Soil Preparation for Growing Bluegrass

Bluegrass is a popular cool season turf that is commonly used in the northern United States and throughout the winter in some southern states. According to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass it is the only desirable bluegrass type that is not considered a major weed. For bluegrass to successfully establish in the yard, you must prepare the soil so that it can meet bluegrass' growing requirements. In addition, weeds, debris and rocks must be removed from the soil to allow for healthy bluegrass establishment.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Plastic
• Soil pH test
• Lime
• Sulfur
• Tiller
• Rake
• Herbicide
• Fertilizer
• Rotary drop spreader

Instructions

1. Dig a 6-inch hole in the ground and collect 1/2 of soil samples from the bottom of the hole. Pour the soil on a piece of plastic and remove any rocks of vegetative debris. Conduct a soil pH test on the soil sample according to its directions. Bluegrass needs to be grown in a soil pH range between 6.4 to 7.0. You will see discolored grass if the soil is too alkaline.

2. Spread lime on acidic soil or sulfur on alkaline soil. The amount of either soil amendment you apply to the lawn depends how far off your soil pH range is. Work the soil amendment into the first 6 inches of soil and water thoroughly. Conduct another soil pH test in three months after the amendments have altered the soil.

3. Water the lawn area for two weeks to encourage weed growth in the yard. Spray the yard with an herbicide that contains glyphosate to kill bluegrass' most common enemies, such as dandelions, clover and crabgrass. It is essential to remove these weeds, because they will compete with bluegrass for the soil's nutrients. Reapply the herbicide in 10 days.

4. Till the lawn area and break up any large dirt clumps in the first 6 inches of soil. Bluegrass has a shallow root system, so it is important to break up any soil that may prevent spreading. Grade the lawn area using a rake. Make a slight slope away from the home and toward the street. Bluegrass cannot tolerate growing in standing water.

5. Apply a starter fertilizer to the soil. Use a fertilizer with a 4-6-4 ratio. Pour half of the granular fertilizer into a rotary drop spreader. Apply the fertilizer horizontally over the yard. Place the other half of the fertilizer into the drop spreader and apply vertically. Water the lawn thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant 2 to 3 pounds of bluegrass seed for every 1,000 square feet in the fall or in the spring if your region experiences cool summers.

• Wait at least five weeks before applying a fertilizer high in nitrogen on your bluegrass seedlings or you could burn the grass.

References

• Texas A&M: Kentucky Bluegrass
• Sustane: Turfgrass Starter Fertilizer Experiment
• University of California: Annual Bluegrass Management