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(Continued from the previous page)
Perennial Ryegrass -
The new turf type perennial ryegrasses are the most
versatile of any lawngrasses available. Compared to the old
common types, the new turf types have narrower leaf blades that
cut clean with a good sharp mower. They are darker green and are
more resistant to disease and insect injury. They have improved
tolerance of hot weather when not stimulated with too much
fertilizer.
 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 -
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 - 50%) of the
lawnseed mixture.
(Continued on the next page)
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A Word About Zone Maps
 urfgrasses 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 &
disease resistant, and require less fertilization, has extended
the regions of adaptability for many species beyond the
traditional "hardiness zone" map defined by minimum temperature
by the U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture (USDA) for plants. (See Figure
1). 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 in Figure 2. which identifies regions
for Northern (cool season) grasses and Southern (warm season)
grasses with and without irrigation. Since Lawn & Landscape
Digest will be discussing not only lawngrasses, but other plant
material in the landscape, both the USDA Hardiness Zone and
Turfgrass Adaptation Zone maps will be used and referred to when
appropriate.
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