Cool Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses are grass types that thrive in areas with cold freezing winters and hot summers. This area is roughly defined as New England, the Upper Midwest, the High Plains, and Northern California up to the Pacific Northwest. These grasses grow best when temperatures are between 65-80 degrees F, which is why they do most of their growing in the spring and fall.
These grasses include:
- Creeping Bentgrass
- Canada Bluegrass
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Rough Bluegrass
- Perennial Ryegrass
- Fine Fescues
- Tall Fescue
- Wheatgrass
Arizona doesn't really fit in the category explained above, however some cool season grasses are known as transitional grasses and do just fine in Arizona's dry weather. These grasses are Kentucky Bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue.
Kentucky bluegrass gets its name from its rich, blue-green color, and is perhaps the cold hardiest of all turfgrasses, making a dependable lawn in many climates. Noted for its fine texture and dense, thick habit. Though most generally require regular watering to maintain its bright color through hot, dry seasons there are a few new varieties that have some drought tolerance. This grass also needs regular fertilization and mowing. It is widely used for a good, general-purpose turf for residential lawns, parks, athletic fields, and golf fairways. Because of its shallow root system, it requires frequent irrigation during the summer. It will grow well in most soils, as long as they are well-drained. Kentucky bluegrass mixes well with perennial ryegrass and fine-leafed fescues.
Perineal Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass has the best wear and traffic tolerance of any of the cool-season grasses, which is why it's so often used on playing fields, and residential lawns that have lots of use. Perennial ryegrass is a very good low-maintenance choice for home lawns that have a lot of wear and foot traffic. It can be mowed closely or left to grow long. Perennial ryegrass does not do well in the shade, and while it can take some, it cannot take extreme cold, heat, or drought. It is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky bluegrass or as drought tolerant as tall fescue, but it has many uses.
The plant is often red at the base or crown, which distinguishes it from Kentucky bluegrass. It has a wide range of green color, depending on variety. Perennial ryegrass has shallow roots and spreads only by clumps. It establishes from seed very quickly, taking less than a month to set up. Living where there is considerable summer heat, perennial ryegrass is a good option when mixed with bermudagrass. Perennial ryegrass dies during the late spring heat, allowing the bermudagrass to take over. This process repeats itself in the fall.
Tall fescue is a tall, dense, clumping grass that is able to grow well in sun or shade, and is a good low-maintenance choice for home lawns, playing fields, and commercial grounds. It does best in areas with mild winters and warm summers. Where winters are mild, it will stay green all year long. Tall fescue tolerates high and infrequent mowing, and has good weed and disease resistance. It is a tough grass with a fairly deep root system that gives it the ability to tolerate periods of heat and drought, in fact it's the most heat and drought tolerant of all cold-season grasses. This makes it a good choice for areas with lots of activity and little irrigation. While it will survive without water, you can achieve maximum turf quality only with adequate water and fertilizer.
It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help you with your commercial property. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.
Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net
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