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TL;DR: Which grass is best for Colorado Springs: Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue?
Answer:
Turf grass comparison: There is a lot to consider when deciding what type of turf grass should be planted in a new landscape in Colorado Springs. Because of the elevation, temperatures, and climate, there are many types of plants and turf grasses that do not grow well in the area, especially on larger landscapes.
At Timberline Landscaping, we recommend cool-season grasses – either Kentucky bluegrass or Tall Fescue, for a Colorado Springs lawn. These two kinds of grass are two of the most popular grasses in the Springs, and for good reason. Both are extremely durable, recover nicely from foot traffic, but also stay green and lush for long periods of time.
While both perform somewhat similarly, there are some differences that could impact the decision-making process. We have compared the two to help you make a decision.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is one of the predominant grasses in the Colorado Springs area, and one of the most durable. If pets or children will be running on the lawn, this grass will recover nicely from any type of foot traffic.
Kentucky bluegrass is a deep green grass with a soft texture. It flourishes in full sun, with the occasional shade. It should be mowed to two and a half to three inches at least once a week. Kentucky bluegrass needs to be watered often – from one and a fourth to one and a half inches each week, especially in hot weather.
Pros:
- Lush, green grass
- Durable
- Can survive drought
- Inexpensive sod available
Cons:
- Must be regularly watered and fertilized
- Can infiltrate gardens
Tall Fescue
This cool-season bunch grass has more recently become a popular grass type in Colorado Springs. Tall Fescue has a deeper root system than most grasses, so it has the potential to save water over time. It is also more insect-resistant than most grasses.
Tall Fescue is a dark green bunch grass with a coarse texture. This grass flourishes in full sun and can handle occasional to moderate shade. It is a taller-growing grass, but should be mowed down to about three inches. Tall Fescue only needs to be watered three-fourths of an inch to one inch per week, especially in dry weather. However, planting fescue in thicker soil, like clay, makes it harder for its roots to grow deeper, which will require more watering.
Pros:
- Grows well in shade
- Very few insect problems
- Does not infiltrate gardens
- Low-maintenance
Cons:
- Grows in patches, so you will need to reseed some areas
- Mower blades must be sharpened, dull blades shred the grass blades
How do I choose between Turf grasses?
Selecting the right type of grass for your new landscape can be a difficult process, and there are still many choices to make before your dream landscape can be completed. For more information about common Colorado Springs turf grasses, native grasses, and overall landscape design, contact us today.
Learn more about Native Grasses
Hi, my name is John with Timberline Landscaping. Today we’ll be talking about what types of turfgrass do well in Colorado.
When choosing a turfgrass, you should consider how the turf will be used. Colorado has a pretty arid climate. In Colorado Springs, we average about 16 inches of precipitation a year, plus whatever supplemental irrigation you provide, depending on the type of grass.
Kentucky bluegrass requires the most water. It typically needs about 1 inch of rainfall or supplemental irrigation per week. We usually have about 24 to 26 growing weeks, so that’s around 24 to 26 inches of water needed during the growing season. This year has been pretty dry, so we’re probably not going to get our average 16 inches of precipitation. Water use is definitely something to consider.
Bluegrass has the best overall appearance. People like playing on it, walking their dogs on it—it’s what most people choose.
There are a lot of grass options available. If you’re not planning to irrigate at all, I’d recommend a mixture of warm-season and cool-season grasses. Buffalo grass and blue grama perform well during the hot summer months, while cool-season grasses, like wheatgrasses and fescues, provide growth in the early spring and late fall. There are a lot of different blends and options to choose from.
Warm-season grasses do well when temperatures are in the 80s, 90s, and even 100 degrees, and they can thrive with little to no water because they typically have deeper root systems. Cool-season grasses are usually the first to green up in the spring.
If you’re not irrigating your lawn and you have a warm-season and cool-season mix, I’ve seen those lawns green up in March or April before bluegrass even starts growing. Then, as temperatures get too hot, the cool-season grasses go dormant and the warm-season grasses green up. When fall arrives and temperatures cool down again, the cool-season grasses green back up while the warm-season grasses go dormant.
If you’re considering a native grass conversion, give us a call at Timberline Landscaping.
