The beautiful texture and rich green hue of Kentucky bluegrass, a cool-season perennial, are praised. However, that color will fade quickly unless it is fertilized. Fertilizer supplements the soil with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which are necessary for grass to develop steadily.
When it comes to fertilizing, many people have no idea what kind of fertilizer to buy or how often to apply it to their plants. If you’ve ever wondered what the best fertilizer for your Perennial Kentucky Bluegrass is, this blog entry is here to clear up any doubts.
Does Kentucky Bluegrass Need Fertilizer?
When it comes to fertilization, Kentucky Bluegrass is a little different. To thrive, it requires a big amount of fertilizer, as it grows quickly. Due to its high sensitivity to fertilizer overuse, this plant must be treated with care while applying fertilizer. However, the annual nitrogen requirement for Kentucky Bluegrass is 4-6 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
Naturally, existing soil processes supply most of the nutrients your Bluegrass seed requires to its roots in a minute in minimal amounts. The three most critical nutrients that Kentucky Bluegrass needs are nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) in bigger levels than most soils can provide. The nutrients in lawn fertilizers are formulated to be available at higher concentrations than are found in most soils naturally.
As far as nutrients are concerned, nitrogen is the most important. For newly planted lawns, phosphorus is critical; yet, as the lawn matures, the role of phosphorus diminishes. Phosphorus and nitrogen are more frequently deficient than potassium. The stress tolerance of the lawn is improved by potassium supplementation. This is why fertilizing at the proper time of year is essential.
How Do you Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass?
Select a “starter” or “organic, slow-release” fertilizer for your new bluegrass seed lawn when planting. “weed and feed” fertilizers aren’t safe to use on newly seeded lawns since they contain weed-killing agents that can harm or kill seedlings.
Because the phosphorus and potassium in your fertilizer must be readily available to the seedlings, it is ideal to incorporate the fertilizer into the soil as one of the final stages before spreading your Bluegrass seed.
To accomplish this, sprinkle the fertilizer uniformly with a seed spreader. Then, either manually with a rake and shovel or mechanically with a tiller, integrate it into the topsoil. No more than 4″ of fertilizer should be worked into the soil.
You should re-fertilize your lawn about four to eight weeks after the bluegrass seeds have sprouted. The second application of starting fertilizer should be avoided. Initially, the increased phosphorus content of starter fertilizers is critical to the growth of your lawn, but once it has established itself, your lawn no longer needs such high levels of phosphorus.
Furthermore, phosphorus runoff is a cause of contamination to both the surface of the earth and the water underneath. To avoid this, use a more standard type of fertilizer or an organic, slow-release fertilizer like an 18-1-8 mix, which is more suited to an existing lawn.
Apply the fertilizer in two directions with your seed spreader. Make sure not to over-apply the fertilizer by following the recommended application rate on the packaging. Inspect the sidewalk and driveway for fertilizer grains that have strayed onto them. When you fertilize your grass, water it promptly to allow the nutrients to reach the roots of the plant.
When to Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass?
Timing is critical when it comes to fertilizer. The following routine will assist you in maintaining a consistent fertilizer content in your soil.
Late winter :
Late winter is the best time of year to fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass lawns since the soil temperature is consistently 50 degrees. Late February or early March is a good time to expect this.
Use an 18-0-4 fertilizer with a pre-emergence weed control that is high in nitrogen and low in phosphorus (unless you plan on reseeding in the spring). Ideally, nitrogen should not be released over a long period. One pound of nitrogen should be applied to every 1000 square feet of soil.
Early stages of the autumnal season:
In September, re-fertilize your Kentucky Bluegrass lawn with nitrogen. Switching to a fertilizer with a lower phosphorus content but a higher potassium content is a viable option. 12-4-14 or 12-0-12 would be great.
Use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and apply it at a rate of 1.5 pounds of real nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Applying a late-fall application of a specialized fertilizer to “winterize” your grass isn’t necessary. Spend less time and effort on it.
Winter:
During the mild Southern winters, it is tempting to fertilize a Kentucky Bluegrass lawn. But keep in mind that grassroots cannot absorb nutrients when the soil temperature is below 45°. However, soil temperatures rarely exceed the minimum level for root activity during a warm spell.
Additional feeding:
Summer is not the time to fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass lawns. But if your Kentucky Bluegrass lawn is light green or yellow, a mild fertilizer may help. Apply 5 lb real nitrogen per 1000 sq ft.
3 of The Best Fertilizer For Kentucky Bluegrass
There isn’t an excellent Kentucky Bluegrass fertilizer. At various stages of its lifespan, it requires a variety of nutrients. Too much nitrogen in the spring can encourage blade growth and weaken roots, while too little nitrogen in the fall can prevent your Bluegrass from reaching its full potential.
