Select Turfgrass Varieties on the Basis of Site, Use, Required Maintenance

East Lansing, Michigan (August 27, 2008)--Four types of cool-season turfgrasses are most commonly used in Michigan -- Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescue. Which you use to establish a new lawn or renovate an old one should depend on the growing conditions on the site, how you intend to use it and how much maintenance you’re willing to give it.

Suleiman Bughrara, turfgrass specialist at Michigan State University, says one major site condition is exposure to sunlight.

“For sunny conditions, a blend of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars is usually recommended,” he says. “Varieties differ in color, texture, density, tolerance to close mowing, and disease and insect resistance -- this is why you want to blend several of them -- but if your site is well-drained and sunny, Kentucky bluegrass is generally the first choice.”

Drawbacks include slow germination -- blending with 10 to 15 percent perennial ryegrass provides quick soil coverage and improved conditions for bluegrass germination -- and high maintenance needs -- at least four applications of fertilizer per season and frequent irrigation during hot, dry periods if you want to keep the lawn green.

For shady spots, especially those with low fertility and soil moisture, the favorite is fine fescue blended with Kentucky bluegrass. Such a mixture gives a low-maintenance lawn that tolerates shade better than 100 percent bluegrass without the thatch problems that come with pure fescue stands, he explains.

Perennial ryegrasses are quick to germinate but produce at best a low-quality turf that’s hard to mow. Because of quick germination, perennial ryegrasses are often used on athletic fields for overseeding between games when quick cover is the top priority. In pure stands, perennial ryegrass is prone to disease.

Tall fescue has low maintenance and fertility requirements and good insect and disease tolerance, Bughrara says. It performs best on well-drained soils and has good drought tolerance. It is tolerant of close mowing and high traffic, as well as shady growing conditions. It provides moderate to good turfgrass quality with limited maintenance.

“If conserving water for lawn irrigation is a concern, tall fescue is a good choice,” he adds.

Tall fescue is best seeded in a pure stand, not mixed with other turfgrass species, he notes. Because it is a bunch-type grass rather than a spreading species such as Kentucky bluegrass, it must be seeded uniformly at fairly high rates (6 to 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet) to avoid a clumpy, coarse-textured appearance.

Contact:

Suleiman Bughrara
517-355-0271