The Uses For Bluegrass

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Kentucky Bluegrass Seed is planted throughout the northeastern USA, into Canada, and the higher elevations within the transition zone of the USA.

Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the most versatile grasses grown in the USA, Canada and Europe. Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the easiest grass varieties to grow from seed establishing one of the densest sods that can be grown. These attributes make bluegrass a number one favorite for lawns, athletic fields, parks, golf fairways and all cool season coverage purposes. Bluegrass seeds are the most planted cool season grass for recreation and non-recreation alike.

The popularity of Kentucky Bluegrass for athletic fields stems from the thick coverage and resistance to damage from impact upon the turf. The color and performance level of bluegrass ranks number one for sports activities in the cool season growing regions. Golf fairways use diverse varieties of the bluegrass species in course management to add textural differences. These grassing situations will be higher maintenance than most residential or commercial sites.

Bluegrass is used extensively in pastures in Europe and the North American continent. Easily seeded and with good maintenance these pastures can last for several years. The forage quality is high and the quantity improves with managed grazing techniques. These pastures cover millions of acres in the US alone. A pasture may never need reseeding unless severe insect or disease damage is sustained. Bluegrass pastures can be overseeded with annual ryes for earlier forage and many are seeded with additional legumes such as white clover in irrigated pastures. When reseeding is needed that is the time to add new varieties with improved qualities to favor the conditions of the region.

Bluegrass lawns can be overseeded with rye grasses and fescues for extended usage. Annual rye grass is seeded into the existing lawn for the purpose of erosion control while the bluegrass develops from seed or early winter greening while the bluegrass returns. Creeping Red Fescue is sometimes planted with the bluegrass in the shadier areas where bluegrass isn't likely to do well in the cool season areas. Bluegrass prefers warmer ground temperatures in the northern latitudes and shade cuts out much of the heat needed to grow successfully.