Cultivar Profiles such as Perennial Ryegrass, Smooth Stalked Meadow grass, Red Fescue, Strong Creeping Red Fescue, Slender Creeping Red Fescue, Chewing Fescue, Browntop Bentgrass, Sheep’s Fescue & Hard Fescue explained.
Hardwearing Cultivar Profiles
PERENNIAL RYEGRASS
Lolium perenne
Approx 750,000 seeds/kg
Fast establishment
Very High Wear Tolerance
Fast re-growth of tillers and leaves
Perennial ryegrass is the fastest establishing species of all the turf grasses. It prefers milder climates but tolerates low temperatures. In temperate climates perennial ryegrass is a true perennial with a high persistence. It can be utilised on most soil types, with the exception of very wet land. Late heading varieties tend to be better under low input utilisation due to less stem formation in mid summer. Some of our new varieties like Sirtaky and Cassiopeia have exceptional density and very fine leaves.
SMOOTH STALKED MEADOW GRASS
Poa pratensis
Approx. 3,500,000 seeds/kg
Persistent High Wear tolerance
Good recovery
Found in nature on both mineral and humus-rich soils in both northern and southern hemispheres. Fine-leaved varieties with excellent turf qualities have been selected. Poa pratensis isa persistent specie with strong rhizomes and erect leafy shoots. Growth starts early in the spring and re-growth consists mainly of leafy material that is mown very easily and gives a clean cut. Poa pratensis tolerates hard wear and because of it’s rhizomes, can regenerate itself even if the sward is very badly damaged. The heat tolerance of Poa pratensis is good.
RED FESCUES
Approx. 980,000 seeds/kg
STRONG CREEPING RED FESCUES
Festuca rubra ssp.rubra
The most robust and adaptable of the three red fescues. By forming strong rhizomes, it is able to close holes in the grass sward very quickly. It tolerates extreme summer temperatures better than other fescues. Rubra rubra is faster to establish than either slender or chewing fescue and can be used individually or in conjunction with perennial ryegrass to secure a good recuperation of the grass sward.
SLENDER CREEPING RED FESCUE
Festuca rubra ssp. Litoralis
Litoralis has short rhizomes that facilitates the repair of holes in the sward but at a slower pace than rubra. Shoot density is very high enhancing the species ability to withstand close mowing. High salt tolerance makes litoralis a good partner in mixtures for roadsides and parks where salt is used during the winter on roads and paths. The drought and shade tolerance of litoralis is higher than for the other red fescue types and this sub-species thrives especially in a mild coastal climate.
CHEWINGS FESCUE
Festuca rubra ssp. Commutata
Commutata has no rhizomes (bunch grass) but the highest density of shoots of the three types. When using commutata in mixtures it is often necessary to add one of the other fescue types with rhizomes (or Poa pratensis) in order to facilitate the infill and repair of gaps in the sward. In cold areas, commutata is an important component as it has higher winter hardiness than the other fescues. As shoot density is very high, commutata is also an integral component of mixtures that are required to tolerate close mowing. This would especially be so for golf and bowling greens.
Sports Cultivar Profiles
BROWNTOP BENTGRASS
Agrostis tenuis
Approx.13,000,000 seeds/kg
Browntop bent is used extensively on golf greens in mixtures with red fescue for low input purposes. It tolerates close mowing very well. The shoot density is high and it is very adaptable to changeable growing conditions.
SHEEP’S FESCUE
Festuca ovina
Exceptionally dense and deeply dark green colour with exceptional disease resistance. 1.1 million seeds per kilogram
HARD FESCUE
Festuca longifolia
Hard fescue is one of the grasses with the lowest need of input, thriving on light dry soils with very high adaptation to drought, heat and winter cold. The shade tolerance of hard fescue is good, achieving the same levels as red fescue.
Triana – a low input drought resistant, shade tolerant variety.