider a blend of bluegrasses or other grasses to ensure a thick lawn. If seed doesn't germinate well in one area, follow these steps to reseed that area. Keep the growing lawn mowed to cut down weeds that compete with the new grass.

References

• Kentucky Bluegrass Site Prepartion
• Kentucky Bluegrass Answers
• Bluegrass as a Forage

Resources

• America's Grass