Turf Seed In The Contractor Market: Comfort Zone

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is best adapted to permanent turf use in Zones 1, 2 and the northern half or higher elevations of Zones 3, 4 and 5. The strength of this species is the combination of quick germination and establishment, high wear tolerance and good tolerance to cutting heights as low as 1/6 of an inch with proper management.

FINE FESCUE
Fine fescues include: strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra rubra) slender creeping fescue (Festuca rubra trichophylla), Chewings fescue (Festuca rubra commutata), hard fescue (Festuca ovina longifolia) and sheeps fescue (Festuca ovina ovina). They are well adapted to dry, infertile and shady conditions in Zones 1 and 2 similar to those found in many home landscapes.

TALL FESCUE
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) will provide a very drought tolerant turf where soils are deep in Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4. Since tall fescues are very shade tolerant, they adapt to shady situations in the northern fringes of Zone 4 as well. Once they are well established, tall fescues provide a very wear tolerant turf.

CREEPING BENTGRASS
Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis paustris) is best suited for closely mowed (½ inch or less) golf turf in Zones 1 and 2, but it also performs well with higher maintenance in Zone 3. It is very cold tolerant and moderately heat tolerant, but creeping bentgrass should not be maintained at heights more than a ½-inch high as it becomes very puffy and susceptible to scalping injury.

BERMUDAGRASS
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is widely used in Zones 4 and 5. Use of cold tolerant varieties are also recommended for use in Zone 3. Bermuda-grass is well adapted to full sun, it is very wear tolerant and it recuperates well from damage because it produces both rhizomes and stolons.

ZOYSIAGRASS
Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) is well adapted to Zones 3, 4 and portions of Zone 5. It is one of the most wear tolerant turfgrasses available. Its fertility and moisture requirements are quite low compared to other turfgrasses, and shade tolerance is very good – much better than bermudagrass. Therefore, zoysiagrass fits into many shady situations in the landscape.

Turfgrass Growing Zones Illustration and information provided by Medalist America, Post Falls, Idaho Zone 1: COOL SEMI-ARID AND NORTHERN COOL HUMID The best-adapted grasses are Kentucky bluegrasses, fine fescues and creeping bentgrasses. Cold and desiccation potential limit the use of perennial ryegrasses and tall fescues. Some perennial ryes are blended with Kentucky bluegrasses for better wear tolerance or density, but the proportion of Kentucky bluegrass is generally higher. Tall fescues alone, or with a low proportion of Kentucky bluegrass, may be used in the plains and mountain states in non-irrigated turf cut at 1½ inches. The best time to seed in this region is from early August to mid-September. Zone 2: COOL HUMID Cool-season grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue and creeping bentgrass, are all suitable for a high quality turf. In parts of the zone that feature a warmer winter or consistent snow cover, straight perennial ryegrass, tall fescue or larger proportions of either species may be used in a blend. Zone 3: TRANSITION ZONE The potential for extremes in both heat and cold make this a challenging region for turf. Summer heat and humidity are the limiting factors for cool-season grasses in the southeastern reaches of this zone. Best seeding dates for cool-season grasses are late August until early October, and mid-June until mid-July for warm-season grasses. The northern half can be a problem for most warm-season grasses due to a lack of cold hardiness, although zoysiagrass is well adapted with good heat and drought tolerance. Zone 4: WARM TEMPERATE AND WARM MARINE Warm-season grasses, such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, perform best. Tall fescue is adapted to the cooler semi-arid and/or shady portions of this zone where irrigation is available. Dormant warm-season grasses are overseeded in the early fall with cool-season species to improve winter appearance. Best seeding dates for warm-season grasses in this zone are from mid-May until mid-July. Zone 5: SUB-TROPICAL AND TROPICAL Warm-season grasses, such as ber-mudagrass, predominate. Dormant warm-season grasses are overseeded with cool-season grasses during mid- to late fall to provide a more pleasing look in the winter. Best seeding dates for warm-season grasses are from early May until late July.