Cool Season Grasses for Stabilization. Selection, Establishment, and Use of Cool Season Turfgrasses

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1 Cool Season Grasses for Stabilization Selection, Establishment, and Use of Cool Season Turfgrasses

2 Cool vs Warm Season Grasses Cool Season (C3) growth rate highest in spring & fall water/nutrient needs moderate-high utilize only 15%-30% of incoming sunlight (shade tolerance) rapid establishment Warm Season (C4) growth rate highest in midsummer efficient use of water & nutrients utilize 80 % of incoming sunlight slow establishment-roots develop initially

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5 Limiting Factors for Cool-Season Turfgrass Growth HEAT! Intensity and duration Denatures proteins/enzymes Photorespiration wastes energy Optimal temperature: F

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9 Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) Bunch type growth habit Wide soil range (sandy OK) Germination: 4-12 days Coarse leaf texture Mixes poorly with other species Turf-types include dwarf cultivars Deep-rooted but high water use rate Endophytes: insect resistance

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11 all Fescue (Festuca( arundinacea) Broad leaf blade, prominent veins on upper surface Rolled vernation Membranous Ligule Small Auricles Collar is very broad and conspicuous Bunch type, may have small rhizomes

12 all Fescue (Festuca( arundinacea)

13 Turf Type Tall Fescue

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15 Types of Kentucky Bluegrass Common Upright growth Early spring greenup Environmental stress tolerance Low maintenance Susceptible to leaf spots Improved Prostrate growth Denser turf Slower growth rate Higher quality High maintenance Better disease resistance

16 Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) Rhizomatous growth habit Moist, well-drained soils Germination: 7-21 days Establishment rate: Fair Root system: perennial Most commonly used cool-season turf

17 entucky Bluegrass (Poa( pratensis) Boat Shaped Tip Folded vernation Ligule: Short, Membranous (Lacking) 2 Transparent Lines Along Midrib Rhizomes Auricles absent Collar Broad & Divided

18 entucky Bluegrass (Poa( pratensis)

19 Kentucky Bluegrass

20 Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) Bunch type growth habit Moist, acid to neutral soils Germination: 5-7 days Establishment rate: Good Root system: annual Commonly used for overseeding

21 erennial Ryegrass (Lolium( perenne) Pointed Tip, shiny backside to Blade Folded Vernation Ligule: Short, Membranous Auricle: Small, Claw-like, or Absent Broad, Divided Collar Bunch Type ( no Stolons or Rhizomes)

22 erennial Ryegrass (Lolium( perenne)

23 Perennial ryegrass

24 Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) ANNUAL! Bunch type growth habit Light green color Coarse leaf texture Inexpensive *Short-term soil stability

25 Fine Fescues Fine (narrow) leaf texture Mixes OK with bluegrass and perennial ryegrass Low maintenance turf Relatively slow-growing Low nutrient requirements Avoid traffic-not good for compacted areas Endophytes present: insect resistance

26 Fine Fescue Groups Creeping red fescue (F. rubra) Rhizomes Chewings fescue (F. rubra var. commutata) Bunch type growth Hard fescue (F. longifolia) Bunch type growth Sheeps fescue (F. ovina) Bunch type growth

27 ine Fescues (hard,creeping( red, hewings); Festuca ssp. Tip is narrow, blade is fine Folded Vernation Ligule: very small membranous Auricles: absent No collar Bunch Type ex. Creeping may have Rhizomes

28 Fine Fescues (creeping red, hard, chewings); Festuca ssp.

29 Low Maintenance-Fine Fescue

30 Fine Fescue/Switchgrass mixture

31 Species Not Useful for Lawns in Cool-Season Zone Rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis) Only persists in moist shade Poor traffic and summer stress tolerance Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) Very high maintenance, poor traffic tolerance

32 Rough Bluegrass

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40 Why Use Mixtures and Blends? Mixture: 2 or more species Blend: 2 or more cultivars of same species Achieve multiple attributes Wear tolerance Stability Disease resistance Avoid incompatible mixes/blends Leaf textures, color e.g., Tall fescue in Kentucky bluegrass

41 CAUTION-INVASIVE