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TURFGRASSES OF NORTHEAST GOLF COURSES

• 40 + species of grasses used in lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses.

• Most are not natives of U.S.

• Grasses categorized by:

a) Genus ie. Poa (Bluegrass)

b) Species ie. pratensis (Kentucky Bluegrass)

c) Cultivar i.e. Midnight (Hybrid)

Tiller

Kentucky bluegrassextensive rhizomes

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Stolons

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Consider the following when selecting a turfgrass:

1. Use i.e. sport or aesthetics2. Level of maintenance3. Climatic conditions4. Soil conditions (including pH)5. Microenvironments – shade, wet etc.6. Disease resistance7. Drought resistance8. Color9. Growth habit10. Desired Height of Cut (H.O.C.)

Climate Zone Map

Climate and Grass Adaptation

Turfgrass Species Utilized or found on Cool Season Golf Courses

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Golf Course Areas Planted to Turfgrass

• Greens

• Tees

• Fairways

• Clubhouse lawns

• Roughs/surrounds

• Out of play areas

• Naturalized areas

• Driving range/tees

Turfgrass Species Utilized or found on Cool Season Golf Courses

• Bluegrasses• K.B., Rough, Canada, annual

• Ryegrasses• perennial, annual

• Bentgrasses• velvet, creeping, colonial

• Fescues• fine leaf• tall

• Niche grasses

Bluegrasses- Four common species of Bluegrasses of cool humid climates are:

•Kentucky Bluegrass - Poa pretensis•Rough Bluegrass - Poa trivialis•Canada bluegrass - Poa compressa•Annual Bluegrass - Poa annua

Turfgrass Species Utilized or found on Cool Season Golf Courses cont.

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• Boat Shaped tip• H.O.C. 0.5-2”• Medium/fine texture• Rhizomes• Full sun• Newer cultivars shade

tolerance • Medium/high mgmt• High nitrogen needs• pH 6-7• Irrigation required

Kentucky bluegrass-Poa pretensis-

• Popular in 60's and 70's • Use - roughs, tees, fairways • Popularity for fairway and tee use declined in late 70's-90's • Decline related to:

• slow establishment rate • demand for lower cut fairway and tee turf• disease problems

• New varieties (cultivars) heights of 1/2"

• Propagated by seed or sod

Pros: • Color• Density• Gray leafspot resistance • Exhibits some drought tolerance• Fall color retention•Early spring green-up

Cons:• Very slow establishment rate• Height of cut (new varieties available)• Prone to leaf spot disease (check for resistant varieties)• Thatch production

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Kentucky bluegrass continued:

• Good wear tolerance• Good recuperative potential

•Excellent color

Possible K.B. locations on golf course

• Fairways (low cut cultivars)

• Tees (low cut cultivars)

• Tee and Green Surrounds

• Roughs

• Clubhouse lawns

• Height of cut .5-2''• pH 6-7• Stolons• Greenish-yellow in color• Thrives best in shaded moist environment• Shallow roots• 3-4lbs. nitrogen/1000sq.'/year

Roughstalk Bluegrass-Poa trivialis

Finer texture than KB

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• Grows well in shaded moist environments• Used in overseed mixtures in south• Propagated by seed • Good to use in a mix on tees in shaded moist environments Cons:

• color• shallow root system• subject to disease• poor wear tolerance• poor drought tolerance

Characteristics /uses

Poa trivialis continued:

Canada bluegrass- Poa compressa

• Height of cut-3-4"• pH 5.5 - 6.5• 2-3lbs. N/year• weakly Rhizomatous • Stolons absent

Cons:• Disease susceptible• Stemmy looking in nature• Low density turf• H.O.C. 3-4"

• Drought and shade tolerance good• Wear tolerance good• Tolerates infertile and poorly drained tur

Pros:Canada bluegrass- Poa compressa continued:

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Annual Bluegrass- Poa annua

Characteristics:• Considered a weed• Bunch type grass • Boat shaped tip• Yellowish in color• Survives low h.o.c.• pH 5.5-6.5• 3-4 lbs. N/year• Perennial form id with stolons

Poa annua facts: • invades turf in thin areas of grass stands• invades turf in wet compacted conditions• prolific seed producer (month of May)• can survive low h.o.c. at greens height

• Short root system• Susceptible disease• Fades out in the summer months• Poor heat and drought tolerance• Poor color (yellowish)• Seeds profusely leading to:

• poor fairway lies • slow putting green speeds • “untrue” putting surfaces.

