Creeping Bentgrass

Found in:

• Lawns in moist sunny areas, and shade

Characteristics:

• Perennial grass that grows best during cool temperatures (spring, fall)
• In home lawn situations, it is often slower to green up in spring
• Lower portion of grass shoot is without hair and usually purplish to reddish
• Leaf blade is bluish green in color, narrow, flat, with a pointed tip
• Mid-vein of leaf is prominent on lower surface
• Leaf edges are smooth
• Above ground stems (stolons) spread extensively forming fine textured, puffy, dense patches

Significance

• Well adapted to very low mowing heights (less than 3/4“)
• The presence of creeping bentgrass in home lawns can indicate a need to improve drainage
• Under favorable conditions creeping bentgrass can spread rapidly into surrounding lawn area to the point of out-competing desired lawn grasses

Plants that look similar:

• Rough Bluegrass
• Annual Bluegrass
• Nimblewill

More information and control options for Creeping Bentgrass