Bluegrass – Can It Live Where St. Augustine Lives?

Russ – posted 07 March 2005 17:45

Perhaps someone who is a “turf expert” can answer this question for me. I live in Texas, near Houston, and have a yard of St. Augustine. Planted from sod, it is on a base of sand and the native soil – a very dense clay.

When I lived in Southern California I had a bluegrass lawn. Planted from sod, it was on the native soil – “dirt”, not much clay.

I’d like to know if it’s at all possible to grown bluegrass in the Houston area. Aside from the higher humidity, it doesn’t get any hotter here than in the area of Southern California where I lived (Inland Empire – Riverside, CA). I understand the seasons are different – milder winter in So Cal, but not dramatically colder here (a freeze is not common). I understand that soil differences would play a part, but I can get the soil prepared here (Houston) to pretty closely match whatever the Bluegrass would need.

Has anyone ever done something like this – or is it even possible? Aside from bugs and diseases that might be an issue is there any reason why it would not grow?

I really like the look/feel/texture of Bluegrass and would love to have it here in Houston and can pretty much do whatever it takes from a preparation/maintenance standpoint to cultivate it, but if it flat “won’t grow” I don’t know.

Thanks for any input you might have.

Russ

ted – posted 07 March 2005 20:15

it “flat out” won’t grow! you’ve got a huge amount of difference between houston and socal. humidity, heat,insects, and diseases. you might try bermuda or zoysia for a more refined look to the lawn. you can always overseed with bluegrass for a winter lawn for about 6 months! you have the salt and high ph’s to deal with as well. no, it won’t grow permanently.