Phosphorus fertilizer is regulated in many states for use on home lawns. Such regulation should be species-based. The objective of this study was to compare establishment of different cool-season turfgrasses at various levels of Olsen P in a calcareous soil. Shoot density and biomass of 'Midnight' and 'Fighter' Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 'Emerald' and 'Accent II' perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), 'Arid III' and 'Alamo' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 'T1' and 'Seaside II' creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.), and 'Maxima' and 'Boreal' red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were evaluated with P applied at 0, 3.75, 11.25, 33.75, 56.25, and 75 kg ha -1 in 2012 and 2013 on soils with an initial Olsen P of 10.7 and 10.3 mg kg -1 . Based on the number of days required to reach 50% ground cover (D 50 ), Kentucky bluegrass had a critical soil Olsen P of 15 mg kg -1 , which meant P application at 11.25 kg ha -1 in 2012 and no application in 2013. Creeping bentgrass required a soil Olsen P of 15 to 20 mg kg -1 for the same purpose. If evaluated by shoot biomass, the critical soil Olsen P values were 16.5 to 22 mg kg -1 for Kentucky bluegrass, 20 to 22.5 mg kg -1 for creeping bentgrass, 19 to 22 mg kg -1 for tall fescue, and 22 to 25 mg kg -1 for perennial ryegrass. Critical soil P levels for D 50 vary within a species and should be considered when making recommendations for P application.