• Susceptible to winter injury

CONS:Poa annua continued:

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AnthracnoseSummer patch

Ice damage

Annual bluegrass weevil

Bacterial Wilt

Annual bluegrass inPutting green

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Universities (Penn State) trying to produce cultivars of Poa annua.

• Example Poa supina •very aggressive •thrives in shade •compacted conditions

Poa annua has some desirable characteristics1) Being competitive 2) Growing in compacted conditions3) Provides a good putting surface (when not

seeding)

Poa annua continued:

PSU breeding program selecting putting green annual bluegrass ecotypes

David Huff PHD PSU

Bentgrasses- genus Agrostis

USES:

fairways

Tennis- Pt. Judith G.C.

Greens

Lawn Bowling

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• Primarily in the cool humid areas as well as transitional climates• Most tolerant cool season grasses of close mowing• Fine textured and form a very dense turf• Grow best in moist conditions• Have excellent winter hardiness• Usually last to green up

Bentgrasses continued:

Three species discussed1. Creeping Bentgrass- Agrostis palustris• Most common variety used on golf greens• 2 to 6 lbs. N/season• Root System shallow to medium (2"-8")• Shade tolerance medium,does best in full sun

Bentgrasses continued:

• Does not grow well in compacted conditions.• Propagation by seed or stolons• Vertical mowing-responds well• Varieties

• Old varieties subject to grain• “grandfather” of modern creeping bentgrass breeding = Penncross• New varieties

• More aggressive • Grow more erect• Can be cut to 1/8”• Higher Density

• Wear tolerance poorCreeping Bentgrass continued:

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New and Improved Cultivars

New cultivars increase in density

Turfgrass Trends November 2004 (Doug Brede)

Turfgrass Trends November 2004 (Doug Brede)

T-1 Penn A-4 Penncross Poa annua

Shoot Density

Newer Cultivar Uses and CharacteristicsA and G varieties

• Basically greens use only

• Low height of cut 1/8” or less

• Aggressive maintenance practices required

• Produce fast “grainless” putting surfaces

• Deep root systems

• Improved disease tolerance

• Fine texture

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Newer Cultivar Uses and Characteristics:

L-93

• Improved disease tolerance

• Moderate to high density

• Less management needed (topdressing, aeration, etc) due to less thatch when compared to the more aggressive varieties

Crenshaw

• High heat tolerance but prone to dollar spot

Newer Cultivar Uses and Characteristics:

Providence

• Good performance characteristics

• Good tolerance to diseases

SR1119

• Good color

• Good texture

• Good disease resistance

Newer Cultivar Uses and Characteristics:

Other improved varieties Include:

• Putter

• Trueline

• Backspin

• Viper

• Cato

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New varieties continued:

Improved disease performance

Turfgrass Trends January 2005 (Dan Dinelli)

• Propagation by seed

• Nitrogen 2 to 4 lbs n/1000sq'/season.

• Shade tolerance is medium.

• Heat and drought tolerance not as good as creeping bentgrass.

• Wear Tolerance is poor

• Stolons and Rhizomes absent to very short.

2. Colonial Bentgrass-Agrostis tenuis

•Colonial bentgrass not often used in golf greens

•Used in tee and fairway mixes

•Aggressive and can become dominant and segregate in polystands

•Susceptible to thatch at high mowing heights

Other characteristics and uses:

Colonial Bentgrass continued:

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Colonial Bentgrass Fairway

3. Velvet Bentgrasses- Agrostis canina

• Texture-one of the finest textured turf

• Growth Habit-very erect

• Velvet is more aggressive than colonial but not as aggressive as creeping bentgrass.

