What kind of grass is Kentucky 31
Olivia House
Published Apr 23, 2026
Tall fescue is an important turf grass in the United States today, but that wasn’t always the case. Kentucky 31, known in the seed industry as KY-31 or K-31, helped tall fescue grasses transition from livestock pastures to lush, durable, manicured lawns.
Is Kentucky 31 a good grass?
Kentucky 31 is one of the older “proven” lawn grass varieties with a light green, coarse texture. K-31 remains popular still because of it’s lower price and good overall usage qualities (drought / wear / easy establishment). This tall fescue grass variety is ideal for average lawn and turf use.
Does Kentucky 31 grass stay green all year?
Kentucky bluegrass is what’s known as a perennial, cool-season lawn grass. This means it comes back year after year and grows most vigorously during the cool seasons of fall and spring.
Is Kentucky 31 considered Bluegrass?
Kentucky 31 tall fescue is broad leaved, coarse and light green in color. It is known as a bunch-type grass, growing in clusters, according to Ohio State University. Kentucky Bluegrass, which is actually native to Europe, is green although some varieties do have a slight bluish cast.Is Kentucky 31 Good for overseeding?
Do not use Kentucky 31 tall fescue or other coarse fescue blends for overseeding lawns. The coarse fescues are larger and taller growing plants that do not blend well in bermudagrass.
Is Kentucky 31 a tall fescue?
The move put low-maintenance, easy-care, disease-resistant lawns within the average homeowner’s reach. In the process, Kentucky 31 became the original tall fescue lawn grass and an integral part of Pennington Seed history, leading the way for the modern turf-type tall fescue lawn grasses that followed.
Can you plant Kentucky 31 in the summer?
Plant Kentucky 31 in late summer or early fall, when temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and there are 8 weeks of growing time. Sowing seed in the spring is less successful because of the challenges of summer drought and abundant weeds.
How long does it take for Kentucky 31 grass seed to come up?
Water enough to keep the soil moist about 1 inch deep until the seeds establish, which takes six to 12 weeks. Only walk on the grass when necessary for the first growing season after sowing.What is the difference between Kentucky 31 and Kentucky 32?
Tested around the country for both forage and turf applications, Kentucky 32 is unique in that it has the persistence of Kentucky 31 without the endophyte fungus, and will produce high yields of forage as well as give great performance as a turf grass in those regions where both summer and winter can be especially …
What is centipede grass look like?The grass is generally light green with a coarse texture. Centipede grass spreads by stolons, which are above ground stems that many people refer to as “runners”. Every couple inches along the stolon is a “node” that sprouts new grass blades on top and roots on the bottom. In this way the grass thickens and spreads.
Article first time published onDoes Zoysia grass stay green all year?
During its active growing season, Zoysia typically stays light to medium green. It turns brown when winter dormancy sets in, but it stays green much longer than Bermudagrass and other warm-season grasses. … If drought and heat persist, Zoysia will go dormant, but it greens up quickly when watered again.
Does Zoysia grow in winter?
It`s the area where the northern zone meets the southern zone –where warm-weather grasses go dormant and turn brown in winter, and where cool-weather grasses go dormant and turn brown in summer. …
Can you just sprinkle grass seed on lawn?
Can you just sprinkle grass seed on top of your existing lawn? While it’s possible to simply sow the new grass seed over your existing lawn, taking the time to prepare your lawn beforehand will increase the likelihood of seed germination and improve your end result.
Do I fertilize or overseed first?
You can fertilize your lawn before or after overseeding. Both tactics work to feed your new grass seed. It’s best to fertilize within 3 days of seeding. This means you can spread your starter fertilizer a few days before you lay down your seed or a few days after.
How many pounds of seed do you need to overseed?
Overseeding requires about half the normal seeding rate, or the rate that would be used on bare soil, including totally bare spots in your lawn. For tall fescue, the normal rate is generally 6 to 8 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet on bare soil.
What month is best to put grass seed down?
