Question
We installed a new lawn on 2 acres in Wisconsin.  We brought in unscreened topsoil, and distributed the topsoil 3-5 inches deep over the sections that were disturbed during the construction phase.
Then we power raked the entire plot, applied Milorganite.  I wanted a Bluegrass-Fescue-Rye blend.  But we settled on plain Bluegrass.  What do you think of my choice of Milorganite as a starter fertilizer?  Anything better?  Lawn looks good so far but what would the next step be?
Thanks for your help.

Answer
Milorganite is a sensible, slow release product that seems perfectly acceptable.  Until I see evidence to the contrary, I will continue to use it myself from time to time.  Two acres is a lot of land to be spreading Bloodmeal or Cottonmeal down.  You have the LIG Seal of Approval for that decision.

I think you made the right decision not to go with your BFR blend.  'Plain' Bluegrass - I assume you mean you did not get one of the designer hybrids that have come out recently? - is beautiful.  If you have a full sun yard, front back and sides, Bluegrass is probably your best choice; the only reason to blend it with Fescue would be for shade, where Bluegrass is miserable.  But it sounds like you have plenty of Sun.

One argument you hear is that by planting a variety of Grasses, you increase your Lawn's tolerance to a whole list of diseases.  When one catches a disease, the other two Grasses may be unaffected.  This is a good way to keep disease under control.  And it seems to work.

On the other hand, by growing an Organic Lawn, you have plenty of defenses built into your soil.  It seems to me that the only time turfgrass disease attacks is when the surrounding Grass has been spiked with chemical fertilizers or pesticides and altered the population microbes in the soil.  Then all Hell breaks loose.  So to me, a blend is not THAT superior to a monoculture.

Now, a mix of KBG's would be interesting.  That offers the benefit of disease resistance plus the beauty of Bluegrass.

Fescue is tough.  It takes more shade and punishment than Bluegrass.

Ryegrass is a pretty Clumping Grass, most famous for its incredible speed of establishment.  With a peak performance in soil temps between 44 degrees F and 63 degrees F, Rye greens up first in the Spring, before Bluegrass or Fescue, and stays there. (59 to 72 degrees F for Bentgrass, 55 to 73 degrees F for Bluegrass.) Sow a Lawn with Rye, and you're mowing in 2 weeks.  But Rye will never boast the spreading habit that makes a dense Bluegrass Lawn.  You will never see a Rye Lawn with the same saturation.  Never.

Like someone said to me recently, Patience with a Bluegrass lawn is not a virtue - It's required.  This is the Grass that everyone means when they moan about something being so boring they'd rather watch Grass grow.  Which you no doubt have learned.  Bluegrass seed takes a full MONTH to germinate, and you're sitting on pins and needles the whole time wondering what went wrong.  Then there's the honeymoon period while it grows - very slowly.  Another month goes by while you put up with more suggestions about what to plant instead, or what you did wrong.  Nothing's wrong.  That's just the way Bluegrass is.

MUST BE SOMETHING to love about a Grass that takes so much out of your life.  Once it's up and running, there's the continued investments of time and money on more fertilizer, regular heavy deep watering, and nonstop mowing.  But oh, What a Lawn.

You did the right thing.

Now you want to protect your investment.  Mow regularly and at the 2 1/2 inch height that builds a thick, Weed-free KBG Lawn.  Water nice and deep, but only when the Grass needs it.  Depending on your weather, your Bluegrass should be taking it slow; when the weather cools later in the Summer, put down more Milorganite or other autumn fertilizer and expect to mow a LOT to keep the KBG trimmed.  In spring, put down a Cornmeal Gluten preemergent Weedkiller to keep out the Weeds.

For the record, did you get a soil test?  Make sure you get one of those asap.  You want to know what's going on down there before anything goes wrong.

All good news, my friend.  Sounds like you're doing just fine.  Thanks for writing.