• Nitrogen-1-3 lbs. N/year.

• Shade Tolerance is good

Greenwich Velvet bentgrass, Shelter Harbor C.C. 2005 High Density Fine Texture Turf

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• Bentgrass forms a beautiful fine textured turf

• Extremely slow to heal from injury and disease.

Other characteristics and uses:

Velvet prone to thatch (topdress frequently)

Susceptible to iron chlorosis

• Many of the older golf courses seeded with South German Mixed Bentgrass.

•Mixes consisted of :

• 40-60% colonial bentgrass

• 5-40% velvet bentgrass

• 5-15% redtop

• 1-5% creeping bentgrass

South German Mixed greens tend to look mottled in appearance due to the different textures.

4. South German Mixed Bentgrass

Fescues-genus Festuca•Fescues over 100 species•Common species used in fine turf:•Fine leaf fescues

• Red fescue (Festuca rubra) •Chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata).

•Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) which is used in roughs.Fescues tolerate:droughty, infertile soils,acidic soils pH 5.5-6.5

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Fine-leaf FescuesCreeping redChewingsHardSheep

Uses • Lawn mixtures with

Kentucky bluegrass perennial ryegrass.

• Parks• Golf course

• roughs• Fairways

• Cemeteries• Roadsides

Creeping red fescue Festuca rubra

Creeping red fescue and chewings fescue• Propagated from seed• Demonstrates shade tolerance• Does best in low nitrogen environments• Creeping red fescue rhizomes

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• Lacks rhizomes, is bunch type • Fine needle like leaf blades(rolled)• Establishment rate is faster than K.B. but slower than Rye. • Slow recuperative potential• 1-2" height of cut

Cultivars are: Jamestown II, Banner III, SR5100

Chewings fescue:

Coppinwood Toronto Tom Fazio Desin

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• Old varieties of tall fescue were poor • New varieties of tall fescue (Turf type) provide nice turf cover • Turf Type tall fescues used for roughs, tee, green surrounds

Tall Fescue -Festuca arundinacea

• Drought tolerance-excellent

Tall Fescue continued:

• pH-5.5-6.5 • Nitrogen 3lbs./yr.• H.O.C.- best at 2-3"• Leaf width-much wider then fine fescue • Shade Tolerance-intermediate• Wear tolerance- excellent• Propagation-seed

Photo-Oregon tall fescue Commission

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Tall Fescue - 2 lbs N per 1,000 ft2 per year

Ryegrasses-Species LoliumTwo ryegrasses: perennial and annual

Perennial Ryegrass-Lolium perenneMost widely used RyeUses:

•tees•fairways•lawn mixes•roughs•parks •roadsides•Southern overseeding programs

•Dark green color •Propagation-seed •Germination 5 to 7 days.•H.O.C.- 0.5-2''•High N levels 4-6lb./year.•pH-6-7•“Tight” turf •Blends well with bluegrasses •Susceptible to winter injury poor low temperature hardiness•Prone to pythium ,brown patch, and gray leafspot

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Perennial Ryegrass continued:

Annual Ryegrass-Lolium Multiflorum

•life cycle in one year•Poor low temperature hardiness.•adapted to moist fertile soils •pH of 6-7•germinates quickly

USES:•"quick fix" •nurse grass•used in mixes quick stabilization is needed. •READ the label when buying seed

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• Sheep fescue • Hard fescue

Other Grasses

Uses -Naturalized areas, roadsides, roughs, soil conservation, cemeteries, low maintenance turf areas, erosion control

Chewings and sheep fescueRiparian zone restoration

Native Grasses:

•Little bluestem

•Switchgrass

•Blue grama

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Two species that may be found in home lawns:

1. Creeping Bentgrass- Agrostis palustris2. Colonial Bentgrass-Agrostis tenuis

Bentgrasses- genus Agrostis

(Weed in home lawns)

