Magazine - Cool Season Grasses General Facts & Features

By Jenny Zadro in Consultancy on 19th Jan 2010 13:00

Cool Season Grasses Facts & Features

1. Native to the northern hemisphere

2. Adapted to cool, humid to semi-arid areas extending into the transitional zone.

3. Optimum growth ranges – shoots 15-23 C; roots 10-18 C Main growth periods – Spring and Autumn

4. Four main Genus:
# Bents (Agrostis spp)
# Ryegrasses (Lolium spp)
# Fescues (Festuca spp)
# Bluegrasses (Poa spp)

5. Essentially bunch types – exception creeping bents (stolons) some fescues and poas (rhizomes)

6. Some shade tolerance

7. Do not tolerate frequent, close mowing – except Bents

8. Poorly adapted to droughty soils, high summer temperatures and constant wear

9. Mainly propagated by seed
# Density occurs through tiller production and suitable initial seeding rate
# Generally have a weaker more delicate root system
# Need regular irrigation in the summer period
# Often killed off by snow or low temperatures in their natural ranges – production of large quantities of seed a survival response in response to this.

Cool Season Features

1. Agrostis palustris.
# Fine stolons
# Fine texture
# Soft touch
# Membrane ligule
# Rolled leafbud

2. Festuca nigrescens
# Very fine texture 1mm
# Tufted growth habit
# Stiff to touch
# Folded leafbud

3. Lolium perenne
# Fine/medium texture
# Auricles
# Folded leafbud
# Shiny on backs of leaves


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Read more articles in Consultancy, by Jenny Zadro or from January 2010.