Perennial ryegrass germinates quickly and is often found in mixtures with the slower germinating Kentucky bluegrass, and fine fescues, helping to prevent soil erosion during lawn establishment. They can also be planted by themselves and are good for overseeding into a poor quality turf. Another valuable quality is that perennial ryegrass has generally better wear tolerance than Kentucky bluegrass. They are often found in quality sod as well. The perennial ryegrasses should not be confused with the annual ryegrasses, which are generally not recommended for use in a permanent lawn.

Fine Fescue?EUR??,,????'?????<
There are several grasses called fine fescue, including red, Chewings, and hard types. These grasses are not seeded alone, but generally used in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass and/or perennial ryegrass. Fine fescues germinate quickly and establish in either sun or shade. They are the most shade tolerant of all lawngrasses. The fine fescues have low fertilizer requirements and do not compete with the slower growing grasses in the mixture. They function as good companion grasses in lawn establishment and develop into a permanent component that helps create a high degree of hardiness and ease of maintenance.

As conditions favor the bluegrasses, fine fescues give way and provide needed room; as conditions may reduce bluegrass growth, the fine fescues move in and fill thin spaces so that a quality turf is maintained. If shade is a factor in the lawn, fine fescues should be a significant percentage (30 ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Turfgrass zones in the U.S. can be divided into four areas based on temperature, humidity and average annual precipitation. This U.S.D.A. map for turfgrass selection shows how classic cool-season turf does best in the Northeast but is also a winning choice in the Pacific Northwest (and mountain zones in the warmer months). The phrase ?EUR??,,????'?????<

A Word About Zone Maps

Turfgrasses are among the best of ground coverings for open space; and in recent years, the breeding of the new, improved varieties that are more drought tolerant, insect and disease resistant, and require less fertilization, has extended the regions of adaptability for many species beyond the traditional ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Many factors influencing the lawn are as important as temperature, such as proper drainage, protection from drying winds, mowing, fertilization, irrigation, proper grass species, etc. Thus, sorting out turfgrasses by hardiness zone is not so meaningful as it might be with other plant material found in the landscape. The type of map most often used with turfgrass adaptation is the one shown above, which identifies regions for Northern (cool season) grasses and Southern (warm season) grasses with and without irrigation.

A maintenance crew scalped this Bermudagrass-based turf and topdressed and overseeded it in October to produce this green result by New Year?EUR??,,????'?????<

 

Tall Fescue?EUR??,,????'?????<

Tall fescue has traditionally been used in the transition zone and the upper south, but the development of new turf type tall fescues has made them compatible in the cool, humid regions as well. These new tall fescues are greatly improved in comparison with the old common types, including Kentucky 31. They have finer leaf blades that create a denser turf, have improved resistance to disease and insect injury, and are tolerant of the higher summer temperatures characteristic of many areas throughout the north and upper south.

Turf type tall fescues have good drought and shade tolerance. They are often sold as blends of two or more named varieties. However, mixtures in combination with a small amount (5-10%) of improved Kentucky bluegrass are becoming more common; the more aggressive bluegrass used to fill in thinning areas which can occur with the tall fescues. Selecting the best grass for your lawn in the south depends primarily on two factors: how much sun your lawn will receive and its geographic location within the warm season grass region. The primary choices for southern lawns are: Bermudagrass, St. Augustine, centipedegrass, zoysia, tall fescue and buffalograss.

Turfgrass varieties belonging to the warm season group thrive in warm weather but lag and turn brown when nighttime temperatures fall below 65 degrees F. Some new varieties of Bermudagrass, however, have improved cold tolerance and stay green longer in frost-free areas.

Legend: A. Zoysia matrella B. Zoysia japonica C. St. Augustine D. Centipedegrass E. Texas bluegrass F. Colonial bentgrass G. Seashore paspalum H. Hybrid bermuda I. Buffalo grass

Warm Season (Southern)