Generally speaking, you can plant grass seed any time of the year, but fall is the best time to seed a lawn with a cool season turfgrass variety. Spring is the best time to plant warm season turfgrass seed.
How do I reseed my lawn?
- Kill existing grass and weeds. …
- Select the right grass seed. …
- Prep the soil for reseeding. …
- Spread the grass seed. …
- Fertilize right away. …
- Water daily. …
- Give your new lawn continued TLC.
What happens if I plant grass seed too early?
Grass seed needs the correct soil and air temperature, as well as moisture content, to sprout. Planting it too early in the spring can result in less-than-ideal germination, because the seeds can die off or become unproductive.
Is Kentucky 31 a Clumping fescue?
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) was introduced to North America from Europe in the early 1800s and was used mainly as pasture grass until the mid-1900s. Around that time, a turf variety known as Kentucky 31 was developed. … Tall fescue clumps can be highly visible.
Can Kentucky 31 grow in winter?
Kentucky 31 is a cool-season grass, meaning its most vigorous growth happens during cooler temperatures of fall and spring. Like other tall fescue varieties, KY-31 is best adapted to regions with moderate summers and cool winters.
What is DLF Kentucky 31 tall fescue?
Kentucky 31 Coated Tall Fescue is an affordable, low maintenance Tall Fescue variety with exceptional heat tolerance. Kentucky 31 establishes quickly, requires minimal watering and produces a strong, attractive turf that is easy to maintain.
Is fescue or Kentucky bluegrass better?
Kentucky Bluegrass is a safe bet in areas with harsher winters and a limited warm season. By comparison, TTTF (Turf Type Tall Fescue) is a better choice for more temperate parts of the northern regions that get hotter and stay warmer longer.
What does fescue seed cost?
Fescue seeds cost about $3 per pound. Fescue, or tall fescue, is a considered a cool-season grass because it can survive freezing temperatures. It’s disease resistant and has tolerance for heat, drought and shade.
Is Kentucky 32 Good for lawns?
Kentucky 32 is an amazing breed of low maintenance grass that is endophyte free and highly resistant to frost, drought, heavy grazing, and all sorts of abuse. … The wide leaf blades collect more sunlight, allowing for a suitable turf for dense shade lawns.
What is the best brand of tall fescue grass seed?
- BEST OVERALL: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Tall Fescue Mix, 7 lb.
- RUNNER UP: Pennington Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed.
- BEST FOR BARE SPOTS: Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Tall Fescue Lawns.
- BEST FOR LAWN THICKENING: Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Tall Fescue Mix.
When should I plant grass seed in Kentucky?
The best time to seed all cool-season grasses described above is from mid-August to late September. The second best time is from mid-February to mid-March and not later than mid-April. Due to weed competition and moisture/ heat stress, late spring and early summer seedings are seldom successful.
How many pounds is an acre of fescue?
For seeding tall fescue alone, 12 lb of seed per acre is adequate. Tall fescue in legume mixtures should be seeded at 8 to 10 lb per acre (Table 3).
What is the easiest type of grass to grow?
Bermuda grass is the fastest-growing warm season grass, germinating in as little as 10 days. Ryegrass, which grows in cool climates, also germinates that quickly.
What is good grass seed?
In the North, simply look for a quality grass seed of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and maybe a bit of perennial ryegrass, such as Scotts EX Seed Patch and Repair. In the South, spot seeding with bermudagrass in full sun or St. Augustinegrass or zoysiagrass in sun-to-light shade works best.
Is centipede better than Bermuda?
Maintenance Needs Bermudagrass is the fastest growing common warm-season lawn grass. … Centipede grass has the slowest growth rate of common warm-season lawn grasses, and very low fertilizer needs. Pennington Centipede Grass Seed & Mulch offers a low-growing, very low-maintenance lawn with little input on your part.
Is centipede grass Hardy?
Native to southeast Asia and China, centipede grass (Eremochloa Buse) is a low-lying, slow-growing, medium-textured grass that spreads into an attractive and weed-free, dense turf. This hardy, aggressive grower tolerates more shade than Bermudagrass but less than zoysia and St.