What's the best grass to grow in Arkansas?
Bermudagrass. Bermudagrass is probably the most commonly used turf grass that you'll find in Arkansas, due to its great adaptability and hardy nature. Its best attributes involve its amazing heat and drought tolerance, along with its ability to withstand heavy use and fast regrowth ability.
Where does Kentucky bluegrass grow best?
Kentucky bluegrass germinates best when soil temperatures range between 50°F and 65°F. That typically corresponds to daytime air temperatures of 60°F to 75°F.
What states does Kentucky bluegrass grow in?
In the southern U.S., Kentucky bluegrass is limited to the transition zone from North Carolina, through much of Tennessee, northern Arkansas to the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma. In the western states, Kentucky bluegrass is grown with irrigation.
How cold can Kentucky bluegrass tolerate?
When temperatures reach 90°F in the surface inch of soil, Kentucky bluegrass root growth is greatly reduced. Roots of cool-season grasses can grow at soil temperatures below 50°F, but growth slows dramatically as temperatures approach freezing (32°F).
Does Kentucky bluegrass stay green all year?
During winter months few new leaves are produced on Kentucky bluegrass in northern climates. In the transition zone, new leaves and shoots are produced year round. Leaf blades of Kentucky bluegrass remain green for 10 - 12 days during the growing season and the typical shoot has 3 - 4 green leaves at any one time.
Will Kentucky bluegrass choke out weeds?
It can't choke out weeds if the weeds are growing, but as a KBG lawn gets thicker and thicker, it makes it much harder for weeds and weed seeds to get a foothold.
How far south will Kentucky bluegrass grow?
Although these hybrids can grow as far south as the Carolinas, they still cannot handle the Florida heat. Kentucky Bluegrass hybrids, such as SPF-30 and Thermal Blue are more drought- and heat-tolerant than other varieties, but still do not perform well in Florida.
What temperature does Kentucky bluegrass germinate?
59-86Optimum Temperatures for Seed GerminationTurfgrass SpeciesOptimum temperatures for seed germination*Creeping bentgrass59-86Annual bluegrass68-86Kentucky bluegrass59-8610 more rows
How long does it take for Kentucky bluegrass to spread?
Kentucky Bluegrass: Slow to Seed, Quick to Spread In comparison, many varieties of Fescue and Ryegrass begin to sprout within a week. Kentucky Bluegrass seed sprouts in 14 days. Fescue and Ryegrass typically sprout in 5–10 days. Once sprouted, Kentucky Bluegrass spreads to fill a lawn much faster than other grasses.
Does Kentucky bluegrass turn brown in winter?
Even grass that is supposed to stay green year round can have a brown day. Cool season grasses such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass can turn brown when the temperature gets too high or when it's under drought stress. Again, this browning is a self-defense mechanism.
Is Kentucky bluegrass hard to grow?
The best part about Kentucky bluegrass cultivars is that they're easy to plant, grow, and manage. If you follow the specific planting, mowing, and fertilizing guidelines for Kentucky bluegrass, you're sure to have a thriving, attractive lawn.
Does Kentucky bluegrass go dormant?
Kentucky bluegrass lawns survive extended periods of drought by turning brown and going dormant. While the foliage is dead, the turfgrass crowns and roots remain alive. Most healthy lawns can survive in a dormant state for four to six weeks without rainfall or irrigation.
Where does Kentucky bluegrass grow?
Kentucky Bluegrass. Kentucky Bluegrass grows in northern Arkansas. It is a high-maintenance grass that doesn't tolerate dry conditions well, but it is an excellent choice to withstand winter conditions, according to the agriculture department of the University of Arkansas.
What is the best grass to grow in Arkansas?
Bermuda grass grows throughout Arkansas because of its tolerance of winter and its excellent tolerance of heat and drought. The maintenance level for Bermuda grass is moderately high and it doesn't tolerate shade. Bermuda grass is a medium to dark green color with a medium fine texture to the blades. Mowing height for this grass is low, only ½ inch to 2 inches although the tolerance to wear and regrowth is considered excellent by the University of Arkansas Agriculture Department. Plant this grass by seed, sod, plug or sprig and expect a fast-growing lawn.
What is Bermuda grass?
Bermuda grass is a medium to dark green color with a medium fine texture to the blades. Mowing height for this grass is low, only ½ inch to 2 inches although the tolerance to wear and regrowth is considered excellent by the University of Arkansas Agriculture Department.
How tall is a lawn in Arkansas?
Optimal mowing height is 1½ inches to 2 inches, and it has a poor tolerance for traffic and wear. Arkansas is like other states in the lower portion of the United States with climates ranging from colder winters up north, or hotter conditions to the south.
