| Lawn & Landscape Digest |
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(Continued from the previous page) Turf Type Tall Fescue - Tall fescue has traditionally been used in the transition zone (Eastern portion of Zones 6 & 7) 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 is 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.Warm Season (Southern) Bermudagrass - 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 . . . those that can be established by seed, and those that can only be planted from sprigs or sod. Seeded bermudas are less costly to establish and tend to be cheaper to maintain.
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't
renew growth and color until soil temperatures get back to at
least 60 F.St. Augustine - 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 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.
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Which Northern Grass Fits your Lifestyle? | |
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