These specialized grasses provide a lush, green lawn no matter how chilly it gets. On the plus side, this grass choice does well with poor soil conditions that other grasses may not be able to. In cold winter areas, you should not fertilize in spring until the grass is greeningup and has started to grow. Aug 02, 2018 in this video i give you some thoughts on whether or not tall fescue might be the best cool season grass type. These different turf types require similar treatments, including mowing, aerating, fertilizing and watering. Many warmseason grasses go dormant and turn brown once soil temperatures. Some warmseason grasses do well there due to the hot, dry summers, as do some coolseason grasses, like tall fescue, because of the cold winters. Centipede grass is a tough, lowgrowing, lowmaintenance turfgrass. This enables them to create a thick mat of turf that, when maintained properly, crowds out weeds with ease. With a few exceptions, warmseason grasses are not very cold tolerant, and most undergo winter dormancy. Look at the grass texture to tell it from other types. Some species go through a winter dormancy lasting between one and four months depending on location and severity of the winter. There are pros and cons to this grass type but with my kentucky bluegrass going. Find the best grass for your lawn by comparing the features and characteristics of some of the most popular turfgrasses.
The best types of grass for your lawn southern living. Centipede grass is another warm season choice that is also low maintenance. In most areas, coolseason grasses are not fertilized in the heat of summer. This is the most difficult area to grow grass because it gets too cold for warm season grasses during the winter and too hot for cool season grasses during the summer. These grasses are generally more shade tolerant than warm season grasses, but still love full sun for optimal growth. Selecting a cool season grass greenview fertilizer. The most popular types of cool season grasses are kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue. Learn how to choose a grass variety that does best in the cool season. If youre not sure what type of grass to plant, you need to determine what you value most in a lawn. It has a rougher texture than most turfgrasses, but because of this toughness, it can handle heavy foot traffic with ease. Warm season turf is often called southern turf or southern grasses because it grows best in hot summer areas and lacks the hardiness of cool season turf. Heat tolerance grass types that can handle high temperatures. Coolseason grasses have adapted to grow well in areas of the country that experience tremendous temperature fluctuations.
Creeping bent grass agrostis stolonifera is a finetextured perennial that forms a tightly knit turf. This warm season grass grows best in the acidic soil of the lower south. The perfect temperature for cool season grass growth is between 65 and 80f. Use the information below to learn when to plant and feed common warmseason or coolseason grasses. Northern zone in the northern united states and in canada, where summers are moderate and winters often are cold, coolseason grasses such as kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue are the primary choices southern zone the southern zone, with hot summers and moderate winters, provides a climate where warmseason. Cool season grasses like cold, rainy weather and are not offended by occasional freezes. Cool season grass identifiers difference between warm. The color and texture of this cool season grass is exceptional with the right growing conditions. These grasses are referred to as the cool season turfgrasses. Zoysia is the most winter hardy of the southern grasses and is sometimes grown up to zone 7. Gci turf academy cool season lawn care guide gci turf. Warmseason turfgrass are those species with optimum growth at temperatures between 80 and 95f 27 to 35c. New blends of the turftype tall fescues are also becoming more widespread. Coolseason turf does well even when the temperatures are a bit low such as in fall, while warmseason grass needs higher temperatures.
Gci turf academy cool season lawn care guide gci turf academy. We choose our grass blends to be aggressive and drought tolerant as well as resistant to many common lawn diseases. In general if a grass can handle hot temperatures, it cannot flourish under cold temperatures and vice versa. The brand new cool season guide update is here newly updated lawn care guide. Grass types are divided into cool season and warm season grasses. Thus the nature of a grass species determines how it is affected by high temperatures. So a grass must be chosen more for your geographical weather conditions based on its performance under temperatures. To learn about the characteristics of different grass types, see choose the right grass for your lawn. Vernation is a term used to describe how the youngest grass leaves are arranged in the shoot inside of the leaf sheath between the collar region and the crown.
Some improved varieties of different grasses some hybrid bermudas for example have been bred to accept higher temperatures. They go dormant in winter and come back quickly in spring. Specific mowing heights vary by grass type and can even be different for different types of the same grass. Both grass types have specific thresholds for dormancy, especially if the weather produces an unexpected cold or heat wave in the spring. The most common types of coolseason grasses are kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and tall fescue.
