CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF COOL SEASON GRASSESCOOL SEASON GRASSES

1.Physiological type of Plant: C3

2.Photosynthetic Rate: low

3.Photorespiration Rate: high

4.Area of adaptation:widely adapted in cool humid and cool arid

5.Growth habit:

rhizomatous: Kentucky bluegrass stoloniferous: Rough stalked bluegrass

creeping bentgrass

bunch: perennial rye, annual rye, tall fescue

6.Establishment: mostly seeded (sod is considered seeded)

Seeding:

1. Blend: combo. of 2 or more cultivars of the same species

2. Mixture: combo. of 2 or more different species

Why use blends or mixtures?

Grass TypesGrass Types

BLUEGRASS RYEGRASS

1.Kentucky 1. Perennial

2.Rough Stalk 2. Annual

3.Annual 3. Intermediate

4.Canada

FESCUE BENTGRASS

1.Tall 1.Creeping

2.Meadow 2.Colonial

Fine fescues 3.Velvet

3.Creeping

4.Chewings

5.Hard

6.Sheep

BLUEGRASSVegetative Characteristics:

a. boat shaped tip

b. light lines

c. folded vernation

d. membranous ligule

2.Kentucky Blue: short ligule, rhizomes

3.Annual Blue: long ligule, weak stolons

4.Rough Stalk: bumpy sheath, stolons

5.Canada: very flat, sheath, rhizome

Origin:

1. Europe, Asia

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSKENTUCKY BLUEGRASS(Poa pratensis)(Poa pratensis)

Use: lawns, fairways, athletic fields

1.Apomixis: Seeds without sex. No pollination involved. Seeds develop only from maternal tissue. Genetic uniformity, but makes breeding hard

2.widely used

3.blends or in mixtures

characteristicscharacteristics

1. attractive

2. good recovery

3. wide soil range, adaptable

4. many cultivars

5. wear - good

6. drought - good*

7. shade - poor

8. cold - good - excellent

9. heat - good*

Prefer: sunny, moist, fertile Establishment rate: slow germination (14-21 days) Over 100 cultivars 1.

Common types: Newport, Park, Kenblue

Characteristics

1. Genetic base: Broad

2. Growth habit: erect

3. Density: low

What is a Cultivar?What is a Cultivar?

It is a contraction of Cultivated Variety, and means the same thing as variety. It has a specific trade name, and should have unique characteristics that distinguish it from other cultivars. With turfgrasses, it is often hard to distinguish the cultivars. Many look and perform the same, at least under most conditions.

4. Growth rate: rapid 5. Disease: leafspot 6. Mowing height: high 7. Fertilization requirement:

low 2-3 lb/M*

*2-3 lb N/1000 ft2/yr = 2-3 #N/1000

Common types:

2. Turf type (Improved)

a. Growth habit: more horizontal

b. Density: high

c. Disease Resistance:

1. Rust

2. Leafspot

3. Dollarspot

4. Fusarium

d.Examples: Victa, Rugby, Columbia, Limousine

e. Shade tolerant (examples)

Glade

A-34

Bristol

Touchdown

Eclipse

Baron

Management: 1. Seed rate: 1 - 2 lbs/1000 ft2

2. Mowing Height:

a. Fairways: 1/2-3/4 in.

b. Lawns: 2 - 2 1/2 in. 3. Fertilization: 2 - 6 lbs/1000

In NC: 3 lbs/M 4. Use blends, not single cultivar

How to Pick Cultivars?How to Pick Cultivars?

National Turfgrass Evaluation Program– tests all the common turf species on a

continuing basis– trials are usually run for four years– independent test sites all across US– publishes results– for the seed producers, it’s like winning the

lottery to come out on top

ROUGH STALK BLUEGRASSROUGH STALK BLUEGRASSPoa trivialisPoa trivialis

Long lived perennial with excellent cold tolerance, good color retention

Fine textured, high shoot density Poor heat, drought tolerance Poor wear tolerance Does not blend well with other grasses

because of color differences

ROUGH STALK BLUEGRASSROUGH STALK BLUEGRASSUse:

1.Moist shady areas, winter overseeding Characteristics

1. rough sheath

2. long ligule

3. soft, shiny leaf

4. grainy

5. apple green

6. thin, leafy stolons, no rhizomes

Cultivars:

a. Winterplay (Pure Seed)

b. Colt (Pickseed West)

c. Laser (Loft's)

Management:

1. Seed rate:

1 - 2 lbs/M lawns 6 - 8 lbs/M WOS

2. Fertilizer: Nitrogen 0.5-1.0 lbs/M/mo

Mowing Height:

a. 1/2 - 1 in lawns

b. 1/4 in WOS

CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA BLUEGRASSPoa compressaPoa compressa

Use:

1. Soil conservation Characteristics:

1. weak rhizomes

2. open, stemmy, elevated crown

3. bluegreen

4. cold tolerant, low fertility

5. prefers droughty, acid soils

Annual Bluegrass

(Poa annua) Use: fairway, greens Characteristics:

1. weak stolons

2. light green

3. shallow roots

4. heavy seed producer

Spring> Fall> Summer

5. Heat, drought tolerance: poor

6.Prefer:

a. cool, moist, shade

b. close mow

c. overwater

d. does well on compacted soils Cultivars: none, yet Types:

1. annual-seed Poa annua var. annua

2. perennial Poa annua var. reptans

Management:

1. Seed rate: none

2. Mowing height: 3/32 - 1 in.

3. Irrigation: frequent, syringe

4. Pesticide: fungicides needed

5. Control methods: vertical mow - reduce seed, fertility, PGR, preemergent herbicides, core aerate, irrigation, stress

RYEGRASS Vegetative Characteristics: 1. Annual

a. rolled

b. bunch

c. coarse

2. Perennial

a. folded

b. bunch type

c. fine - medium texture

PERENNIAL RYEGRASSPERENNIAL RYEGRASSLolium perenneLolium perenne

Use: lawns, fairways, athletic fields 1. Origin: Europe 2. Growth habit: bunch type 3. Establishment rate: rapid ger/estb. 4. Wear: good 5. Recovery Rate: poor

6. Thatch level: low 7. Winter kill: fairCultivars: 1. Common types - examples: a. Norlea b. Linn

2. Improved:

a. Texture: finer

b. Color: darker

c. Density: higher

d. Cut: 1/4 - 2 1/2 in.

e. Growth habit: low

f. Pest resistance: good

g. Examples: Manhattan 4, Palmer 3, Pizzazz, Applaud

Management: 1. Seed rate: 5(lawns) - 35 lbs (WOS) 2. Mowing Height: Lawns - 1.5 - 2.5 in.

Greens - 1/4 in. 3. Fertilization: 3-6 lbs/1000

ANNUAL RYEGRASSANNUAL RYEGRASSLolium multiflorumLolium multiflorum

Use: 1. soil stabilization 2. temporary cover 3. "cheap" seed 4. quick cover

Characteristics: 1. Germination and establishment: very

fast 2. Growth: rapid 3. Growth habit: bunch type 4. Color: light green 5. Texture: coarse blade 6. Tolerance: poor cold, heat tolerance

Cultivars: none Seed Rate: 4 - 6 lb/1000 ft2

Management: 1. Seeding Rate: 5 lbs/M 2. Fertilizer Schedule: 3 lbs N/M/yr 3. Mowing Regime: 2 in

TALL FESCUETALL FESCUEFestuca arundinaceaFestuca arundinacea

Characteristics:

1.rolled vernation

2.rough leaf blade, hairs on auricle

3.coarse textured

4.bunch type

Varieties: Rembrandt, Jaguar, Olympic, Tarheel, Wolfpack, Bonsai, Rebel,

Use: lawns, athletic, soil stabilization, roadsides Adaptability:

1. Heat/drought: excellent

2. Wear: good

3. Soils: good in wide pH (4-8)

4. Diseases: low but brown patch

5. Shade tolerance: good -best in NC

6. Establishment: good, faster than bluegrass but slower than rye

Tall fescue

Tall fescue

FINE LEAF FESCUESFINE LEAF FESCUES(Festuca spp.)(Festuca spp.)

Characteristics:

1. folded Species: 1. Creeping Red Fescue (F. rubra ssp.

rubra)

- rhizomes

- examples: Pennlawn, Ruby Dawson

Fine fescue

2. Chewings fescue (F. rubra ssp. commutata)

a. bunch type

b. examples: Jamestown, Highlight

c. Denser

d. Heat/cold tolerance: less than CRF

3. Hard fescue (F. longifolia)

a. bunch type

b. examples: Biljart, Scaldis, Reliant

c. Heat/drought tolerance: excellent

4. Sheep Fescue (F. ovina)

a. bunch type

b. Use: soil stabilization,

ornamental (blue fescue)Use:

1. Mixed with Ky bluegrass

shade, drought, infertile soils

2. low maintenance

Adaptability:

1. Drought/shade/infertile soil tolerance: Excellent

2. Heat tolerance: very poor

3. Wet soil tolerance: very poor

4. Recovery rate: poor to fair

5. Disease tolerance: poor

Managment:

1. Seed rate: 3 - 5 lb/1000 ft2

2. Fertilization: 1 - 3 lb/1000/yr

3. Mowing height: 1-1/2 - 2 1/2 in.

BENTGRASSBENTGRASS((AgrostisAgrostis))

1. Creeping (A. palustris)

a. Stolons: strong

b. Ligule: prominant, membranous 2. Colonial (A. tenuis)

a. Stolons: weak

b. Rhizomes: weak

c. Ligule: blunt, short

3. Velvet (A. canina)

a. Stolons: weak

b. Ligule: pointed

Vegetative Characteristics:

1. rolled vernation

2. membranous ligule

3. fine texture

4. leaves - flat, sabre-tipped, fine textured

CREEPING BENTGRASSCREEPING BENTGRASS Use: greens, tees, fairways, tennis, bowling Characteristics:

1. highest quality

2. high maintenance - 4 - 8 lb N/yr

a. thatchy, grainy

b. disease susceptible

c. shallow root, water often

d. mow close, frequent, 1/8 - 1/2”

3. Wear: poor

4. Recovery: good

5. Compaction: poor

6. prefer cool, moist regions

7. tolerate close mow - 1/4 in.

