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Scientific name:	Poa pratensis L.
Cultivars:	Several
Origin:	Europe
Growth Habit:	Sod-forming, 1 to 2 1/2 ft tall
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Use
Production:	Lowest yielding of cool-season grasses used for pasture Commonly used as a pasture grass. Common in unimproved pastures in Wisconsin. Well adapted to less-managed pastures if they have a low stocking rate.
Nutritive Value:	Good quality, highly palatable to livestock Inferior to early-cut timothy
Herbaria Image:	Click this link
Identification
Seed Head:	Panicle (open type)
Seed:	1/8" in size
Shoot:	Slightly flat stem Creeping rhizomes (underground stems) present
Leaf:	Narrow, boat-shaped tip, 2 to 12 in long, smooth, green to dark green
Auricles:	Absent
Ligule:	Small, membranous
Adaptation
Soil:	Fertile, moist, well drained
pH:	6 to 7
Moisture:	20 to 50 inches of rainfall. Requires adequate moisture. Low drought tolerance
Temperature:	Grows most in spring and fall Semi-dormant in hot summers. Does better in cool summers (60 to 90°F) Winter hardy.
Other:	One of the most cold tolerant grasses
Establishment - Management
Seeding rate:	8 to 15 lb/acre (seeded alone) 2 to 8 lb/acre (in mixtures), lower rate for multiple species; higher rate when 1 or 2 species in mixture 4 weeks to germinate
Seed cost:	$120 to 200+/50 lb
Planting date:	Late summer: mid August to mid September Spring: as early as weather allows and seedbed can be prepared.
Planting depth:	<1/4 inch
Frost seeding:	Not recommended due to long time to germination
Fertilization:	Apply P and K according to soil test. Nitrogen should be applied directly before or with planting if not following a crop heavily fertilized with N, or planted with legumes.
Grazing:	Do not graze close, but it can tolerates occasional close grazing. Allow for a stubble of 2-4 inches Tolerates heavy traffic when allowed to form a thick sod. Recovers quickly from trampling
Hay:	Low yielding for hay production Commonly used in hay production for horses due to high fiber content.
Notes