In nearly all cases, people grow Rough bluegrass as a lawn, which means there are specific ways that you should go about watering this grass. One way to water a lawn of Rough bluegrass is to use a hose with a spray nozzle attachment. However, the best way to water is to set up a sprinkler system. It can be even better to set up a sprinkler system that runs on a timer, to guarantee you give your Rough bluegrass the right amount of water at the right time. When watering, you should use cool or room temperature water. It is also a good idea to water in the morning, as this allows the water to saturate the soil while also allowing the daily sunlight to evaporate any excess moisture.

If you happen to overwater your Rough bluegrass, there are a few steps you can take to return your lawn to full health. One of the best ways to deal with this issue is to aerate your lawn, which will repair any compacted soils that may prevent excess water from draining. In that situation, you should also consider dethatching your Rough bluegrass. When you underwater your Rough bluegrass, your remedy should be entirely different. In those cases, you should allow your lawn to grow a bit longer before mowing it. As is somewhat obvious, you should also supply your Rough bluegrass with a bit more water than you were previously given.

The frequency with which you water your Rough bluegrass will depend heavily on the region in which you live, the climate conditions that are present in that region, and the specific season you are in. For example, those who grow Rough bluegrass in more northern regions, where the weather is somewhat cooler, should water about once every 1-2 weeks. By contrast, those at more southern latitudes will often need to water their Rough bluegrass a bit more often, usually about once per week. However, in both regions, when rainfall is relatively regular, you can reduce your watering schedule accordingly. Still, rainfall alone is rarely enough to keep this lawn alive. The seasonal factor may be most important as this cool season grass will typically enter a dormancy period during summer. During that period, your Rough bluegrass may still need water to avoid drying out, but it will not need water for the sake of producing new growth.

Understanding how much you should water your Rough bluegrass is a quite simple endeavor. Whether you live more towards the north where the weather is cooler, or you live in the south where the weather is warmer, you should give your Rough bluegrass about one inch of water each time you water it. The exception to that rule occurs during the height of summer when this grass enters a short dormancy period. At that time, it is best to give your Rough bluegrass light but appropriate waterings to curb the harmful effects of the hot sun. Of course, the overall volume of water you supply depends on how large of an area your Rough bluegrass covers. For example, providing an inch of water for a large area of Rough bluegrass requires much more water than if you are caring for a small lawn made of Rough bluegrass.

If you give your Rough bluegrass too much or too little water, there will be several visual cues that indicate that is the case. When overwatering occurs, the blades of Rough bluegrass that comprise your lawn may become softer than usual. Additionally, you may notice a buildup of thatch. If you underwater your lawn you can expect to find brown patches. Along with that, your Rough bluegrass may experience heat stress which can lead to accumulations of fungus and yellowing of the grass blades. Underwatered lawns also tend to preserve footprints longer than lawns that have received a correct amount of water.

You should change your watering schedule significantly if you are trying to establish a new lawn. New lawns, whether grown from seed or from sod, should receive water on a frequent basis. Often, it takes multiple waterings per week to ensure that the soil remains moist enough to allow the roots to take hold of the soil. After the initial phase in which your lawn is establishing itself, you should water based on this plant's natural growth cycle. During the spring and fall, Rough bluegrass is the most active in creating new growth and will need about an inch of water per week. During summer, your grass will become somewhat dormant, but need more frequent but light waterings. During winter, your grass should be entirely dormant and need no water at all.

If you want your Rough bluegrass to be as healthy as can be, you should pay close attention to seasonal changes. In spring, you should follow the rule of watering this grass with about an inch of water per week. You should water your Rough bluegrass more frequently than usual during the summer, sometimes multiple times per week. However, your Rough bluegrass will enter its summer dormancy period and those waterings can be relatively light. On the other end of the spectrum, during winter, your Rough bluegrass will not need any water at all. During any other time of year, you should follow the typical watering frequency of about once per week depending on how hot your region is. During any part of the growing season, you should anticipate heat waves and rainfall to adjust your watering accordingly.

Rough bluegrass is generally used as a lawn or turf grass, and as such, should be mowed regularly to keep it looking neat. Many people use Rough bluegrass to keep their lawn green over the winter, since it grows well in cool (but not cold) weather. Rough bluegrass should be cut regularly when it is growing to keep it looking good and to prevent it from developing unsightly seed heads.

The best time of day to prune Rough bluegrass is in the morning on a day when there is no precipitation in the forecast. This gives the wound enough time to callus over throughout the day, making it less vulnerable to infection. Rough bluegrass is a cool-season grass, meaning that it exhibits the most growth in the fall and spring. This grass also stays green over the winter in temperate climates. During the summer months, this grass will slow down or stop growing altogether. During the active growing seasons, you should plan to cut your Rough bluegrass once every one to two weeks, although you will need to do it more often if you like to keep the grass very short. As a perennial grass, Rough bluegrass returns year after year after it is established. There is a regular cycle of maintenance that you can follow to keep your lawn looking healthy. In early spring, Rough bluegrass begins to reemerge after its period of dormancy. Allow the grass to stay a bit longer during this period (about 3 in/7.5 cm) to allow it to establish itself and get denser. Mowing at this height will achieve the desired height 2.5 in/ 3.5 cm, which means that the lawn should be mowed with the "One third rule", which means cutting 1/3 of the original height each time you mow. During the hottest days of summer, Rough bluegrass can be allowed to grow longer (about 3 to 4 in/7 to 10 cm). Be sure that you do not mow the grass if it has stopped growing, as mowing during the dormant period can deprive your Rough bluegrass of nutrients and kill it. Extended high temperatures and dry conditions in summer could also kill this grass. As summer turns to autumn, go back to the same process. Be sure not to remove more than one third of the height of the leaf blade each time you mow (i.e. you need to wait for the lawn to grow to 3.5 - 4 in/5cm before mowing). In winter, Rough bluegrass goes dormant in cold climates stays green and lush in places with relatively mild climates. It is useful to keep winter lawns green in many locations, but it is not well suited to areas where temperatures remain below freezing for long periods of time. The lawn stops growing when the temperature drops and does not need to be mowed at this time.

Before you start mowing, inspect your lawn mower to make sure it has sufficient oil and fuel for the job. Check the blade for damage and set your mower height following the seasonal guidelines. It is also a good idea to use ear and eye protection while mowing to keep yourself safe. Mow in alternate directions to influence your Rough bluegrass to grow upright instead of laying in just one direction. You should bag the clippings from the first mow of the year to avoid spreading winter fungus on your lawn, but after that you can leave clippings behind to help with fertilization. Mowing at this height will achieve the desired height 2.5 in/ 3.5 cm, which means that the lawn should be mowed with the "One third rule", which means cutting 1/3 of the original height each time you mow. The best time of day to prune Rough bluegrass is in the morning on a day when there is no precipitation in the forecast. This gives the wound enough time to callus over throughout the day, making it less vulnerable to infection.

Obviously if you want your grass to be shorter, you will need to cut it more frequently. Only mow about one-third of the length of the grass leaf each time. You will need a lawn mower that has adjustable heights so you can vary it throughout the year. Use a sharp mower blade on young Rough bluegrass. When the grass has just emerged, its roots have not yet established themselves well enough to be anchored in the soil. A dull blade can tear the Rough bluegrass from the ground, so sharpen the blade or use a new one the first few times you mow each year. Avoid cutting Rough bluegrass when it’s wet, since that can allow disease and fungus to get into the grass. You may also find your lawn mower clogged up with wet clippings.

Rough bluegrass requires about 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. However, it also needs some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. Morning sunlight is ideal for Rough bluegrass, but it can also tolerate some afternoon sun if the temperature is not too hot. To provide the perfect balance of sunlight, try planting Rough bluegrass in an area that gets partial sun, such as under a tree or on the east side of a building.

If Rough bluegrass is exposed to too much direct sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow, dry out, or even burn. You may also notice that the plant wilts or becomes stunted. To prevent sun damage, make sure to give Rough bluegrass some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can use a shade cloth or plant Rough bluegrass near taller plants that can provide some natural shade.

If Rough bluegrass doesn't get enough sunlight, it may grow tall and lanky, with sparse foliage. The leaves may also turn yellow or pale green, indicating that the plant is not producing enough chlorophyll due to lack of sunlight. To remedy this, try moving Rough bluegrass to a sunnier spot, or prune nearby foliage to allow more light to reach the plant.

Rough bluegrass prefers cooler weather, and has a specific temperature range you can keep it within to maximize growth. For Rough bluegrass to be as healthy as it possible can, you could keep them between the temperatures 65~75℉(18~25℃). Rough bluegrass can handle higher and lower heat levels, but whenever possible, try to keep the area you grow them in within several degrees of 65~75℉(18~25℃).

If you can’t keep Rough bluegrass precisely within that range, it doesn’t mean they will stop growing. Rough bluegrass can handle a higher and lower range before they begin to suffer damage or reduced growth. On the higher end, that temperature would that would fall between 75~85℉(25~30℃). On the lower end, Rough bluegrass can handle temperatures as low as 5℉(-15℃). The higher temperature range is the most important to observe, as Rough bluegrass prefers cooler environments. Letting temperatures get above the upper range may cause growth to slow, and having Rough bluegrass above 85℉(30℃) could result in the plant dying.

Too much heat early in the growing stages of Rough bluegrass may give it an unhealthy appearance, so it's important to keep your growing space between 65~75℉(18~25℃). You’ll want to stay in the colder part of this range as Rough bluegrass, but make sure not to go below -5℉(-20℃). Extremely cold temperatures can hinder growth at any stage for Rough bluegrass, though they aren’t nearly as damaging as extremely hot temperatures. If temperatures are kept high during the budding stage, Rough bluegrass may not flower at all.

Tip #1: Grow in the Coldest Room of Your Home

If you plan to grow Rough bluegrass indoors, make sure to choose the coldest room of your home. This will usually be on the side of your house that doesn’t experience the harsh heat that the sun can produce in the middle of the day. At the same time, you’ll need to ensure the room does get a healthy amount of sunlight. While you’ll want to spare your plants from the brightest and hottest part of the day, zero sunlight can drastically reduce Rough bluegrass ability to grow.

Tip #2: If Rough bluegrass Doesn’t Flower Properly, It May Be Too Hot

The growing season for Rough bluegrass, spring and early summer, can occasionally come with high temperatures. These fluctuations can negatively affect the growing stage of Rough bluegrass, causing flowering buds to change into non-flowering buds. These buds will open partially, or in some cases not at all, causing Rough bluegrass to lose some of its aesthetic quality. It's important to stay in the range of 65~75℉(18~25℃), for that reason, so your Rough bluegrass can flower to its full potential.

Tip #3: Avoid Frost

While Rough bluegrass can tolerate lower temperatures, as low as -5℉(-20℃), it will not do well if it encounters significant frost. If left out in the colder temperatures of late fall or winter, Rough bluegrass will begin to show the signs of frost damage. To recognize the signs of frost damage, you’ll look for several key aesthetic changes. First, parts of Rough bluegrass will begin to wilt. Then, those sections will start to become discolored, eventually turning brown or black as they die. Any parts of Rough bluegrass that turn these colors cannot be saved, and will have to be pruned if you intend to keep the plant alive.

It's important to keep the temperature of your growing area steady regardless of season. If you live in an area with harsh winters or very hot summers, it may be best to put your plants inside. That way, you can keep them in a cool room where Rough bluegrass would be able to grow in the best possible conditions.

If you do leave your plants outside, make sure to observe the temperature closely. If the summer’s get especially hot in your climate-zone, make sure that your plants aren’t exposed to temperatures above 85℉(30℃). This will dehydrate and damage Rough bluegrass quickly, and before long, they will begin to die.

If you intend to place Rough bluegrass outside, you’ll want to make sure that it has shade from the heat of the midday sun. While Rough bluegrass does need plentiful sunlight to grow to its full potential, direct sunlight can cause a rise in temperature and damage certain elements of the plant. Choose an area that has shade providing structures or tall trees that can shield Rough bluegrass from the hottest parts of the day.

If your climate isn’t appropriate for Rough bluegrass or you don’t have the proper space in your garden, you can also plant them inside. Controlling the temperature is much easier indoors, and having proper fans, ventilation, or an A/C unit will allow you to stay within the optimum range of 65~75℉(18~25℃).

Fertilizing Rough bluegrass is essential for vigorous, thick growth. A healthy, well-fed lawn maintains density, stays vibrantly green, recovers well from insect or mechanical damage, and better tolerates seasonal stressors like heat, drought, and cold temperatures. Unhealthy, under-fertilized lawns will gradually lose density and thin over time, allowing undesirable grasses and weeds to encroach. Malnourished lawns are also more prone to insect and disease problems.

Rough bluegrass is classified as a cool-season grass that does most of its growing in the spring and fall when temperatures are mild. It goes dormant during the cooler winter season and may slow growth during the hottest part of summer. You should fertilize to match its growth pattern—replenishing nutrients towards the end of each major growth period, filling reserves to sustain it through summer and winter dormancy.

At times, fertilizer can be harmful to Rough bluegrass instead of helpful, especially if the plant is stressed for another reason.

Avoid fertilizing if Rough bluegrass is struggling with diseases such as leaf spot, pythium, large patch, brown patch, or fairy rings and insect problems like grubs, chinch bugs, or armyworms. The fertilizer will further weaken the plant's defenses, making it more vulnerable to other pest problems or disease infections.

Never fertilize Rough bluegrass when it is dormant in the winter or growth is slow during the summer. Always wait until the grass is actively growing. When it’s hot, avoid fertilizing during the hottest part of the day to minimize fertilizer burn—try to fertilize in the morning or evening.

Avoid fertilizing just after a rainstorm too. Let the soil dry out for a day or two before applying fertilizer to minimize runoff and possible contamination of ground and surface waters.

When it comes to fertilizing Rough bluegrass, you should use designated lawn or turf fertilizers and avoid all-purpose garden fertilizers like a 12-12-12 blend. Turf blends are usually formulated to contain higher amounts of nitrogen with less phosphorus and potassium. This ratio provides the nutrients lawn need while minimizing injury.

Lawn fertilizers typically contain a portion of nutrients that are slowly available to the grass, providing long-term, steady feeding.

Of the fertilizer nutrients, nitrogen is needed in the highest quantity and has the most significant impact on established lawns. It promotes overall growth and green color. The Rough bluegrass needs phosphorus and potassium for strong stem and root growth, drought resistance, tolerance to temperature extremes, and natural defenses against pest and disease attacks.

Rough bluegrass needs fertilizer applications at two critical times during the growing season, each application coinciding with its two active growth periods. As a cool-season grass, Rough bluegrass grows the most during spring and fall, slowing down during summer heat. To meet its growing needs, you should fertilize your grass late spring and fall before winter dormancy.

The spring fertilization helps to replenish nutrients Rough bluegrass is pulling from the soil during spring growth and provides food to sustain the grass if growth slows due to heat. Fall fertilization helps it to recover from summer stress and prepares it for winter, providing reserves in stores in the roots. Plan the fall application for about six weeks before the first anticipated frost.

Always follow the label directions for recommended rates, or apply fertilizers based on soil test recommendations. After fertilizing, water the product into the soil well.

Fertilizers contain salts, and when overapplied, these salts draw moisture out of the grass, causing fertilizer burn. Common signs of fertilizer burn include browning of leaf edges or leaf scorch—the grass blades look like they’ve been burned.

If you suspect you have overfertilized your Rough bluegrass, it is essential to act quickly. You can’t repair fertilizer damage, but you must remove excess fertilizer to prevent further problems.

Water the Rough bluegrass immediately to wash residual fertilizer off the grass blades. Every day for a week, slowly soak the affected soil with plenty of water to push the fertilizer salts out of the root zone.