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KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS - It's Not Just A Style of Music
from:When I think of Kentucky Blue Grass, for some reason I think of Elvis Presley's song "Kentucky Rain". It's one of my favorite songs. Any way.......
Kentucky bluegrass is probably one the most famous titles given to a species of grass. In North America, it's known just about everywhere. Kentucky bluegrass did not originate in Kentucky or even in North America as some may think. This grass is native to most of Europe. It is also grown in northern parts of Asia, as well a in the mountainous regions of Morocco and Algeria in northwest Africa.
Kentucky bluegrass, has become quite popular and has become common in cooller more humid sections of the United States as well as in Canada. It came to this continent with colonists settling here from Europe. They brought the grass seed mixtures with them and planted the seeds that would be used throughout the northern climates of the U.S. and Canada. The Kentucky bluegrass species adapted to our climate and has thrived since.
One reason Kentucky bluegrass is so popular is because it is one of the most recognizable grasses around. If left unmowed, it can grow to about two feet in lenght. Kentucky bluegrass is also recognizable because of its boat shaped tips on the blades. The growth cycle of Kentucky bluegrass varies with the time of year. Its growth is triggered by the length of the days rather than the temperature. This is one reason Kentucky bluegrass is suitable for northern climates. The days up here are longer because of the angle of the sun and the temperatures are more moderate compared to southern climates.
If you wish to have a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, there are some things you should know about this species of lawn seed. Planting Kentucky bluegrass requires you to use approximately two to three pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet of land. Fortunately seeding for this type of lawn seed can be done at any time of the year. Kentucky bluegrass grows grows best if planted in the spring or fall in preparation for the next year.
I actually prefer to plant in the fall. This way, once the warm weather hits, the lawn is already poised to start its growth and you don't need to worry about subsequent adverse weather. Once planted, you should water your bluegrass a couple of times a day for the first two weeks. It may require more if it gets too hot too fast. You can cut back on the watering once the seeds start to produce visible sprouts and is well on its way to serving you with a beautiful lawn.
Kentucky bluegrass requires a lot of water in comparison to other grasses and specifically to warm season grasses. To stay healthy this lawn seed may require as much as two inches of water every week. This much water should be enought to keep your green lawn nice and bright throughout the summer.
By entertaining or otherwise enjoying your grass during daytime and watering in the evening the roots of the grass will grow deeper and much more hardier, and you won't have to worry about walking on wet grass, because it should have dried out by mid afternoon. In order to help the roots of yur lawn to grow deeper and hardier, water no less than an inch at a time on any single day of watering. Kentucky bluegrass may have a tendancy to go dormant during a drought.
If this happens, the lawn will need only about an inch of water every two or three weeks. That will be enough to keep the crowns of the grass alive so that when rainfall does come down, your lawn will recover much faster.
Kentucky bluegrass also requires a fairly large amount of Nitrogen during most of its growing season. During the first year of growth after planting, it will more than likely need five to six pounds of nitrogen for every 1000 square feet to grow properly. After that, you can probably cut back the amout to about two to three pounds without sacrificing the quality of the lawn. In order to avoid your lawn being burned and to maintain a higher level of convenience, you may want to purchase some sort of slow release nitrogen mixture. This slow release nitrogen can be applied more liberally and less frequently. This is an especially attractive option for beginners in lawn care maintenance.
Kentucky bluegrass is a pure bred lawn grass and as such it can become susceptible to pests more readily. Weed problems you may encounter with your bluegrass are dandelions, clover, crabgrass, and annual bluegrass. These can generally be controlled with pre-emerge herbicides. As far as insect infestations are concerned, bugs like billbugs, sod webworms, and white grubs all enjoy a good Kentucky bluegrass meal. Monitor the situation diligently and apply pesticides in a timely manner, and take care not to go overboard with it. Too much of a good thing can be no good at all. Try it on a small out of the way area first to experiment with.
Bluegrass may also succumb to disease. One preventave measure to circumvent this problem is to seed with a mixture of different seeds added to the bluegrass seed. You can also use varying strains of Kentucky bluegrass that have higher resistance levels to the different diseases. If the soil happens to be alkaline, and you did not have it tested in advance, your lawn could develop iron chlorosis. This can be determined if you notice any yellowing between the veins of the grass blades.
The term "Kentucky bluegrass" rolls off the tongue and has become a very popular name. It can be found all over the United States and Canada and can be recognized by its unique shape and bright vivid color. Native to Europe, parts of Asia and northwest Africa, Kentucky bluegrass tolerates cooller and more humid weather. It is not that difficult to plant and maintain as it is a popular and reputable brand. It does require more watering after planting, but the results will be worth your effort. When you do plant, plant the bluegrass seed in the correct density to ensure good cover and seed your lawn either in the spring or the fall to ensure a good root system.
By giving your newly seeded lawn a significant amount of sunlight, frequent water and food, as well as other cleaning and care techniques you, too, can have a beautiful Kentucky bluegrass lawn that you can be proud of.
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