Meadowgrass meadow is a perennial plant from the Cereal family. It is found everywhere in the temperate and colder climates of our planet. Plants are used as a feed crop, as well as for landscaping the site. It is meadow grass and its varieties are considered the best lawn. It is used not only in Russia, but also in Europe, Australia and America.
Botanical characteristics
Bluegrass is a perennial cereal with a rod rhizome that lets the lateral processes. This contributes to the horizontal spread of the plant and the formation of dense sods. The stems are 30-90 cm tall. They grow vertically or lie lightly. The shoots are quite soft, which is important for a comfortable stay on the lawn. The culture starts growing immediately after snowmelt, which is ahead of some other members of the family.
The leaves form a basal rosette, and also partially cover the stems. They grow vertically. The linear sheet plate is covered with parallel veins, its width does not exceed 4 mm.
Flowering occurs in May-July. A panicle 15-20 cm long is formed at the end of the stem. A loose inflorescence of a pyramidal or oblong shape consists of several spikelets on long perpendicular branches. They are collected in 3-5 pieces. The length of the ovoid spike is 3-6 mm. They are colored in a greenish-yellow or green-purple hue and hidden under hard scales. Flowering begins from 2-3 years and occurs only once a season.
Types and varieties of plants
Bluegrass genus includes more than 500 species of plants. Some of them are part of the seed mixture for the lawn.
Bluegrass meadow. A plant with a branched rhizome forms a single stem. Starting up lateral basal processes, it quickly develops loose turfs. Rounded soft stems in height grow by 20-100 cm. The ear is loose, pyramidal. Narrow linear leaves are painted in bluish-green hues. Their width is 1.5-4 mm. Flowering occurs in June-July. The plant inhabits lowland moist soils, sunny meadows and shores of fresh water. Popular varieties:
- Sobra - emerald green, resistant to drought;
- Midnight is a very resistant plant variety suitable for sports fields and parks;
- Blackberry - undersized herbs with high resistance to trampling and dense turf;
- Konni - slow-growing herbs with high turf density and decorativeness;
- Dolphin is a hardwearing variety with dark green foliage.
The bluegrass is narrow-leaved. The plant is similar to the previous species, however, it has linear rigid foliage up to 1-2 mm wide. Prickly shoots end with a less spreading panicle. Grasses are resistant to drought, they are found in the steppes and in dry meadows.
Bluegrass annual. Cereal lives for 1-2 years, it has soft, lodging stems 5-35 cm high. Narrow, enclosing leaves 0.5-4 mm wide are grouped at the base of the shoot. A loose panicle up to 6 cm high consists of a small number of spikelets. Separate ears are covered with hard bristles and long pubescence. It blooms in May and can sprout until September. It grows along roadsides, on sandy or pebble ground.
Bluegrass ordinary. A perennial plant with a height of 20-120 cm has a shortened rhizome and a single erect stem. Leaves 2-6 cm wide are painted in bright green or grayish color. In June-July, a spreading pyramidal panicle 6-20 cm long blooms at the top of the stem. Spikelets are covered with rigid sinewy scales with small spikes. Plants are found in moist meadows and moist, humus-rich soils off the coast of water bodies.
Bluegrass onion. Cereal 10-30 cm high forms friable sods. Near the ground there is a dense rosette of shortened green leaves 1-2 mm wide. The bare stems end with a lush, dense panicle up to 7 cm high. Spikelets turned into bulbs are located on short rough branches. They are able to take root. Due to this feature, the plant is also called the "bluegrass viviparous." Spikelets are colored green or purple.
Bluegrass steppe. Plants form dense sods with several leafy stems. Their height is 15-50 cm. Leaves up to 1.2 mm wide are folded along the vertical axis and covered with embossed veins. A dense cylindrical panicle in length does not exceed 10 cm. It consists of shortened branches and spikelets of yellowish-green color. It blooms in June.
Bluegrass swamp. Plants are found in moist forest edges. They have upright or lodging stems 15-80 cm high. Grayish-green narrow leaves are grouped at the base of the shoot. Their width is 2-3 mm. The top of the shoot is crowned by a spreading panicle up to 20 cm long. Spikelets are covered with yellowish scales with short hairs and bloom in May.
Soil preparation and sowing
Lawn grass meadowgrass meadow propagated by seed. Before buying a large number of seeds, you should check them for germination. For this, several seeds are selected, placed in moist and scalded sawdust. The container is left in a bright room at temperatures above + 20 ° C. After a few days, the seeds will germinate. It is necessary to calculate the percentage of seeds sprouted to the total number. This will determine the required amount of seed.
The first sowing of bluegrass is made in the winter method, that is, in August. So the plant will create optimal climatic conditions for the development of tender young seedlings. By next spring, stronger sprouts will form, resistant to frost, heat and drought. It is not recommended to sow bluegrass in spring, as seedlings can suffer from late frosts or summer heat.
Before sowing the lawn, you must carefully prepare the soil. Dig it to a depth of 15 cm, remove weeds, stones and other irregularities. Large clods of land are leveled to a uniform state. Meadowgrass meadow grows best on fertile loams or sandy loam soils. Sand is recommended for heavy soil. Pay attention to acidity. Bluegrass is grown on neutral or alkaline soils. If necessary, lime is added to the ground. It will not work to grow a perfect lawn on saline ground.
Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in warm water for a day. They are taken at the rate of 2-2.5 kg per hundred square meters of land. From sowing to the appearance of the first friendly seedlings, the soil should always be slightly moist. Immediately after sowing, the first top dressing is carried out. It is recommended to use mineral complexes with a high content of nitrogen and potassium.
Bluegrass Care
In the first year after sowing, bluegrass needs especially careful care. It must be regularly watered and monitor the formation of an even layer of grass. Watering is done several times a week, and in severe drought - daily. Use the sprinkling method.
Bluegrass grows best in an open sunny area. In the shade, turfs may be looser and grow more slowly. To accelerate growth, fertilizers must be applied regularly. Thanks to the creeping rhizome, the cereal will independently fill bald spots on the lawn.
In order for the green carpet to have a neat appearance, it must be cut regularly. Usually, a haircut is performed 2-4 times a month, leaving 5-8 cm of vegetation. Thanks to the rapid restoration of the green cover, the lawn is quickly restored. He will not suffer after playing football, a picnic in nature and car tires.
Another positive characteristic of bluegrass is its resistance to diseases and parasites. Even on flooded soils, he does not suffer from fungal diseases.
Bluegrass can be combined with other plants. It should be borne in mind that the cereal is quite aggressive and can only be adjacent to strong herbs and flowers.
