| One species of grass that is native to Northern | | | | every two weeks or so. This amount of watering |
| Asia, the mountains of Algeria and Morocco, and | | | | will help keep the grass crowns alive so that when |
| most of Europe is Kentucky bluegrass. This kind | | | | it rains, the grass will liven up quicker. |
| of grass has become more popular and common | | | | Another thing that you need to know about |
| in some areas of the United States that are | | | | Kentucky bluegrass is that it requires a large |
| humid and cool. Kentucky bluegrass was | | | | amount of Nitrogen. During the first year of the |
| transplanted to the United States by the | | | | trees life, it will need five or six pounds for the |
| European colonists, who brought along mixtures of | | | | tree to grow strong and tall. You can probably cut |
| grass seed. This type of grass flourished in the | | | | back the amount of Nitrogen needed by half after |
| area of New England where it was introduced and | | | | the first year. It is best to use some kind of slow |
| now you can find it in the other areas of the | | | | release nitrogen source so that you do not burn |
| United States. | | | | the tree and so it is more convenient for you. |
| In the United States, Kentucky bluegrass is very | | | | You will find that it can be applied very liberally in |
| recognizable due to its boat shaped blade tips. The | | | | this way and not as frequently, which can save |
| normal growth of Kentucky blue grass is one and | | | | you time and effort. |
| one-half to two feet high, but it varies with the | | | | One of the down sides of Kentucky bluegrass is |
| season. The growth of this type of grass is | | | | that it is very susceptible to pests, both crawling |
| triggered by how long the days are, rather than | | | | and growing. You may also encounter a large |
| the temperature. | | | | weed problem with this type of grass, too. The |
| Before you begin planting Kentucky bluegrass, you | | | | weeds most common to Kentucky bluegrass |
| need to know that it will take about two to three | | | | include crabgrass, clover, and dandelions. These |
| pounds of seed for each 1,000 square feet of | | | | weeds are usually easily controlled with herbicides |
| land. You can sow this seed any time during the | | | | that work before the weeds appear. There are |
| year, but it will grow better if it is planted in the | | | | also several insects who love to nibble on |
| fall or spring. After you plant the seeds, you need | | | | Kentucky bluegrass. These include white grubs, |
| to water it a least twice daily for the first two | | | | billbugs, and sod webworms. You need to watch |
| weeks and if it is extremely warm, then you may | | | | for the insects becoming a problem and apply |
| need to water it three times a day until it takes | | | | pesticides when needed. You may also find that |
| root. Once you begin seeing sprouts, you can cut | | | | the Bluegrass is susceptible to disease. You can |
| back on the watering regimen. | | | | prevent disease by adding a strain of Bluegrass |
| When you compare Kentucky blue grass to other | | | | that has resistance to disease. If you have alkaline |
| types of grass, you will learn that Kentucky | | | | soil, then you can find that your Kentucky |
| bluegrass needs as much as two inches of water | | | | bluegrass develops iron chlorosis, which is seen by |
| each week to stay healthy. By watering the | | | | yellowing in the veins of the grass. |
| Kentucky bluegrass abundantly, you will find that | | | | You will find that Kentucky bluegrass is one of the |
| the grass will stay bright and green even during | | | | most popular and common types of grass in the |
| the summer. It is important, however, to water | | | | whole United States. It is easily recognizable and, |
| the grass no less than an inch to help make the | | | | if a few simple rules are followed, it is easy to |
| roots grow deeper and stronger. If you are | | | | plant and maintain. If you follow the tips above, |
| having a drought, and your grass does dormant, | | | | you will be enjoying your beautiful Kentucky |
| then it will only need about an inch of water | | | | bluegrass in no time. |