With its Origin being traced to Europe, Kentucky bluegrass has found its second home in the USA. The grass has attracted its liking due to its superior qualities. Initially grown as pasture for feeding livestock, this grass is now gracing home lawns and golf courses.
Kentucky lawns are more tolerant to the biting cold of the winter and thrive with little sunshine. It requires slightly acidic soils of pH 6.5 – 7.0; therefore, periodic soil tests are mandatory to maintain the optimum pH that promotes maximum Iron intake. Additionally, the grass is suitable for the northern and southern climates with excellent tolerance to stress.
It has a distinctive green-blue color and employs rhizomatous growth hence high-stress tolerance and ability to spread after germination. There is a price to pay, which is worth the hustle to enjoy all the qualifications above. One must be committed to the care schedule of this grass, which encompasses mowing, irrigation, and, most importantly, applying the best fertilizer for Kentucky bluegrass. Fortunately, this article elucidates on some of the care practices which include;
- The top five fertilizers for Kentucky bluegrass
- Kentucky bluegrass care package
- The optimal conditions for the growth of Kentucky bluegrass
The Top Five Fertilizers for Kentucky Bluegrass Grass
| Parameter | Simple Lawn Solution | Miracle-Gro | Medina | Scotts | Safer Brand |
| N-P2O5-K2O | 16-4-8 | 36-0-6 | 12-4-8 | 32-0-10 | 9-0-2 |
| Available sizes | 3 lbs | 5 lbs | 8.5 lbs | 42.18 lbs | 25 lbs |
| Naturality | Organic | Organic | Organic | Organic | Organic |
| Coverage (per lbs) | 3200 sq ft | 7200 sq ft | 12,000 sq ft | 10,000 sq ft | 6,250 sq ft |
| Frequency of use | Monthly | Every 4 – 6 weeks | Monthly | Every 6 – 8 weeks | Bimonthly |
Simple Lawn Solution – Best Liquid Fertilizer for Kentucky Bluegrass
This fertilizer is made from naturally available materials like seaweed and fish that quickly degrade to provide nutrients. It is provided as a liquid formulation in a 32-ounce bottle ready to spray with a lockable nozzle to connect your horse for efficient spraying. It is versatile and compatible with every grass type.
The simple lawn solution is made of high-quality feed grade ingredients that activate the soil microbes and consequently improve the soil structure. The fertilizer being of liquid formulation releases the nutrients fast and is absorbed through the grass blades and the roots. It give s the grass a green growth and also strengthens its root system for firm anchorage and mineral uptake. The setback is that it must be sprayed with sufficient watering of the lawn.
Pros
- Works for all grass types
- Contains high-grade natural ingredients
- Easy to use
- Nourishes and greens the turf in minimal time
Cons
- Can not be used in dry seasons or areas experiencing a scarcity of water
Miracle-Gro – Best Spring Fertilizer for Kentucky Bluegrass
Miracle-Gro is the quickest way to achieve that attractive green look on your lawn. It instantly feeds your garden with the required nutrients promoting fast absorption and response time to avail result in a short time. It encompasses chelated Iron in its formulation together with a plentiful supply of Nitrogen. These elements are responsible for the greening of the sod.
Since it requires mixing, it achieves a tandem effect of feeding the lawn while consequently watering it. It works its magic on all types of grasses without discrimination to provide nutrients through the leaves and roots covering an extensive area of 7,200 square feet per application. The result is always nothing short of a continuous soft carpet of green Kentucky grass.
Pros
- Feeds and waters the grass instantly
- Contains chelated minerals
- Thickens and greens
- An be applied manually by machinery
Cons
- Needs dilution before use
Medina – Best Ready-mix Fertilizer for Kentucky Bluegreen Grass
Medina’s liquid formulation is supplied in different packaging, with the most suitable and economical package being the 1-gallon bottle. It is the best fertilizer for maintaining a lawn on a budget giving your sod an expensive professional look with little financial input. The compost is industrially mixed hence ready for spraying with a water nozzle or other equipment.
It contains soil activators to enhance the soil’s structure and drainage by stimulating soil organisms, humate liquid humus to supply the macronutrients, and natural nutritional supplements for healthy speedy growth of the grass. This care product greens your lawn faster with its fast absorption and release mechanism.
Pros
- Fast greening
- Economical
- Suitable for all plants
- Stimulates soil microbes
Cons
- It must be applied with water
Scotts – Best Turf Builder for Kentucky Bluegrass in Southern States
This lawn food provides nutrients to hasten the growth of grass into a turf. It promotes the development of a healthy roots system that helps the plant recover from weather or human-related stress. The consistent application of this fertilizer has secondary benefits like increasing the water and nutrients absorptivity rate.
