Description of the bluegrass plant, recommendations for planting and caring for bluegrass in the open field, how to reproduce, diseases and pests during cultivation, curious notes, species.
Bluegrass (Poa) belongs to the genus of perennials, in rare cases of annuals, characterized by a herbaceous form of growth. The genus is quite extensive, since it has up to half a thousand species. They are part of the Gramineae family. The distribution area covers almost all territories in both hemispheres of the planet that do not belong to the tropical climatic zone. Representatives of bluegrass can also be found in the mountainous regions of the tropics. Usually such plants are planted in pastures, since bluegrass is a good forage used in the field of animal husbandry. In horticulture, seeds are usually included in lawn mixes.
| Family name | Cereals |
| Growing period | Perennial, very rarely annual |
| Vegetation form | Herbaceous |
| Breeding method | Seed and vegetative |
| Landing period in open ground | Spring or Autumn |
| Landing rules | Even distribution in the selected area |
| Priming | Light, air-permeable, well-drained, loam or sandy loam |
| Soil acidity values, pH | 6, 5-7 (neutral) or 5-6 (alkaline) |
| Lighting degree | West or south orientation |
| Humidity parameters | 2-3 times a week, more often in the heat |
| Special care rules | Not demanding |
| Height values | 0, 1–1, 2 m |
| Inflorescences or type of flowers | Panicle of small spikelets |
| Flower color | Greenish yellow, green purple, violet |
| Flowering period | May to July |
| Decorative period | Spring-Autumn |
| Application in landscape design | For growing lawns, curbs, rocky gardens or as a container crop |
| USDA zone | 3–9 |
The name of the genus in Latin is rather unassuming, since it has ancient Greek roots that go back to the word "roa", which translates as "grass". Well, in Russian, the name "bluegrass" comes from the properties that characterize the plant, since it is pleasant to crumple and walk on the lawn grown from it.
Bluegrass stems vary in height within 10–120 cm, occasionally some specimens can be up to 1, 4 m. The plant also has creeping shoots located underground or may be deprived of them. In the latter case, the tussocks are relatively dense. The stems grow erect, their surface is smooth and pubescent, sometimes roughness is felt under the fingers. The vaginas have varying degrees of closure, sometimes it is present almost along the entire length of the stem. The surface of the vaginas is also characterized by smoothness or roughness, in rare cases it is covered with short hairs.
The processes (tongues) that protrude at the point where the leaf meets the petiole have webbed outlines. Their length is 0.2–6 mm. They can have very shortened hairs on the back or along the edge, or they are bare. The leaves of bluegrass are linear, flattened, or folded along the central axis. The width of the sheet varies in the range of 1–8 mm, sometimes reaching 12 mm. The foliage surface is usually bare or there are hairs scattered over it. The color of the leaves can take on a wide variety of shades of green. On the upper part, veins running parallel to each other are clearly visible. A basal rosette is formed from the foliage, and the stems are only slightly covered by them.
Note
Bluegrass is characterized by early growth, just after the snow melts, which is different from many other grasses.
Flowering, falling in the spring-summer period (from May to July), is marked by the formation of panicle inflorescences, spreading outlines, occasionally having a compressed outline. The length of the inflorescences is measured 1, 5-25 cm, twigs in it are smooth or rough. The spikelets in the inflorescence are made up of bisexual flowers and can be 2, 5-9 cm long. There are 3-6 flowers in them, but sometimes the number is 1 or 4 pairs. The upper flower in a spikelet is characterized by underdevelopment. The color of the flowers is greenish-yellow or green-purple. Flowering in such a grass occurs only once during the growing season, but only in plants that have reached 2-3 years of age.
The fruit of the bluegrass, which is formed after self-pollination or cross-pollination, is a caryopsis, no more than 1, 2–3 mm in length. Its shape is oblong or in the form of an ellipse. On the abdominal side, the weevil is slightly flattened or triangular. It falls off at the same time as the flower scales.