They thrive on summer heat, but cant withstand northern winters. It can survive in summer, but may brown or go dormant in very hot or droughtlike conditions. Cool season grass maintenance central sod farms, inc. Coolseason lawn grasses, such as kentucky bluegrass, fine and tall fescues, and perennial ryegrass, flourish in northern regions, where their growth peaks in the cool temperatures and plentiful moisture of fall and spring. That means the best choice for a grass will be in the cool season group which indicates the preferred climate conditions of the plant. Once you understand how turfgrasses grow and develop, it is easier see how they function as longlived communities and how they tolerate traffic, mowing, and other problems. Coolseason grasses yield vigorous growth in northern regions with cool spring and fall seasons, and moderate summers. Colonial bent grass grows well in cool, highrainfall areas, such as the pacific northwest. Warmseason grass dense, medium to dark green turf produces an attractive lawn with a medium to coarse textured grass blade a very low maintenance grass. Warmseason grasses are planted in late spring, and they thrive during the hot summer months with full sunlight. Choosing an herbicide that is safe to use on your specific type of cool season grass will help to ensure the herbicide wont harm your lawn. Dec 06, 2018 both grass types have specific thresholds for dormancy, especially if the weather produces an unexpected cold or heat wave in the spring. Cool season turf grasses need vernalization to force sprouting.
The big downfall cool season grasses survive best in cold conditions. Cool season grasses usually have two growing seasons. Warm season grasses, including bahia, bermuda, centipede, st. Well, there is a general rule of thumb for determining what the grass height should be on your lawn. Zoysia tolerates foot traffic well and different cultivars have varying tolerance to drought. If you buy a mixture or have a lawn with several grass varieties, know the types of grass that make up the blend. Colonial bent grass agrostis tenuis does not require the same extreme level of maintenance, nor is it as suitable for low mowing. This warm season turf grass requires full sun, and has a good heat tolerance, wear resistance and will recover quickly if damaged. In some cases, the growth habit of turfgrasses can be useful in identification. Only a few grass species produce acceptable turf in the northern u. For instance, mowing height for empire zoysia is 0. Zoysia grass tolerates sun and shade but is slow growing compared to bermuda and st. When the thermometer hovers between these temperatures.
The best time to plant cool season turf grasses is in spring or fall. How to choose the right grass seed for your region pennington. Good generalpurpose grass for lawns best adapted to hot, humid and tropical climates, grows well where rainfall is high and summers are warm and. Frigid cold winters and moderate summers are no problem for these versatile grass types. But how and when you tackle these tasks varies depending on grass type. By contrast, warmseason grasses perform best in warmer climates and are less common in the. Warmseason grasses are slow to establish the first year, when turf establishes deep roots. Cool season turf grass is a term applied to grass that grows well in the middle to northern half of the united states. Warm season grasses do thrive during the warm season of spring and summer when temperatures are between 80 and 95 f. This is achieved by the cool temperatures of winter and short day lengths. Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass are the main warmseason grasses grown in the transition zone.
Cool season grasses are grass types that grow exceptionally well in the cool weather of fall and spring. Cool season grasses are not suitable for hot desert climates. This turf thrives during the warm season of spring and summer when temperatures are between 80 and 95 degrees fahrenheit, and is more often found in the warm arid and humid. Cool or warm season grass lawn solutions australia. The study of coolseason turfgrasses begins with learning the basic structures of grass plants and how they develop from seed to mature plants. Cool season grass seed for growing cool season grasses.
Aerate compacted soil, dethatch lawns, and plan fall tasks as coolseason grass return to active growth. Cool season grasses are typically found in these states. Many turf experts recommend tall turf type fescue grass for the transition zone as it is the most drought tolerant of the cool season grasses, and it is. And at each mowing, you should only be removing about the top of the grass blade. Diagrams and descriptions of identifying features of coolseason turfgrass species are provided in this section. Diagrams and descriptions of identifying features of cool season turfgrass species are provided in this section. Selective preemergent herbicides for cool season grasses. Growth habits of coolseason turfgrasses are either rhizomatous producing rhizomes, stoloniferous producing stolons, or bunch type a species that does not produce rhizomes or stolons only tillers. Summer feeding can weaken the turf and promote disease. How to choose a coolseason turfgrass variety youtube.
An optimal height for a cool season grass generally is about 2 12 inches. Feb 12, 2010 is tall fescue the best cool season grass type. Apr 01, 2020 if you buy a mixture or have a lawn with several grass varieties, know the types of grass that make up the blend. Although tifway 419 is an excellent choice for home lawns in northern part of the transition zone between cool and warm season grasses, it is primarily used on golf courses, sport fields, and commercial sites. Cool season grasses can be used by all gardeners who live in cool climates. These grasses achieve their peak growth when summer hits its stride. Turfgrasses are divided into two temperature categories.
New blends of the turf type tall fescues are also becoming more widespread. These grasses are so different from coolseason turf and from the old bermudas. Cool season sod grasses arizona sod west coast turf. Geographically, we have a limited true cool season area compared to north america and europe. For example, warmseason grasses are commonly dormant in. With proper ground preparation and maintenance our products are the keystone to a waterwise landscape.
By contrast, warm season grasses perform best in warmer climates and are less common in the midwest, except near the ohio river valley. Test your soil, if needed, for coolseason corrections before seeding. Cool season grass species are all available as seed, whereas warm season species are primarily. Turfgrasses are narrowleaved grass species that form a uniform, longlived ground cover that can tolerate traffic and low mowing heights usually two inches or below. The most commonly planted coolseason grasses include bent grass, kentucky bluegrass, fescues, and ryegrass. Cool season grass identifiers difference between warm and cool. Everything you need to know so that you can have the lawn of your dreams.
The following piece will tell you how cold is too cold to plant grass seed so you can better prepare for it. It is the perfect pairing for someone who has a lawn that lacks shade and gets full sunlight. They generally are very heat and drought tolerant compared to cool season turf, but are more susceptible to cold winters. West coast turf grows the highest quality cool season grasses such as our unique west coaster tall fescue which is our professional blend of fescue and other seed to avoid disease and keep a happy, healthy, and resilient lawn for your home. Once zoysia is established, it provides a lush, green carpet of turf.
Cool season grasses should be fertilized around the time that they emerge from winter dormancy and turn lush green again. Some species go through a winter dormancy lasting between one and four. Maintain taller grass heights throughout summer heat. Sunlight, good soil and a regular water supply are key to a beautiful bluegrass lawn. Because the transition zone has cold winters that can kill warmseason grasses and hot summers that can kill coolseason species, this zone is the most challenging in which to grow turf grass. Warmseason grasses flourish in southern regions where seasonal summer temperatures run high. We worked with a local patriot bermudagrass field, overseeding in late september as we would have with the older varieties of bermuda. Aerate compacted soil, dethatch lawns, and plan fall tasks as cool season grass return to active growth. Selective preemergent herbicides for cool season grasses let you control weeds throughout your lawn without fear that your lawn will be harmed by the application. Test your soil, if needed, for cool season corrections before seeding. Sow the grass seed when soils are at least 4045 degrees fahrenheit. All types of cool season grass grow the most in spring, while warm season grasses put all their energy into summer growth. Bahia grass is a tough, warmseason turfgrass especially suited to the heat and humidity of the south. Cool season grasses are most actively growing in the spring and fall when soil temperatures are 65 degrees or lower.
Products becks turf, inc the highest quality turf grass. In this video i give you some thoughts on whether or not tall fescue might be the best cool season grass type. Keep in mind that high or low temperatures can actually kill different types of grass. Benefits of cool season grasses stay green in winter. Many varieties are unavailable as seed and must be planted as sprigs or sod. Never remove more than onethird of the blade in a single mowing. On the plus side, this grass choice does well with poor soil conditions that other grasses may not be able to survive in, such as sandy, low fertility or acidic soils. Warm season lawn grasses are typically found from the deep south all the way up to the middle of the country. Many warm season grasses go dormant and turn brown once soil temperatures. Seeding cool season grasses into permanent warm season turf to provide green, actively growing turf during colder periods when the warm season grasses are brown and dormant. An optimal height for a coolseason grass generally is about 2 12 inches.
Because of this, many turf professionals use a mixture of grasses in the transition zone to accommodate different times of the year overseeding. Depending on where you live, youre tending turf that contains either warmseason grasses or coolseason grasses. Choosing between cool and warm seasons grasses the lawn. Augustine and zoysia spread by runners, above andor below ground. The temperature that grass starts to grow after winter. Use the information below to learn when to plant and feed common warm season or cool season grasses. The temperature that grass starts to grow after winter home.
Cool season grass species include creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, kentucky bluegrass, annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass. Cool season grasses will grow very well once the snow melts in warm spring temperatures. Cool season vs warm season turf whats the difference. Oct 08, 2018 warm season turf is often called southern turf or southern grasses because it grows best in hot summer areas and lacks the hardiness of cool season turf. In the south and in some coastal areas of the country warm season grasses are often used as turf grasses for lawns. Warm season grasses are planted in late spring, and they thrive during the hot summer months with full sunlight. Warm season grasses are slow to establish the first year, when turf establishes deep roots. However, these grasses grow best when temperatures are between 6075 degree f, which is why they grow most actively in the spring and fall. Coolseason turfgrasses are those species with optimum growth at temperatures between 60 and 75f 15.