When watering your lawn after the application of Scott fertilizer, it is advisable to use natural sprinklers, and the watering be done between 6 am, and 10 am to minimize water loss due to evaporation. The particles ensure an even spread of the fertilizer hence distributing equally around the garden. Additionally, this feed protects against heat and drought and is friendly to humans and pets. This turf builder works well in the southern region.
Pros
- Applied to any grass type
- Enhances water and nutrients uptake
- Provide an even coverage
- Feeds and protects
Cons
- Particles may disintegrate to form dust
Safer Brand – Best Fall Fertilizer for Kentucky Grass
Safer Brand manufactures a family-friendly fertilizer. The lawn can be accessed and used immediately after the application. Its application promotes plant health through soil structure improvement, which facilitates the uptake of minerals by plants. The minerals are instrumental in ensuring the plants’ health, nourishment, and growth.
This fertilizer also acts as a good revitalizer for a dormant or stagnated growth of grass. The fertilizer upon application restores the lawn and hastens its recovery rate to revert it to its former glory quickly. Inspired by its name, Safer brands are environmentally friendly as it uses naturally derived materials. It works to repair thinning lawns and treats both the soil and the grass.
Pros
- Environmentally secure
- Activates soil microbes
- Restores damaged lawns in a short time
- Protects field from disease
Cons
- Susceptible to run off by rainwater or ever irrigating the field
Buyer’s Guide
What is the Kentucky bluegrass fertilizer schedule?
Fertilizing timing is of uttermost importance. You have to apply the right fertilizer at the right time for you to get the best results. Here is a summary of the Kentucky fertilizing schedule.
| Time | Fertilizer type | Condition |
| Late winter | High-Nitrogen, Low-phosphorus pre-emergent fertilizerMiracle-Gro 36-0-6 | Fertilize when the soil temperatures are above 50 degrees Celsius |
| Mid-Spring | Use well-balanced fertilizer Medina 12-4-8 | 1.5 pounds per 1000 sq ft |
| Summer | Only fertilize when the grass is light green or yellow | Use 5 pounds per 1000 sq ft |
| Early Fall | Use a high-potassium and a low-phosphorus fertilizer Scotts 32-0-10 | It should have a slow-release form of nitrogen |
| Winter | No fertilization | Soil temperature is too low to allow absorption of nutrients by the roots |
How to water and fertilize Kentucky bluegrass seed?
Kentucky grass requires sufficient watering to improve the penetration of the roots and spread of the lawn. Watering is advised to be done in the morning when the evaporation rates are low and the absorptivity rate high—as for fertilization, knowing the correct type of fertilizer at the right time will be immensely beneficial. Refer to the table above.
What is the Best Fertilizer for Kentucky bluegrass?
Consider using a high Nitrogen content fertilizer like Scotts just after the plants germinate. It is advisable to incorporate it with a pre-emergent compost to help rid the weeds. At around two months of age, employ the Simple Solution food lawn to provide the necessary nutrients for the development of a green soft continuous turf.
What is the Best Liquid Fertilizer for Kentucky Bluegrass?
Simple Lawn Solutions tops the list here. It is easy to use and requires no mixing or dilution. Furthermore, it is readability absorbed through various channels, ensuring that the grass gets the nutrients immediately after application and faster response time.
Do all fertilizers require irrigation applications?
No, this is commonly associated with stable or granulated fertilizers like Scotts, which need water to aid in the dissolution of the granules and penetration of the nutrients into the soils in liquid form. The liquid fertilizers that are often diluted need no watering after application as the water used for dilution is sufficient to quench the grass.
FAQs
What Fertilizer to Use on Kentucky Bluegrass?
A fertilizer with a good balance NPK ratio like Medina
When to Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass in Colorado?
Fertilization should be done during the beginning of Fall and Spring.
How Often to Fertilize Kentucky Bluegrass?
The frequency of application depends on the specific type of fertilizer.
What Fertilizer Is the Best When Planting Kentucky Bluegrass?
Consider fertilizer with an adequate supply of Nitrogen like Miracle- Gro
What Fertilizer Should I use for Rapid Results?
Fast release fertilizers like Medina should do the work.
Final Thought
Kentucky Bluegrass requires tender and specific care for it to blossom into a green, soft and continuous field. Please refer to the care schedule provided above for the correct information on what to apply and when. This will result in a unique green lawn in the neighborhood.