The plant does not differ in capriciousness and exacting care, and contributes to the cultivation of a wonderful lawn coverage.
Bluegrass growing rules - planting and care in the open field
- Landing place. Most of all, the western or southern direction of the lawn is suitable for bluegrass, since plants will need several hours of direct sunlight for normal growth.
- Soil for bluegrass. The plant lives up to its reputation for being completely undemanding, so it will grow normally on any substrate offered. However, a nutritious and well-drained soil is the best choice. Many gardeners claim that such lawn grass can grow on sandy soil. If the composition of the substrate is heavy, then sand is mixed into it for looseness. Recommended acidity values are pH 5-6 (alkaline) or pH 6, 5-7 (neutral). On acidic soils, such a grass will not develop normally.
- Planting bluegrass. The spring-autumn period is suitable for this operation, when the soil is still warm and saturated with a sufficient amount of moisture (in April or August-September). However, there is an opinion that sowing before winter will be a guarantee when optimal conditions are created for germination and seedlings will not suffer from return spring frosts and summer heat. Before planting, the substrate must be carefully dug up, weeds must be weeded. Then, using a rake, the soil surface is leveled. Drainage needs to be thought out in advance. After the seeds are distributed on the soil surface, then the entire area is covered with a transparent plastic wrap. This will protect the crops from pecking by birds, and also shorten the germination period. After a week, the first bluegrass shoots can be seen.
- Watering for Poa, it must be done 2-3 times in 7 days. If the weather is hot and dry, it is recommended to increase the amount of soil moisture. The best choice is a garden hose with a sprinkler head.
- Fertilizers for bluegrass you can not use it, but when only the seeds are sown, then fertilizing with a full mineral complex is almost immediately performed. But you can use any composition that will contain a high content of nitrogen and potassium. Similar products for growing lawns are Agrecol, Compo, Activin and Grow (Multimix bio).
- Haircut bluegrass lawn is recommended to be carried out 2-4 times within 30 days. Leave only 5-8 cm of stems. Even if the grass is cut very hard, it tends to recover quickly.
- Some rules of care. The plant does not tolerate prolonged drought, therefore, in order to maintain a beautiful appearance of the lawn, one must not forget about watering at such a time. Basically bluegrass are not afraid of flooding and flooding of the soil. When it snows, the grass does not dry out, but leaves green under its cover. Return frosts in spring will also not harm the cultivation of this crop.
- The use of bluegrass in landscape design. In addition to its direct purpose as grass for lawns, plantings of such a plant can be used to decorate the trunks of tall representatives of the garden (trees or shrubs). Since there are varieties with small stem heights, it is customary to plant rockeries, rock gardens and curbs with them. Some bluegrass species are also suitable for container growing.
See also tips for planting and caring for Heuchera outdoors.
How to breed bluegrass?
Such dense tussocks can be obtained using the seed or vegetative method. The vegetative division includes the division of both the sods themselves and the rhizomes of individual plants.
Reproduction of bluegrass seeds
Sowing time for bluegrass should be carried out in early spring, when the snow cover has already melted from the allocated area. Usually, when choosing this method, you must remember that up to 40 g of seed should fall on 1 m2. Since on the surface of some varieties of seeds there are hairs that form pubescence (this is how nature took care that the seed material, clinging to the hair of animals, was carried over long distances), then they must be wiped before sowing. This will help to remove hairy hairs that cause the seeds to clump together.
Before sowing, you can put the seeds in warm water for a day to swell. Sometimes salt is stirred in water at the rate of a glass of water 10 g. The seeds, which are hollow and not suitable for sowing, float up.
Experts recommend, to prevent the formation of empty parts on the lawn, sow part of the seed mixture across the selected area, and the rest around it. It is recommended to use a lawn planter such as Gardena or Scotts to evenly distribute bluegrass seeds in the soil. But if there is no such device, you can sow Poa seeds by hand.