8. high density

9. Heat tolerance: fair

10. Soil pH: 5.5 - 6.0

11. Spring greenup: slow

12. Winter color retention: poor

Creeping bentgrassstolons

Cultivars: 1. Vegetative: stolonize

a. Toronto (C-15)

b. Cohansey (C-7)

c. Washington (C-50) 2. Seeded

a. Penncross*b. Seasidec. Providenced. Pennlinks e. Cato, Crenshaw, L93, A4, G2....

Management:

1. Seed: 1 - 2 lb/1000 ft2

2. Mowing height: 1/8- 3/16 in. for greens - 1/2 - 3/4 in. for fairways

3. Grain control: comb/brush, mow 2X

4. Fertilizer: 1/2 - 1 lb/1000ft2/month

5. Thatch: topdress

6. Syringe to cool surface

BENTGRASSBENTGRASS VS BERMUDAGRASSVS BERMUDAGRASS

Creeping bentgrass and bermudagrass are cool season (C3) and warm season (C4) grasses respectively. This is due to anatomical and physiological differences between the species. In general, C4 plants are more photosynthetically efficient than C3 plants. This is due to their ability to fix CO2 at lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations, maintain higher fixation rates at higher light intensities, and the absence of photorespiration.

Photorespiration, associated with C3 plants, increases with temperature and it is for this reason that bentgrass should not be heavily fertilized in the summer. Promotion of growth in high temperatures results in weak plants as a result of a depletion of food reserves. Root loss (50 %) can be expected to occur as soil temperatures approach the mid-seventies. Optimum root growth of C3 grasses occurs at lower temperatures compared to shoot growth.

Potential for greater root growth in the fall and especially the following spring along with reduced rates of photorespiration is the rationale behind late fall fertilization

C4 grasses perform best in the summer (80-95oF) and are more subject to winter injury from cold temperatures. Discoloration and the initiation of dormancy occurs when temperatures approach 50oF. Good root growth is experienced in the late spring, summer and early fall.

Rapid increases in temperature in the spring can result in rapid spring green up and a loss of the root system simultaneously. This is due to the inability of the plant to meet the needs of both the shoot and root system. The shoot system takes priority over the root system. Cultural practices that promote the shoot system should be avoided, e.g., the application of heavy rates of nitrogen or the use of root inhibiting herbicides that may delay the recovery process.

BermudagrassBermudagrass

Bentgrass Bermudagrass

Grass type C3 C4

Optimum shoot

growth 60-75oF 80-95oF

Optimum root

growth 50-65oF 75-95oF

50% root loss 75-77oF -----

COLONIAL BENTGRASSCOLONIAL BENTGRASS(A. tenuis)(A. tenuis)

Use: tees, fairways, lawns. Replaced by Kentucky bluegrass and P. rye.

Characteristics:1. Northeast, Northwest: cool/moist2. Maintenance: moderate3. Rhizomes, stolons: present, weak4. Thatch: medium5. tolerate close mowing - 1/2 - 3/4"6. high density

Adaptability:

1. Heat, drought: poor

2. Disease: medium, high

3. Sandy soils

4. Wear: poor

5. Recovery: fair to good

6. Compaction: poor

7. Soil pH: 5.5 - 6.5

8. Shade: fair

Cultivars:

1. Exeter - good cold

2. Astoria

3. Highland - good drought

TURF COMMUNITIESTURF COMMUNITIESDefinitions:

Mixture: Two or more species

Blend: Two or more cultivars or a single species

Advantages:

1. Improve performance over a wide range of conditions

-This is especially important for apomictic grasses

What should be considered when blending or mixing turfgrasses?

1.Compatibility in: Leaf texture, growth habit, color, shoot density

2.Resistance to different pests

3.Differ in environmental tolerance

Major Blends and Mixtures:Cool Season Grasses:

1. Kentucky bluegrass/fine fescue

2. Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass

3. Kentucky bluegrass/tall fescue

4. Bentgrass/red fescue

Major blends and mixtures:Major blends and mixtures:

For Warm Season Grasses:

1. Perennial ryegrass (winter overseeding)

2. Perennial ryegrass/rough bluegrass (WOS)

3. Tall fescue/bermudagrass