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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) |
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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