Bentgrasses

Bluegrasses/turf type tall fescue/ Ryegrass

Sheep fescue/Hardfescue/Canada Bluegrass

What’s in store for the future?• Increasing trend on naturalized designs

• Water conservation

• Improved heat and drought tolerance

• Links-style design

• Low input varieties

• Improved pest resistance

Turfgrass Nutrient and Integrated Pest Management Manual University of Connecticut

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Turfgrass Nutrient and Integrated Pest Management Manual University of Connecticut

Grass seed mixtures, blends, rates, labelsGrass seed mixtures:• Two or more different species, ie.Kentucky bluegrass, Fine fescue and rye grass. •Mixtures have genetic diversity.

Grass seed blends

• Blends consist of different cultivars of the same species.ie.Pennlinks, Penncross are both creeping bentgrasses

• “Avoid "disaster”• Survival of the fittest

• Mixing grasses with similar characteristics ie. color and growth habit. Example you would not mix rye and bent.

Monostand only one cultivar ie. newly planted greenPolystand- two or more cultivars and/or speciesWhy Mixtures or blends?

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Purchasing Grass SeedTwo labels1) Certified This ensures that the stated variety is what your getting.

• Turfgrass type• Seed lot-states specific lot seed from• Seed Purity--by weight of seed listed on label• Inert Matter-%material i.e. chaff•Other crop- i.e. fescue in bluegrass mix•Weed Seed-% weed seed•Germination %seed that will grow•Date Tested•Origin of seed-where seed is from•Noxious weed content-noxious weeds vary from state to state

2) Label stating the following:

Turf Type

Seed lot

Date tested

Purity

% other crop% inert% weed

Origin Grown

Germination

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Useful when turf manager or golf course designer or architect needs to specify

varieties or cultivars

www.ntep.org

NTEP On-Site Evaluation of Creeping bentgrass for putting greens

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LSD value

LSD value

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Mean Turfgrass (overall) Quality Ratings by Location

LSD value

You should use information from a testing site nearest to your location

Cultivar differences are based on use of the Least Significant Difference (LSD) statistic for mean separation

How To Use NTEP Information:

To determine whether a cultivar's performance is truly different from another:

subtract one entry's mean from another entry's mean.

If the value is Equal or LARGER than the LSD value, then the observed difference is Significant and did not happen by chance.

Therefore, the performance of the cultivars are different.

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1. Use Table 1B data for Mean Turfgrass Quality Ratings.

2. Find the column for location NJ1.

3. Move down column and find rating for Independence and Kingpin

For example, is Overall Quality of the two cultivars “Independence” and “Kingpin” different at location “NJ1”

Mean Turfgrass Quality Ratings by Location

6.1

4.7

LSD Value

Independence = 6.1

Kingpin = 4.7

LSD = 1

Difference: 6.1 – 4.7 = 1.4

Since 1.4 > LSD (1.0), The overall mean quality of Independence is significantly greaterthan Kingpin

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Another way to use the Quality Ratings Data:

• Find the cultivar with the highest mean quality value

• Subtract the LSD value from the highest mean quality value

• Mean quality ratings higher than the resulting number are not significantly different from the highest rated cultivar

6.8

6.8 highest rank in NJ1

LSD Value

Tyee = 6.8

LSD = 1.0

Difference: 6.8 – 1.0 = 5.8

Therefore, any cultivar with a mean quality rating > 5.8 is not statistically different from the cultivar with the highest mean quality rating

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ESTABLISHMENT by seed

Best time late summer or early fall:1) Warm soil temperatures

• Optimum for Rye-50F• Optimum for Bents-59F• Optimum for Blues-55-60F

2) Late morning dews keep seed bed moist 3) Less weed competition

Germination time:Bentgrasses-7-14 daysBluegrasses-14 daysFescues-10-14 daysRyes- 5-7 days

Frost crack seeding

•Performed in spring

•Good soil-seed contact*note - Seedlings won’t emerge until proper temperature.