Where does tall fescue grow?
Tall fescue. Tall fescue grows in central and northern Arkansas, although it grows best in the north. This grass type is popular because of its ability to withstand shade and cold temperatures. Tall Fescue can exist well in all types of weather, shade and dryness. Look for coarse, medium to dark green blades of grass.
Is grass easy to maintain?
Because of this, different varieties of grass types are grown in different parts of the state. Some grasses are easy to maintain, but others are more difficult. There are two grasses that can grow anywhere in the state and are excellent choices for landscaping.
Is Arkansas a grass state?
Because of this, different varieties of grass types are grown in different parts of the state. Some grasses are easy to maintain, but others are more difficult. There are two grasses that can grow anywhere in the state and are excellent choices for landscaping.
Where is Kentucky bluegrass native to?
Kentucky bluegrass is native to practically all of Europe, northern Asia and the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. Although the species is spread over all of the cool, humid parts of the U.S., it is not native to North America.
How tall does Kentucky bluegrass grow?
Description. Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis) grows 18 to 24 inches tall and is readily identified by its boat-shaped leaf tip. It spreads by rhizomes and tillers and forms a dense sod. New shoots (rhizomes and tillers) are produced primarily in the spring and late summer.
How much water does bluegrass need?
Compared to the warm season grasses, Kentucky bluegrass has a high water requirement. As much as 2 inches of water per week are needed to keep bluegrass green and growing during summer months in the transition zone. Ideally this amount of water would be applied in one day to wet the entire rootzone of the turf.
How much bluegrass should I plant per sq ft?
Where bluegrass is established from seed, plant 2 to 3 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn. Lower seeding rates require much longer to develop a cover, particularly where seed are broadcast over the soil surface. Where seed are drilled into the top inch of soil, lower seeding rates can be used.
How long does it take for bluegrass to grow?
The length of time between the appearance of new leaves on Kentucky bluegrass ranges from about 10 days in the spring to 22 days in the summer and fall.
Where do bluegrass rhizomes grow?
In Kentucky bluegrass, some shoots turn downward and develop into rhizomes beneath the soil. These rhizomes appear from the axils of leaves, the base of which may be above or just below the surface of the soil. Most rhizomes, however, develop beneath the soil surface as branch shoots of other rhizomes.
How much nitrogen is needed for Kentucky bluegrass?
The grass will respond to 5 to 6 pounds of nitrogen the first year; whereas, 2 to 3 pounds are adequate for maintenance after the first year.
What is Kentucky bluegrass?
For many lawn owners in the Northern half of the United States, Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis) is synonymous with the ideal lawn, and for good reason. When given its preferred growing conditions and proper care, this grass produces a lush, dense, and durable lawn that lives up to its historic ...
What color is bluegrass in Kentucky?
Part of the charm of a healthy Kentucky bluegrass lawn is its rich emerald to blue-green color. Add to that its medium to fine texture and a Kentucky bluegrass lawn is both beautiful to look at and comfortable for bare feet and outdoor activities.
How high should I mowing my bluegrass lawn in Kentucky?
During periods of high heat and lower rainfall, recommended KBG mowing heights increase to 3 to 4 inches (1). Kentucky bluegrass lawns typically require more fertilizer than tall fescue and other grasses. In alkaline soils, blades can lose their rich green color due to pH-induced iron deficiency.
What are the characteristics of Kentucky bluegrass?
Characteristics and Traits of Kentucky Bluegrass. Compared to tall fescue, traditional Kentucky bluegrass varieties have relatively shallow roots, which typically lead to l ower tolerances for heat and drought (3). Historically, this has restricted the widespread use of KBG south of the climatically challenging ‘transition zone’, ...
Where did bluegrass originate?
While the state of Kentucky may be known as the “Bluegrass State,” Kentucky bluegrass did not actually originate there. Like many common turf grasses in the United States, this widely used grass is native to Europe and northern Asia (1). Its first use in the U.S. was as a pasture grass in locations such as Kentucky, ...
Does KBG grow in shade?
Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun, but some varieties can do well in lightly shaded areas.
Does bluegrass grow back?
This also gives them excellent winter hardiness. When properly watered during its growing seasons, bluegrass will grow back and fill-in after freezing, drought and periods of high-traffic.
Mowing
Kentucky bluegrass tolerates being mowed as short as 2 to 2.5 inches, although it still benefits from being kept longer ( 3 inches in spring and fall, 4 inches in summer ). In the spring, you can start mowing as soon as the grass grows again.
