Importance of identifying turfgrasses

It is important to recognize turfgrass species commonly used for home lawns or around parks and schools. Failure to properly identify a turfgrass species can lead to mistakes in maintenance. For example, not all turfgrass species tolerate the same mowing height or frequency. Irrigation frequency and the amount of water needed vary among species as do the frequency and amount of fertilizer. Turfgrasses also differ in how they adapt to sun, shade, and temperature. Most lawns are mixtures of various turfgrass species.

For more information on specific adaptations and tolerances, see the following tables for turfgrass species that are

 

Which Lawn Grass?
 

Choosing a Grass
When choosing which grass to plant, consider such factors as climate and site adaptation, wearability and care requirements.


Climate adaptation
Lawn grasses are usually divided into two types: cool-season and warm-season. The season determines what type of lawn you plant and how it is maintained. Even within the warm-season and cool-season groups, individual grass species adapt differently to conditions. For example, among the cool-season grasses, tall fescue is considered more heat tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass.


Cool-season grasses form the most common lawns in cold-winter, northern climates. They are hardy plants that grow most vigorously in the cool months of spring and fall, but they remain green during summer if watered regularly. Cool-season grasses include bentgrasses, bluegrasses, fescues and ryegrasses.


Warm-season grasses are best adapted to warm-summer, southern climates. They grow vigorously during the hot months, then most turn brown in winter. Warm-season grasses are usually not cold-hardy, although native grasses such as buffalograss and blue grama are exceptions. Warm-season grasses include bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, blue grama, buffalograss, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass.



Site adaptation and maintenance
A grass should be able to perform well in the general climate of your region, and it should be adapted to the specific site you will be planting. The long-term health and survival of a turf depend on how well it adapts to sun or shade, foot traffic and periodic drought, or if it is resistant to local insects and diseases.


Different types of grasses require varying amounts of care to look their best. If you have other things you prefer to do on Saturday morning rather than care for your lawn, select grasses that need less watering, mowing, fertilizing and pest control.


Appearance and texture
Not all lawns look the same. Some grasses, such as bluegrasses, ryegrass and fine fescues, have narrow, fine-textured leaf blades. They are usually mowed taller and create a soft-textured lawn that is very easy underfoot. St. Augustinegrass and some tall fescues have thicker blades and create a coarser-textured turf. Hybrid Bermudagrass and bentgrass have fine-textured leaves but must be mowed very short, resulting in a golf course appearance.


Planting blends and mixtures
Lawn seed and sod are sold in several forms. They may be composed of a single variety of grass, such as 'Bonsai' tall fescue. These lawns have a very uniform look, but they don't always adapt well to varying conditions at a planting site. For example, the variety may grow well in full sun, but thin out in partial shade. If the variety is susceptible to a particular disease, the entire lawn may die during an infection.