Seeding Rates lb/1000sq’ Seeds/lb

Kentucky bluegrass 1-1.5 1-1.75 million

Perennial ryegrass 7-9 210- 270,000

C.R. fescue 3.5-4.5 365,000

Chewings fescue 3.5-4.5 450,000

Tall fescue 7-9 178-234,000

Creeping bentgrass .25-1 8 million

Colonial bentgrass .5-1 8 million

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96% pure 90% Germination

Calculation of pure live seed in a mix

Calculation of pure live seed in a mix:%germination x %purity x 100.

Example --- Label states: 96% pure live seed90% germinationTHEN:

.96 x .90 x 100 = 86.4% pure live seed

Recommended seeding rate is 6 lbs./1000sq.'

Then divide 6 by 86.4 and multiply by 100 .069 x 100 = 6.9 lbs

Preparing the seed bed

1) Clean site of debris-Remove rocks, stumps, and kill off existing vegetation2) Obtain soil test- texture and chemical (can be done while topsoil is stockpiled) 3) Rough grade site

•involves removal and stockpile of topsoil•grade subsoil and eliminate depressions•Slope sub-grade away from play areas

4) Amend topsoil-amend based on soil tests.

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6) Apply fertilizers lime etc. Till in 4-6"7) Finish Grade - Hand raking and rolling to provide a smooth seedbed.8) Apply starter fertilizer 10-10-10 rake in 1/2"9) Apply Seed- rake lightly and roll

• Better the soil to seed contact the better the germination

5) Replace topsoil-same grades and slopes as subsoil -Pack to avoid settling at every 8-10" depth.

Types of Seeders

A) Spreaders

Broadcast- rotary type.

• Pros-quick and easy

• Cons-wind carries seed harder to get uniform coverage.

Drop spreaders

-Pros- good for small areas with borders - applies precise application.

-Cons- slow and can lead to skips or over lap

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•Pros- cover large areas good soil to seed contact

•Cons- Difficult on loose soil (best in overseed situations)

B) Disk Type- (drill or slit seeder)

Slit with Seed

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C) Cultipacker (Brillion)-Drops seed in bed and then rolls and firms seed bed. Used on large areas

Cons- cost

Pros-•quick establishment

•good on slope

•retains moisture

D) Hydraulic Seeders-- Spray, seed, and mulch

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10) Apply Mulch - (optional)•aids in germination•keeps moisture and heat in ground

Types of mulch-•Straw weed free•Hay•Paper- ie. Penn Mulch

•Water-light and often•Diseases- Watch for pythium and damping off•Mowing

-First mowing turf 1/3 taller desired height-Mow dry -Collect Clippings-Use sharp mowers

•Weed Control- Tupersan if needed•Don't apply herbicides to newly planted turf without reading label

•Fertilizer-apply light application (1/2 lbN) of soluble fertilizer 3 wk. after emergence

Post Care for newly seeded areas

Sodding

Prepare area to be sodded as you would for seed bed preparation

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1) The age of sod-older sod thatch2) Quality- i.e. density3) Purity- weeds, undesirable grasses present4) Height of cut - grown at the sod farm5) Soil texture sod was grown on6) Cost- per square foot. Delivery etc.7) Harvested-Specify that you want sod cut no more than 12-24 hours before delivery8) Equipment to move sod on site

Questions to ask when buying sod:

1) Firm Bed to reduce foot printing2) If soil dry wet lightly.2) Outline area to be sodded.3) Start laying sod from top of slopes and work down.

Planting (Laying) Sod

4) Staples where grades exceed 10%. 5) On bunkers start sand-soil interface6) First row straight and even

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5) keep working soil as you proceed-this will keep surface level 6) Butt all seems tightly7) Stagger sod ends for less chance of movement.

1) Keep sod watered - wilt easily without roots! Also if sod dries it shrinks.2) First mowing as needed (Use walkers on greens and tees)3) Greens and tees- Topdress frequently to smooth and accelerate thatch decomposition 4) Aerate and return soil often. This reduces thatch and aids in smoothing the surface.

Post-care for newly sodded areas