Bentgrasses are high-maintenance turfgrasses that need frequent watering, mowing, fertilization, dethatching, and aeration. We’ll go over how to care for a bentgrass lawn so you too can enjoy the soft feel of bentgrass beneath your feet.
The basics of bentgrass lawn care
Because they’re very similar, creeping bentgrass and colonial bentgrass have similar care requirements. We’ll talk about any differences in each section
But before that, you can take a look at the conditions bentgrasses grow best in:
Creeping bentgrass:
- Soil type: Prefers moist soils with good drainage; also can grow in sand
- Soil pH: 5.5–6.5, but it can also grow in higher pH soils
- Shade tolerance: Moderate to low
- Drought resistance: Low
- Foot traffic tolerance: Moderate to high
- Salt resistance: Moderate
- Cold tolerance: High
- Potential for disease: High; most susceptible to dollar spot and brown spot
- Insect pest tolerance: Low
Colonial bentgrass:
- Soil type: Tolerates poor soil conditions, but prefers moist and fertile soil
- Soil pH: 5.5–6.5
- Shade tolerance: Moderate
- Drought resistance: Low
- Foot traffic tolerance: Very low
- Salt resistance: Low
- Cold tolerance: High
- Potential for disease: Moderate to high
- Insect pest tolerance: Low
Mow low and mow often
Bentgrasses thrive when they’re mowed low – much lower than other cool-season grasses. Creeping bentgrass can be mowed even shorter than colonial bentgrass.
| Type of bentgrass | Recommended mowing height | Mow at this height |
| Creeping bentgrass | 0.125 – 0.25 inches | 0.75 inches |
| Colonial bentgrass | 0.5 – 1 inch | 0.75 to 1.5 inches |
Note: Mow on the higher end of the recommended height during the summer to improve your lawn’s drought tolerance and heat resistance. You can even go as high as 0.75 inches for your creeping bentgrass lawn.
Mow your lawn as soon as your turf gets long enough. You want to only take off one-third of your grass blade every time you mow.
You don’t want to let bentgrass grow longer than recommended – otherwise, they develop false crowns. Instead of growing leaves at the base of the plant, bentgrasses grow leaves higher up. This not only leads to a puffy look but also a much higher risk of scalping your lawn as the leaves usually grow at mowing height.
You’ll need to mow your bentgrass lawn once a week. During the peak growing seasons of fall and spring, you may even need to mow two or three times a week. You can always check your turf’s height so you know if it’s in need of a trim.
What time should I mow my bentgrass lawn? The best time to mow your lawn is in the mid-morning when the grass is dry but before it gets too hot. You can learn more about proper mowing in our guide here: “How to Mow a Lawn the Right Way”.
Water frequently
Bentgrasses need to be watered often. Their short roots aren’t able to make use of water that’s deeper in the soil when you irrigate deeply. However, you also need to make sure you’re not overwatering your bentgrass lawn.
How often do you need to water a bentgrass lawn? It will depend on the weather. However, an easy way to determine if your bentgrass needs watering is by looking for the telltale signs of dehydration:
- Footprints in the grass after walking on it
- Grass color becomes dull
- Wilting leaf blades
In the summer, you may need to water your lawn more often.
How much water does a bentgrass lawn need? It will need 1 inch of water per week, up to 1.5 inches in hotter weather.
There is also a more scientific method to determine how much water your grass needs that involves getting the evapotranspiration rate and recent rainfall data in your area, but it’s not something to worry about unless you’re under drought conditions.
What time should I water a bentgrass lawn? The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning (5 a.m. to 9 a.m.) before it gets too hot and the water evaporates before your grass can drink it up. The only exception is during very hot days – like in the summer. You will likely need to give your bentgrass lawn a light misting during the midday to cool it down.
You can learn more about watering your lawn properly in our guide on lawn irrigation: “The Definitive Guide to Watering your Lawn”.
Feed with fertilizer
Bentgrasses are fairly hungry grasses compared to other species of turf, with creeping bentgrass needing more nitrogen than colonial. Here are their nitrogen needs:
- Creeping bentgrass: 4 – 6 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
- Colonial bentgrass: 3 – 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
You can divide this total into three or four applications over the year. However, keep in mind that these are their nitrogen (N) requirements. Your bentgrass also needs phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to grow properly.
To calculate how much fertilizer you need to apply, you’ll need to do some calculations based on the fertilizer ratio (noted by three numbers corresponding to N-P-K) you’ll be using:
- (1 pound of nitrogen) / (nitrogen percentage in fertilizer, converted to a decimal) = how many pounds of fertilizer you need to apply per 1,000 square feet.
You can learn more about it in our guide to lawn fertilization, which will also teach you how to fertilize your lawn properly.
Fertilize your bentgrass lawn during the active growing seasons of spring and fall. Bentgrass typically grows best from March to June and from September to November, so early spring and early fall are the best times to fertilize your lawn.
However, Richard Duble, a turfgrass specialist with the Texas A&M University Extension, suggests avoiding heavy fertilizer use during the hotter periods of late spring and late summer/early fall because your turf will expend a lot of carbohydrates (food) to grow – not ideal.