Weeding
If your bluegrass lawn is healthy, then it will grow thick enough to prevent most weeds from germinating. When weeds do sneak through, hand pull weeds. This manual effort is still the most effective method for many weeds.
Fertilising
Bluegrass requires more nitrogen than grasses like perennial ryegrass and fescues, but you can still use natural methods. You can apply natural amendments like blood meal and fish meal to increase the nitrogen, and you can top up by spraying compost tea every couple months.
Watering
Bluegrass requires at least 1 inch of water per week (whether from irrigation or rain) in the spring and fall, while in the summer it needs at least 2 inches or more to keep from going dormant. If your lawn goes dormant, water it only a couple inches per month, and it’ll bounce back when temperatures cool.
Aerating
Bluegrass likes well-drained soil, so if you notice your bluegrass struggling, check for compaction. Core aerate before overseeding to relieve compaction. When seeding, you can either core aerate or rototill.
Dethatching
Because of its rhizomatous spread, Kentucky bluegrass has thatch problems. If thatch builds up more than a 1/2 inch, then you’ll need to dethatch. For light cases of thatch (under 1 inch), you can remove a short enough thatch with a rake.
Where does Kentucky bluegrass grow best?
Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season grass for climates with mild summers and cold winters. It prefers a well-draining clay-loam soil that is slightly acidic. It also requires a lot of water and full sun, so it grows best in places with abundant rainfall and sunny days.
How to grow Kentucky bluegrass?
To establish Kentucky bluegrass seeds, prepare a firm, smooth seedbed and buy high-quality seed. Kentucky bluegrass likes well-drained soil. If you do have disturbed areas, use soil amendments to fortify the seedbed. Once you aerate and seed, cover with soil no deeper than one-fourth to one-half of an inch.
What is the best soil pH for Kentucky bluegrass?
The optimal soil pH for Kentucky bluegrass cultivation is 6.0 to 7.0. Traditional Kentucky bluegrass thrives in full sun, but it does perform moderately well in partially shaded areas. Sprouted blades of Kentucky bluegrass are a lush, dark emerald green that has an almost blue hue to it. The fine texture of Kentucky bluegrass makes it a joy ...
What is the best grass for lawns?
Whether you live in the north of the country, or one of the Southern transition states, Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most common turfgrass for lawns. It’s the ideal cool-season grass for erosion control, it displays a hardy profile against drier summer climates, and its long, bluish-green hue makes it the perfect choice for beautification. ...
How much nitrogen should I use for Kentucky bluegrass?
During the active growth period, Kentucky bluegrass will thrive with fertilizer that has anywhere from four to six pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Apply organic matter such as rotted manure or compost tilled to eight to ten inches to improve soil structure and fertility.
How long does it take for grass to germinate?
Germination time takes anywhere between 21 to 28 days. Once blades of grass appear and begin growing in the spring, you want to water one to two-and-a-half inches weekly.
How deep should I plant fescue?
Plant at a depth of one-fourth to half-an-inch. Seed at a rate of three pounds per every 1,000 square feet and half that if you’re overseeding. Plan to fertilize in the months of September, November, and May (this variety typically requires more fertilizer than tall fescue types)
Does Kentucky bluegrass need moisture?
This added height will protect the root system from the sun. In case you experience a hot or dry summer, this will also help retain moisture . That’s useful for Kentucky bluegrass, which does have a tendency to turn brown and patchy in arid heat.
Is Kentucky bluegrass good for lawns?
Kentucky bluegrass is also great when mixed with other grass seeds. It’s a popular choice in Arkansas because its fine texture produces a lush lawn. By itself, Kentucky bluegrass will not tolerate a lot of foot traffic, but when used to overseed lawns, it holds up well. It also retains its beautiful green color for most of the year.
Is fescue grass good for winter?
A common cool-season grass, fescue, loves cool, humid regions. It’s good to mix with warm season grass types since it will add a touch of green to your lawn in the winter. It’s also resistant to drought, disease, and foot traffic. Fescue will turn pale during the heat of the summer, so it shouldn’t be used as a base.
Is Bermuda grass good for a new lawn?
Bermuda grass is perfect for quickly establishing new lawns, but this variety can become a nuisance when it crowds out your other grass types. Bermuda grass requires full sun. monthly fertilization, frequent irrigation, and frequent mowing.
What is Bermuda grass in Arkansas?
