Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis
The quintessential cool-season lawn grass that creates the classic American lawn with its rich blue-green color and soft, dense texture. Self-repairing through underground rhizomes, it forms a luxurious carpet that feels wonderful underfoot and maintains its beauty through spring and fall. This premium grass is the gold standard for northern lawns where its cold tolerance and lush appearance make it unmatched.
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–7
USDA hardiness
Height
4-4 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Kentucky Bluegrass in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 grass →Zone Map
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Kentucky Bluegrass · Zones 3–7
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.. Maintenance: High, Medium. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Type: Caryopsis.
History & Origin
Origin: Northern Hemisphere
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Foot Traffic
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
White Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil, enhances lawn fertility and reduces need for fertilizer
Perennial Ryegrass
Complements growth habit, provides quick establishment while bluegrass develops
Fine Fescue
Thrives in shade where bluegrass struggles, creates diverse lawn texture
Dandelion
Deep taproot breaks up compacted soil and brings nutrients to surface
Plantain
Tolerates foot traffic, indicates and helps remediate compacted soil areas
Yarrow
Drought tolerant groundcover that attracts beneficial insects and aerates soil
Wild Strawberry
Low-growing groundcover that fixes nitrogen and provides living mulch
Moss
Indicates acidic or shaded conditions, can coexist without competing for resources
Keep Apart
Crabgrass
Aggressive annual that outcompetes bluegrass for water, nutrients, and space
Tall Fescue
Grows in clumps that crowd out bluegrass, different water and maintenance needs
Black Walnut Trees
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits bluegrass growth and causes yellowing
Bermuda Grass
Invasive warm-season grass that overtakes cool-season bluegrass through aggressive spread
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance, improved cultivars available with better disease tolerance
Common Pests
Grubs, billbugs, chinch bugs, sod webworms
Diseases
Brown patch, summer patch, necrotic ring spot, powdery mildew