Dethatch and aerate yearly
Both colonial and creeping bentgrass are heavy thatch producers, producing up to ½ inch of thatch a year. The thatch layer is the layer of organic material (such as roots and leaves) in between grass and the soil. Too much thatch is unhealthy for your turf and invites pests and diseases.
Because of this, bentgrasses need yearly dethatching and aeration – perhaps even twice a year, if your lawn really needs it. You’ll need to do this once in the fall and once in the spring.
What’s the difference between dethatching and aeration? Dethatching is the process of removing excess thatch from your lawn. On the other hand, lawn aeration is the process of poking holes in the soil to loosen it, letting nutrients, water, and air get to your turf’s roots. You can learn more in our guide here: “Difference Between Dethatching and Aeration”.
Aeration helps thatch decompose properly, which cuts down on how much you need to dethatch your lawn.
Watch for pests and diseases
Patty O’Hearn Kickham | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Unfortunately, bentgrasses are prone to a variety of pests and diseases. Here are the pests and diseases you might see on your bentgrass lawn:
| Pests | Diseases |
| Ants Armyworms Billbugs Cutworms (a type of caterpillar) Hairy chinch bugs Japanese beetles Sod webworms Thrips White grubs Moles and voles Canada geese | Anthracnose Bentgrass leaf blight Brown patch Dollar spot Fairy ring Fusarium blight Powdery mildew Pythium blight Red thread Snow molds (pink and gray) Take-all patch (take-all root rot) Turfgrass rust Yellow patch |
You will need to closely monitor your bentgrass lawn for pests and diseases so that you can handle them before the problem gets out of control.
If you have pests, you will need to contact a pest control company if your efforts to get rid of them fail. You also can try adopting Integrated Pest Management to keep pests at bay.
Meanwhile, it’s best to apply preventative fungicides on your bentgrass lawn instead of treating an existing fungal disease.
Proper lawn care (especially proper watering) also will help prevent pests and diseases.
Weed carefully
Unfortunately, weed control for bentgrass lawns is kind of tricky. Bentgrasses are rather sensitive grasses that can be killed by some selective post-emergent herbicides, particularly 2,4-D (unless specifically made to be used on bentgrass).
This poses an issue as bentgrass isn’t super resilient against weeds either, especially when it goes dormant in the summer. So, you should prioritize pre-emergent herbicide applications to prevent weeds from germinating in the first place.
In less than desirable conditions, bentgrasses can also lose to annual bluegrass – a very common lawn weed. It’s especially vulnerable to annual bluegrass when grown in shade and mowed lower than recommended.
If you do need to get rid of weeds, manual weed control methods (pulling and digging) will be safer for your bentgrass lawn.
How to establish a bentgrass lawn
You can grow a bentgrass lawn using seeds, sod, and plugs. Planting grass seeds is the most accessible way to establish bentgrass; sod and plugs are not easy for a homeowner to buy.
How much bentgrass seed do I need? It depends on how large of an area you want to seed. Generally, you’ll need 0.5 to 1 pound of bentgrass seed per 1,000 square feet. You can calculate it using a formula in this guide: “How to Grow Grass”.
You’ll want to spread the bentgrass seed on a layer of sand to help it root. Then, spread a ¼-inch layer of soil or less over the seeds. We also recommend spreading mulch over the bentgrass seed to help keep it moist.
When to plant creeping bentgrass
The best time to plant bentgrass is spring or early fall when the temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In golfing greens in the South, early fall is the preferred time as the grass doesn’t have to contend with the scorching summer heat.
How to care for new bentgrass seed
A lot of work goes into caring for new grass, but the most important part is keeping the new seed and seedlings moist; drying out will lead to dying out.
Newly-planted bentgrass will need to be watered anywhere between five to seven times a day. According to Duble, the turfgrass specialist, you can reduce your watering sessions down to two or three times daily if you use mulch.
You can learn more about irrigating grass seed in these guides:
You also can use a starter fertilizer when planting bentgrass to provide the new grass with the proper nutrients to grow strong.
FAQs about caring for a bentgrass lawn
Where does bentgrass grow best?
Bentgrasses are better suited to the climates of New England and the Pacific Northwest. Creeping bentgrass is grown even in the South – mostly on golf greens – but it requires a lot of time, effort, and money to keep green.
How long does it take for bentgrass to germinate?
Bentgrasses take anywhere from seven to 14 days to germinate. However, some varieties have fast germination rates and take as little as five days to sprout.
Do I need a reel lawn mower for bentgrass?
Mowing bentgrass at the heights it prefers may be difficult on a rotary mower. If your rotary mower can’t go that low, you may need to use a reel mower.
Hire a professional to care for your bentgrass lawn
Bentgrasses are some of the most high-maintenance grasses you can get for your lawn. You have to be prepared if you’re set on growing this type of grass. But if it gets too much for you, don’t worry; Lawn Love’s pros can help keep your bentgrass lawn in top shape. Connect with a local lawn care pro today.
Main Image Credit: Ruff tuff cream puff | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0