At the same time as the seed, fertilizers containing both potassium and nitrogen should be applied to the soil, which will help build up green mass. The sown seeds are distributed with a rake or roller over the soil surface. In this case, the depth of the contact should not exceed 2 mm. Moderate watering is recommended after sowing.
When growing bluegrass (Poa bulbosa), it is possible to collect and plant the bulbs, which grow on the stems.
Reproduction of bluegrass by division
This method is applicable when there are already plants that have formed dense turf. The spring-summer period of vegetation activity is suitable for division. With the help of a pointed shovel, a part is separated from the bluegrass sod and, without shaking off the soil from the root system, they simply move the cut to a prepared place. After that, watering is recommended. Rooting will occur quickly, since the plants are highly acclaimed.
Diseases and pests in bluegrass cultivation
Problems in growing such lawn grass are triggered by low temperatures coupled with high humidity. Then bluegrass begins to suffer from the following fungal diseases:
- Powdery mildew or ash … A whitish coating appears on the foliage, resembling a cobweb. Sometimes it is so dense that it resembles dried lime mortar. For treatment, it is recommended to immediately carry out treatment with fungicidal preparations, for example, Fundazol.
- Rust, in which all the stems and leaves are covered with spots of a red-brown color, but until the lesion reaches the aerial part, the disease begins its detrimental effect from the root system. It is necessary to spray with Bordeaux liquid or Fitosporin-M.
Another difficulty in caring for bluegrass lawns is its slow growth rate in the first few years. And only after reaching the age of 2-4 years, it will be possible to fully appreciate the beauty of the plant. Do not forget about the endurance and vitality of such plantings, since their properties are quite aggressive. If you want to plant other garden representatives nearby, then the latter must have the strength and ability to fight for their existence. Otherwise, bluegrass will simply displace less viable neighbors.
It happens that garden rodents such as mice and moles become a problem. Animals are able to completely ruin the appearance of the lawn, as they begin to destroy the root system of plants, breaking through their passages. For the fight, it is recommended to use special scarers like JF-001D from Ultrasonic or Riddex.
Read also about diseases and pests that occur when growing hedgehogs in the garden
Curious notes about the bluegrass plant
A reasonable question always arises: can this representative of cereals be eaten? The answer will be affirmative, since there are practically no plants with poisonous properties in this family. The only exception is the intoxicating spit, due to the content of the fungus Stromatinia temulenta in it, which promotes the production of the alkaloid temulin. Delicate bluegrass sprouts are added to salads and offered to pets (dogs or cats). Some members of the bluegrass genus are hay and pasture crops intended for livestock feed.
If we talk about a variety of meadow bluegrass (Poa pratensis), then the plant is included in the register of medicinal plants from the pharmacopoeial list of the Russian Federation. It is also introduced into an immunobiological agent called "Allergen from meadow bluegrass pollen". This drug is intended for diagnosing, as well as curing hay fever, allergic reactions to some representatives of the flora. Such diseases are accompanied by rhinitis, inflammatory skin lesions (dermatitis), conjunctivitis, cough. The person becomes irritable and tired.
Bluegrass pollen products should not be taken by the following group of patients:
- children under five years of age;
- period of pregnancy and lactation;
- tuberculosis;
- severe bronchial asthma;
- oncological neoplasms;
- diseases associated with the psyche and dysfunctions of the immune system;
- state of immunodeficiency;
- eczema and diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- chronic diseases in the acute stage.
Description of species and varieties of bluegrass
Alpine bluegrass (Poa alpina)
The natural distribution area falls on the territory of Eurasia and the North American continent. Prefers stony and dry substrate. The height of the stems ranges from 5–50 cm, forming compacted tussocks. The rhizome is shortened. Stems grow straight, there is a slight thickening in the lower part. The leaf plates are bare, narrowed, there is a sharpening at the apex, the length of the leaves is different. Flat leaves can take on various shades from dark to bluish green.
Flowering extends over the entire summer period. In this case, spreading paniculate inflorescences are formed, made up of spikelets. The size of the latter is small, ovoid outlines. Each spikelet has about 9 buds, often the color of the petals in the flowers is purple. Used to decorate curbs and rocky gardens, can be grown in containers.
