Why is my kentucky bluegrass going to seed and doesn't grow very tall?

Question

I live in western Nebraska, I did fertilize in late April and have no crabgrass. The lawn looks terrible very thin and doesn't grow. I believe it should be getting enough water. Out of things to try at this point...discouraging.

This was purchases sod

Answer 1

You don't necessarily have Poa (annual bluegrass). Poa is generally lighter in color than Kentucky Bluegrass - almost a lime green. KBG will go to seed too. Here is a great explanation (with pictures) of the differences between a KBG seed head and that of Poa Annua:

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/2005/poa512.htm

Make sure your lawn is getting 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week - ideally in one or two waterings. Get a soil test done. Your county extension or a local university will do this for free, or for just a few bucks - usually less than $10. If your PH is low, add lime. A low PH can inhibit your lawn's ability to uptake nutrients.

Check for insects or grubs. These can often go unnoticed and can easily devastate a lawn in no time flat.

You can also take pictures of your lawn and go to the Scotts.com discussion boards to post them and ask questions. There are a ton of very knowledgable, very helpful folks on those boards.

Answer 2

Pictures Of Kentucky Bluegrass

Answer 3

If your "bluegrass" is going to seed (and not growing tall) at this time of the year you have annual blue, poa annua, and not a hybrid kentucky bluegrass. This is basically a weed and can devastate your turf.
If you have any left read the label and confirm the content. Also get rid of it! If you used it all up go to the store you purchased it and find the same bag and examine the label.
Use this time to purchase a Certified Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Fine Fescue mixture. Make it 40%Perennial Rye, 30% Fine Fescue, and 30% Perennial Blue.
Nothing you can do now but wait for the fall. Purchase enough seed to be able to overseed at 2-3lbs per 1,000 square foot twice in the fall. In late summer/early fall the Annual Blue will reemerge. Spray the areas with a Round-up or total killer of the same compound. Topseed in mid Sept and fertilize with a granular 10-10-10 and minerals fert.
Topseed and fert again Halloween weekend! This will germinate in the spring and begin to choke out the remaining Annual bluegrass. If you want to freak your neighbors but get a jump on spring, remove all the leaves, and if there is no snow use the 10-10-10 with minerals again in mid-December.

Answer 4

It sounds like you may have a lot of crab grass in your yard and that your yard needs watered and possibly fertilized.

Treat your yard for crab grass and lightly fertilize your yard. The best time to fertilize a yard is spring and fall. That's when the grass grows best. Fertilize with a mainly nitrogen fertilizer in the early spring and with and even mix of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (something like 10-10-10) in the fall. Nitrogen helps the leaves grow. Phoshorous and potassium do more to help the roots grow, so your grass has good rooting come next spring.

Answer 5

Sounds like mild drought stress. Even very short bluegrass will put out seed heads at the onset of drought stress.

Answer 6

Do you live in Kentucky? Bluegrass will only grow in certain climates