Kentucky Bluegrass — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Poa pratensis |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–28 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 10–18.3 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 60–120 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 2.5 |
| Mature height (cm) | 5.1–10.2 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 2.5 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 2–7 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Sow in fall or early spring in well-prepared, moderately fertile, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun to light shade; Kentucky bluegrass is the premier cool-season lawn grass of the northern United States — the standard against which other turf grasses are measured for fine texture, dense sod, deep-green color, and ability to repair itself through underground rhizomes (stolons). It produces a rich, blue-green, fine-textured carpet that performs best in cool (55–75°F) temperatures of spring and fall, going summer-dormant in heat and drought only to green up vigorously in autumn. The key advantage over other cool-season grasses is its rhizomatous spread — unlike bunch-forming tall fescue or ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass fills in bare spots and repairs foot-traffic damage through vegetative spread. Establishing a Kentucky bluegrass lawn is slower from seed than from sod, but the resulting turf is superior in long-term density and durability. It is commonly blended with perennial ryegrass (for fast establishment) and fine fescues (for shade tolerance) in premium lawn seed mixes.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0