Meadow bluegrass (Poa pratensis),
common in the territory of Eurasian lands and North Africa. It prefers to settle in mountains and lowlands, dry meadows and river floodplains. The height of the stems ranges from 30 to 80 cm, occasionally reaching 2 meters. Elongated rhizomes with creeping processes. Through a large number of thin stems, loose sods are formed. The surface of the stems is thin and smooth under the toes. The leaf plates are elongated, flattened, but pointed at the end.
There is roughness on the reverse side. Veins on the surface of the leaf, clearly delineated, and stand out due to the light green color against a rich greenish background. The width of the sheet is approximately 1, 5–4 mm. During flowering, which occurs in the period from May to June, spreading panicles formed by spikelets are formed. There are from 3 to 5 flowers in a spikelet, the petals in them are green or purple.
The variety is able to withstand frosts down to -35 degrees and sudden temperature changes. Does not require additional fertilizing when growing. Copes with trampling, therefore it is applicable for the formation of even sports lawns.
The most popular varieties are:
- Sobra or Excess, characterized by emerald green foliage, drought-resistant.
- Midnight or Midnight, has a high resistance to any weather conditions, is chosen for the formation of sports lawns and fields, in parks.
- Blackberry or Blackberry, has small parameters in height and high resistance to trampling, turf is characterized by density.
- Connie has a low growth rate, but has an increased density of turf with high decorative effect.
- Dolphin differs in wear resistance and color of leaves of a dark green color.
- Boutique can maintain both color and density of deciduous cover for a long time. Recommended for the formation of lawns, can be combined with other varieties of bluegrass.
- Platini characterized by a high growth rate and resistance to trampling. They are used to create football fields for golf clubs.
- Panduro the owner of resistance to diseases, increased wear resistance and spectacular external characteristics. Forms compact turf. There is a possibility of application in different directions of gardening.
- Geronimo They are distinguished by their bright color and improved qualities of resistance to trampling, density of lawn formation.
Poa bulbosa
characterized by growth in the Eurasian territory and in North Africa. Prefers semi-desert or steppe regions, is the best species for pasture cultivation. The height of the plants is no more than 10–30 cm. The root system is shallow, with the help of the stems the formation of compacted turf takes place. Erect stems have branching in the lower part. Their surface is bare. The number of leaves is large, they are painted in a monochromatic green color scheme. The outlines of the leaves are narrowed, characterized by folding along the central axis.
When flowering, which can occur in the last week of May or early summer, a shortened, compressed paniculate inflorescence is formed. It differs from other varieties in that the spikelets have the property of transforming into bulbs, which is where the specific name came from. When the bulbs fall to the surface of the soil, they take root. In rare cases, when the bulbs remain on the parent specimen, they germinate in the same place. Therefore, the species can be considered "viviparous".
Poa angustifolia
is somewhat similar to bulbous bluegrass, but its foliage is more rigid and the width is 1–2 mm. On thorny shoots in the process of flowering, the formation of not such a spreading panicle inflorescence occurs. It is a drought tolerant species due to its natural preferences, since it is mainly distributed in dry steppe and meadow zone.
Annual bluegrass (Poa annua)
characterized by 1–2 years of growth. Its stems grow lodging, in height they are in the range of 5–35 cm. They are softer to the touch. Leaf plates of narrowed outlines with enveloping bases. The length of the leaf is 0.5–4 mm. The main grouping of leaves is observed at the base of the stems. Flowering begins in late spring and is stretched out until early autumn. During this process, a loose panicle inflorescence is formed, which includes a small number of small spikelets. The length of the inflorescence reaches 6 cm. Some of the spikelets are characterized by a covering of stiff bristles and elongated hairs that make up the pubescence. In nature, it prefers to grow on roadsides, on sandy or pebble soil.
Related article: Rules for planting fescue in open ground
Video about growing bluegrass in a personal plot:
