Question
QUESTION: I threw down some Scotts "Reseed Supreme" (Kentucky Bluegrass) in a few
bare spots in an existing lawn and has taken quite nicely growing 2 1/2 - 3".
I did the same in the back yard that I tore out the dead grass down to the
bare soil. It's only grown about an inch in the same amount of time, and
seems as though it has stopped growing altogether. It's really green, but
really short.
Any ideas?

ANSWER: Hmm. That sounds a bit odd. How long has it not been growing? It's normal for the growth rates to change with seasons, but to just stay at a specific height for prolonged periods is strange unless it is suffering from something, in which case it would be brown, not green.

Any other details that may help shed light on this? What part of So Cal do you live in? What has the temperature been like?

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QUESTION: Anaheim Hills. The tempurature has been cool (lows-mid 40's highs-upper60's)but not cold. Again, In areas where there is already grass it's growing really well. Would another type of grass be better suited for this area? Does Marathon II mean anything to you? A neighbor thought that it might be what he planted some years ago. Sod or seed???
Help!
Thanks in advance.

ANSWER: Marathon II is a type of Tall Fescue, which would probably do well in your area, but let's first see if we can't get your KB situation sorted out.

The temperatures you mentioned are a tad chilly for aggressive KB growth. I'm not surprised that it's slow going right now, especially new seedlings. The grass that is already there could very well be another variety that does a bit better in these temperatures.

There are several possibilities here.
1) The front yard is getting more direct sunlight, which would warm up the soils to better temperatures, thereby encouraging better growth.

2) The soil in the front is simply richer in nutrients due to organic matter. This is actually very common, where one section of a yard has much better soil than another.

3) The soil in the front holds water a bit better and longer, thereby keeping the grass growing.

In the end though, if the grass is green, it's okay. I would panic due to slow growth. Depending on the last time you fertilized, it may be due for an application to help give it a kick start for the season. But keep in mind that Kentucky Blue can be notoriously slow to fill in. Once it does, it's great. I actually seeded my own lawn with a pure Kentucky Bluegrass blend, and it took about 6 months before it really looked good. Of course, after the six months, it was the best lawn on the block.

Good luck Mike.

Sincerely,
C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com

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QUESTION: Thanks C.J.
Is there a particular type/brand of fertilizer that you recommend for either of the two types of grass? I didn't put any type of fertilizer or topsoil when I seeded. And, is thre a difference between topsoil and garden soil that you can buy in the bags at HD?

Answer
I really don't recommend any specific brand of fertilizer. Whatever type you get, make sure at least 25% of the nitrogen is slow release. The garden center people should be able to help you figure that out. This will encourage more long term feeding, as opposed to a quick flush of green from a 100% quick-release fertilizer.

Garden soil tends to be very heavy in organic matter, often time more than what is ideal for a lawn. I'd call around to local landscapers and/or soil suppliers and have them drop off a pile for you in your driveway. You can then just wheelbarrow it over to the areas in question and spread it with a steel rake.

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com