Bermudagrass ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Bermudagrass originated in Africa, where it evolved under a hot-dry climate. It is the most predominant species throughout the south and southwest. It is a very aggressive grass that demands full sun and has very little tolerance or shade. There are two basic groups of Bermuda?EUR??,,????'?????<The best time to start a bermuda lawn from seed is from late spring to late summer when nighttime temperatures stay above 65 degrees. Sodding is the most common method of establishing a hybrid bermuda lawn, although sprigging is also used. Bermuda lawns can be sodded anytime of the year, but the best time is during the summer months. This species does not have any significant disease or insect problems when properly mowed, fertilized and watered. With the exception of buffalograss, seeded bermudagrasses have the lowest water and fertilization needs among the warm season grasses. Bermudas go dormant and turn brown with the first cold weather in the fall and don?EUR??,,????'?????<

St. Augustine ?EUR??,,????'?????<
St. Augustine is a popular and widely used lawn grass in the humid coastal areas of the south from Florida to California. Its popularity is due in great part to having the greatest shade tolerance of the warm season grasses, while it also thrives in full sun. St. Augustine, which has a wider leaf blade than most other lawngrasses, is relative easy to establish by sodding or plugging with proper fertilization and watering, and will do well in most soil types. However, it is quite sensitive to freezing temperatures and winter kill; thus, limiting its use in the upper south. The available varieties vary greatly in their cold tolerance. Make sure the one you select has a good record of winter survival in your area before you buy. Also, only those varieties that are labeled as resistant to a disease called St. Augustine Decline (SAD) should be purchased.

The older lawns that have SAD can be improved by planting plugs of the new SAD-resistant strains. The best time to sod or plug St. Augustine is during the summer months when temperatures remain above 65 degrees.

Which Northern Grass Fits your Lifestyle?

Generally sunny with irrigation?EUR??,,????'?????<
In the northern portions of cool, humid, semi-arid, and inter-mountain areas, consider a blend of improved Kentucky bluegrasses or a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. In the southern portion of the cool humid and semi-arid areas, look for an improved Kentucky bluegrass blend with improved perennial ryegrass.

A considerable amount of shade?EUR??,,????'?????<
In the northern portions, semi-arid, and inter-mountain areas, look for an improved Kentucky bluegrass blend, combined with a higher percentage of fine fescue. In the southern portion of the area, look for a mixture of improved Kentucky bluegrass, improved perennial ryegrass, and improved fine fescue. Another option is to use an improved turf type tall fescue blend.

High traffic and play?EUR??,,????'?????<
In the northern portion, semi-arid, and inter-mountain areas, look for a mixture of improved Kentucky bluegrasses with a relatively high percentage of improved perennial ryegrass. In the southern area, once again, look for a mixture of improved Kentucky bluegrasses with a high percentage of improved perennial ryegrass. You can also choose an improved turf type tall fescue variety or blend.

Centipedegrass?EUR??,,????'?????<
Centipedegrass is well adapted to most soils and climatic conditions in the south and upper south, but is not so well adapted to the more arid regions west of the Mississippi.

The leaf blade is medium in texture and forms a good, low growing, dense turf. It is not as shade tolerant as St. Augustine, but more so than bermuda. Centipede has excellent drought tolerance, but low wear tolerance and a slow growth rate. It can either be established by seed or by sod or sprigs. Centipede remains green throughout the year in mild climates, but the leaves can be killed during hard freezes. It does not have a true dormant state like Bermuda, and resumes growth whenever temperatures are favorable.

Zoysiagrass?EUR??,,????'?????<
Zoysia is not as shade tolerant as St. Augustine, but is considerably more tolerant of shade than Bermuda. Because zoysia is the most winter-hardy of the warm season grasses, it does better in the upper south regions and the transition zone. It is most often planted as sod or plugs, but it may take as much as two growing seasons for plugs to form a complete lawn cover. Once established, it has excellent wear tolerance and good drought tolerance.

There are two basic types of zoysia available: Emerald and Meyer. Emerald has a much finer leaf blade of the two, though both can form a dense green lawn. Zoysia has no significant disease or insect problems when proper mowing, watering and fertilization practices are followed.

Buffalograss?EUR??,,????'?????<
This is the only turfgrass native to the North American plains from Texas to Canada. It has fine leaf blades that are blue-green in color, but will not develop as dense a lawn as other warm season grasses. There is a growing interest in buffalograss for low maintenance lawn areas. It can survive extreme drought conditions, has low fertility requirements, and generally will not grow more than 4 to 5 inches when left unmowed. However, buffalograss has little shade tolerance and does not do well in humid areas. Most of the new varieties are available only as sod, though a growing number are sold as seed.