Bermudagrass is the most commonly used turfgrass in Arkansas. It is adapted to the entire state and will tolerate a wide pH range (Figure 1). It requires full sun (6 hours per day) and frequent mowing (twice weekly during periods of rapid growth) if adequately fertilized. Bermudagrass is very aggressive and readily invades sidewalks, borders, shrub and flower beds with aboveground and belowground runners. Common (Cynodon dactylon) and hybrid bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon x. C. transvaalensis) are available as sod in Arkansas. The acreage of common bermudagrass is shrinking as more growers convert their production to hybrid bermudagrasses or improved cultivars of common bermudagrass. The most widely grown hybrid bermudagrasses in the state are ‘Tifgreen’ and ‘Tifway’; however, many improved cultivars of common bermudagrass are also available. Compared with common bermudagrass, these improved cultivars have more disease resistance, greater turf density, better weed resistance, fewer seedheads, finer and softer texture and more favorable color. Spring dead spot is the most problematic disease for bermudagrass lawns in Arkansas. For rankings and management information on spring dead spot, see FSA7551, Bermudagrass Spring Dead Spot.
What is the pH of turfgrass?
Soil pH is a measure of the soil acidity. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Values less than 7.0 indicate acid conditions, while readings over 7.0 indicate alkaline conditions. Turf-grass selection may be affected by soil pH. If a soil test (available at no charge through your county Extension office) indicates soil pH is 5.0, centipede would be a better choice than St. Augustine in south Arkansas. The numbers in Table 1 indicate the ideal pH range for each turfgrass species. Ideally, the soil should be maintained at a value in the middle of the range. Nutrients essential to plant growth are most available between pH 5.5 and 6.5. Lime may be used to reduce soil acidity.
What color is zoysia grass?
Turfgrasses vary from pale apple green to very deep blue-green. Shade of green also depends on the level of fertilization. Turfgrass receiving heavy nitrogen fertilization will be dark green where unfertilized turf will be pale or yellow green. Zoysiagrass and centipedegrass may be maintained with little or no fertilizer if a pale green color is acceptable. Over-fertilization of zoysiagrass often results in unacceptable thatch buildup and may cause the loss of centipedegrass. Applications of foliar iron may be used to enhance color without the growth stimulation associated with nitrogen.
What is the best way to keep turfgrass from growing?
Turfgrasses need plenty of light to become dense and vigorous. Shade from buildings and dense tree canopies may prevent turfgrass growth. Shrubs, ground cover and mulches are the best alternatives
Is Arkansas in the transition zone?
Arkansas lies in the transition zone. What this means is that summer in Arkansas is too hot for cool-season grasses to perform well and winters are often cold enough to injure or kill warm-season grasses. Unfortunately, maintaining lawn grasses in the transition zone is more difficult than in many other parts of the United States. Table 2 indicates relative winter hardiness of warm-season turfgrasses in Arkansas. Winters in Fayetteville are too cold for St. Augustinegrass and centipede-grass, and the summer heat and humidity in Texarkana make it difficult to grow tall fescue. Zoysiagrass and bermudagrass are grown in all parts of the state. We rarely have winter damage to zoysiagrass, but cold weather injury to bermudagrass is not unusual.
What is Kentucky bluegrass?
Called the Cadillac of lawn grasses, the ubiquitous Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) is synonymous with gorgeous and lush yards and turfs all across the northern United States. In fact, it is considered by many to be the humble pasture grass that triggered America’s obsession with lawns.
How many Kentucky bluegrass varieties are there?
Well over 100 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars have been introduced in the market over the last two decades. Of these, a mere 3 were pasture varieties while the rest were all meant for lawn application.
What is KBG grass?
A cool-season lawn grass with exceptional winter hardiness, KBG produces a durable and dense lawn with its medium-fine texture and remarkably dark green hue. Depending on where you grow it and who you ask, KBG is a medium to high maintenance grass. It has one of the longest germination times of all cool-season grasses.
Why is KBG grass always in need of a drink?
This grass is always in need of a drink because its shallow root system does a poor job of holding on to moisture. Plus, the root system is simply not equipped to dig deeper into the soil layers to access the stored moisture there.
How long does it take for KBG seeds to germinate?
It takes 14 to 21 days for the slow-starter KBG seeds to germinate. This means that it will be a good 3-4 weeks after planting before you see the green shade making an appearance. How fast the spread is from thereon will be based on the number of seeds broadcasted.
How much water does Kentucky Bluegrass need?
With Kentucky bluegrass, you would have to supply 1.5 to 2 inches of water even in normal weather conditions. The irrigation requirement goes up in summer for all grasses. But, once again KBG demands nearly 2.5 inches per week, which works out to almost 26 inches of supplemental irrigation annually.
What is the best grass for a cool season lawn?
Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the most popular and widely used cool-season grasses, not only is it known for its striking deep green color but also its superlative winter-hardiness. Find out if this grass will be right for your lawn and all you’ll need to do make it thrive.
