Dear Rabid Librarian:
I was talking to my uncle, who lives in Southwest Georgia, and he mentioned how nice it was to walk on real Kentucky Bluegrass rather than the Centipede Grass that grows where they live. It sounds like Centipede grass is coarser, but what is it, exactly, and where did it get such a funny name?
Blue in the Bluegrass
Dear Blue:
Centipede Grass gets its name from the appearance of the grass, which is rather short and tends to spread out along the ground, like a centipede walking. A native to Asia, it is used in lawns in the Southeastern United States, because it is low-maintenance, tolerates poor soil, and does well so long as it doesn't freeze. Just about everything you'd ever want to know about this grass can be found at Texas A&M's Plant Answers. A good picture of Centipede Grass (especially compared to others) can be found at OutsidePride.com. As you can see, compared to other grasses, Bluegrass does look blue, hence its name--especially when it goes to seed, even though it really is green. Apparently, it's a softer, lusher grass than Centipede Grass, so you should count your blessings. Of course, even your lawn has other grasses mixed in for best performance. :)
It's funny how we tend to take the grass in our lawns for granted (well, except for those who really get into the art of lawn care). Most people probably can't tell the difference between fescue and bluegrass and bahia, but they'd be most upset if their lawns died suddenly because they'd planted the wrong type.
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