The most obvious pro of Kentucky Bluegrass is its beauty. While it can be used on its own for a lawn, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, it is often used to overseed southern lawns for a fast, temporary green color in the winter. Bluegrass lawns require more fertilizer than Tall Fescue. Perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass leaves are folded while in the bud. The tips of the leaf blades for both ryegrass species have a tapered shape. 0000000616 00000 n Most exciting is our new product lines that will be hitting the 2017 NTEP’s. Kentucky bluegrass is slightly slower to establish than many other cool-season grasses. 0000006241 00000 n Kentucky bluegrass is the most common cool season lawn grass. Bluegrass lawns require more fertilizer than Tall Fescue. Since this is a cool-weather grass, it will need regular watering in warmer weather. 0000000016 00000 n Observe the growth habit of the grasses. Perennial ryegrass: Kentucky bluegrass – Fine-textured – Bunch-type growth habit – Rapid seed germination and establishments – Resistant to cold and diseases than bluegrass – More drought-resistant then bluegrass – Optimal mowing height is 2-2 1/2″ inches **Kentucky bluegrass seedlings are extremely poor competitors during establishment. Novel Ag and Columbia River Seed have been working on this project and look forward to … Perennial ryegrass vs. Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass – this type of grass tends to put more of its energy into spreading rather than growing tall. Regular soil testing can help you maintain healthier pH balance and rich color with the help of mineral supplements, soil amendments, and quality lawn fertilizers. Annual ryegrass has a lime-green color, while the perennial variety is a richer green. Most cool-season sods are improved Kentucky bluegrass varieties because their spreading rhizomes intertwine to form a strong sod. xref Overall, it is more shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass but is less so than the fine fescues. trailer © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Both of these grasses do a great job making turfs for homes and for sports fields, but they survive best in different climates. Kentucky bluegrass has a boat-shaped leaf tip. For renovation or new establishment avoid mixes that have more than 20% perennial ryegrass as its seedlings can overwhelm the other species. Because of the germination disparity of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, turf managers often have a difficult time establishing a 50/50 mixture of the two. Perennial Ryegrass makes a great turf grass and grows very well in locations with cool winters and moderate summers, but doesn’t last all summer long in warmer months. Kentucky bluegrass – scientifically known as Poa pratensis – typically grows to a height of between 18-24 inches, with a canoe-shaped leaf tip. 0000008500 00000 n Perennial Ryegrass is the fastest germinating grass, making it great when you need a green lawn in a hurry, but then grows very slowly. Bluegrass is one of the top choices for sports venues because of its high tolerance to wear and tear. Therefore, it is widely considered to be the most important lawn grass in the United States. H�@���{� �f` ��2I�>�G��8O0�3. This is a great product that comes to you certified and thoroughly tested. Not that speedy germination is not a good trait to be known for, but perennial ryegrass is much more than a nurse grass. It is known as a bunch-type grass, growing in clusters, according to Ohio State University. Most cool-season sods are improved Kentucky bluegrass varieties because their spreading rhizomes intertwine to form a strong sod. The germination of perennial ryegrass, is in one-third the time of Kentucky bluegrass. 0000000850 00000 n When establishing a lawn Kentucky bluegrass needs to make up at least 80% or more of the mix when seeded with fast germinating grasses like perennial ryegrass to remain the predominant grass. The tall fescues germinate next in about 14 days and the Kentucky bluegrass in approximately 21 days. The perennial ryegrass germinates in five to seven days. How to Dig Up a Lawn to Replant Grass Seed, How to Kill Fescue Grass in a St. Augustine Lawn, Texas A & M University Extension: Ryegrass, Texas A & M University Extension: Kentucky Bluegrass, How to Revive Centipede & St. Augustine Grasses. Kentucky bluegrass is known as the ideal lawn grass, fescues are known for shade and low maintenance, and perennial ryegrass is typically known for speedy germination and not much more. This motivates homeowners to continue watering and caring for their lawns as the other two kinds of grass germinate and grow. Scrape aside some soil with a shovel to determine if the individual plants are connected by rhizomes. The recommended lime, phosphate and potash can be applied anytime, but 0000001054 00000 n The optimal soil pH for Kentucky bluegrass is 5.8 – 7.0. 0000005469 00000 n Ryegrass is often used to overseed warm season lawns and sports fields or mixed with Kentucky bluegrass in northern lawns. 0000004718 00000 n Kentucky bluegrass blades are boat-shaped at the end while perennial ryegrass blades are sharply tapered at the end. Tall Fescue/Kentucky Bluegrass/Perennial Ryegrass (Program for summer/fall play) A. J. Powell, Jr., Extension Turfgrass Specialist FEBRUARY - MARCH 1. Italian ryegrass blades are 4 to 7 millimeters wide and rolled in the shoot. 22 0 obj <> endobj 37 0 obj <>stream Generally, these mixtures will contain a large percentage of Kentucky bluegrass, with perennial ryegrass and strong creeping red fescue included. N/1000 sq. Moreover, perennial ryegrass offers a denser turf and is more resilient to wear than the annual variety. Also, the latter does not take too kindly to regular mowing. Doxon wrote the Yard and Garden column for the "Albuquerque Journal" and numerous magazine and newspaper articles and cooperative extension service guides. Only three forage-type Kentucky bluegrass varieties, 'Park', 'Troy', and 'Ginger', have been released in the past 45 years. The ligule is an appendage at the base of the leaf blade that is long and membranous (it looks like scotch tape) on annual bluegrass, but is short or absent on Kentucky bluegrass (photos). Kentucky bluegrass establishes easily from seed, but it germinates more slowly than some other cool-season grasses. Northeast lawns need grasses that prefer cool temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region. Kentucky bluegrass – scientifically known as Poa pratensis – typically grows to a height of between 18-24 inches, with a canoe-shaped leaf tip. Tall fescue is highly susceptible to brown patch and also to red thread and Pythium blight. Kentucky bluegrassflourishes throughout the Northeast and the entire northern ti… For example, perennial ryegrass seed is often mixed with Kentucky bluegrass (a cold-season grass that is very slow to germinate) seed to add strength, and allow the latter to repair itself, while the former is in its full growth mode. Fast-growing perennial ryegrass, for example, germinates in one-third the time of KBG. Most varieties of Kentucky bluegrass have been developed for use in lawns. 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