However, few top fertilizers have been prepared to satisfy the needs of Kentucky Bluegrass throughout the year and in all phases of growth. Maintaining a beautiful Bluegrass lawn is simple with these items.
Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food
- Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food feeds and strengthens grass to help...
- Fertilizer builds strong, deep roots and improves the lawn's ability...
- Apply lawn care product to a wet or dry lawn
- Grass fertilizer works on any grass type
- One 12.5 lb. bag of Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food covers 5,000 sq. ft.
Scotts Turf Builder Grass Food promotes a lush and healthy lawn. This lawn fertilizer contains Scotts All-In-One Particles for uniform greening and feeding. Use this to help your lawn grow strong roots and resist future problems. Compared to unfed grass, it boosts water and nutrient absorption and crowds out new weeds.
Plus points :
- Contains a high nitrogen content to promote the declining growth of Kentucky Bluegrass.
- When treated in the fall, it enables Kentucky Bluegrass to conserve energy in preparation for the spring green-up.
- Helps Kentucky Bluegrass fight disease and drought by providing potassium.
To minimize water loss due to evaporation, use natural sprinklers when watering your lawn after applying Scott fertilizer. Watering should be done between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. The particles ensure equal fertilizer application throughout the garden.
Don’t miss this excellent garden fertilizer!
Simple Lawn Solution Fertilizer
- Complete NPK Lawn Food: 16-4-8 is the perfect blend of key...
- Contains High Quality Feed Grade Ingredients: Nourish your lawn with...
- Easy To Use: Designed to be easily applied. This complete Nitrogen,...
- All Grass types: Including Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, Buffalo,...
- Produced In The United States: 16-4-8 is manufactured in the United...
16-4-8 Lawn Food Liquid Fertilizer is an all-in-one balanced lawn food liquid fertilizer. The NPK liquid nutrients are made from high-quality materials, resulting in a very pure and clean product. Also, the liquid formulation of the fertilizer rapidly releases nutrients and is absorbed by the grass blades and roots.
Positive factors:
- Simple to use.
- Quickly nourishes and greens turf.
- Effective on all grass species.
In addition to supplying nutrients for beautiful lawns, this comprehensive nitrogen, phosphate, and potash combination also promotes grass greening and growth. Seaweed and fish are also included in this lawn liquid food turf fertilizer.
So, why not check out this valuable product?
Pennington UltraGreen Starter Lawn Fertilizer – Best for New Lawns
- Starter fertilizer for new lawns with seed or sod, or overseeding...
- Builds strong, deep roots for thick, full grass & faster lawn...
- Helps all types of grass seed, sod, and plugs establish roots fast
- Quick greening
- Extended feeding for up to 3 months
If you’re establishing a new Kentucky Bluegrass lawn from turf or plugs, we recommend Pennington UltraGreen Starter Fertilizer. This mixture combines all of the necessary ingredients for new turf, promoting rapid rooted, rapid growth, and vibrant green color.
Highlights include:
- Balanced amount of nitrogen and phosphorus to aid in root development.
- Excellent disease resistance and a high tolerance for drought.
- 5% Iron promotes a deep, thick, lush lawn.
Plant this grass seed mix in early spring or early fall in parts of your lawn that receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day and see results in 8 to 21 days. An existing lawn can be overseeded with this 7-pound bag, and new grass can be seeded with it.
Explore this remarkable product if you have not already!
Best Fall Fertilizer For Kentucky Bluegrass
- Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed3 weed killer and lawn...
- Fall weed and feed kills over 50 listed lawn weeds, including clover,...
- Apply weed control plus grass fertilizer to a wet lawn when weeds are...
- Do not apply this lawn care product to St. Augustinegrass, Floratam,...
- One 42.87 lb. bag of Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed3...
In the fall, Kentucky Bluegrass needs an extra fertilizer application. Therefore, it’s important to apply a fall lawn fertilizer dose around the end of October or the beginning of November in addition to this one. Using a formula of 13-25-12, apply the fertilizer at this time. Even into early December, the phosphorus push will encourage root growth. By encouraging root growth before the winter sets in, you’ll have a healthier, more disease- and drought-resistant lawn next spring.
FAQs
What nutrients does Kentucky Bluegrass need?
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium are four vital elements that must be kept in the soil at all times. The first three nutrients are commonly found in mixed fertilizers, whereas Iron can be purchased separately.
Is Milorganite good for Kentucky Bluegrass?
Milorganite is an organic fertilizer that contains far less nitrogen but also contains iron, which helps maintain the grass green but does not promote lawn growth. It is classified as a fertilizer with a gradual rate of release.
