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TURF TIPS
March 2003, No. 1
PURCHASING TURF SEED THIS YEAR?
- MAKE AN INFORMED SELECTION.
by: Luke Cella, CGCS & Tom Voigt
There is no doubt that selecting the best quality turfgrass seed
available is an important first step when planting turfgrass.
I always make the analogy to painting my house. I buy the best
paint I can find, because I hate to paint. If I skimp by purchasing
cheap paint, I will be repainting after a few of our winters,
whereas if I buy the best paint, I may be able to rely on my two
sons (toddler and infant) painting my house the next time it needs
it. The same goes for turfgrass seed. If you are planning a new
seeding, a complete renovation, or filling in bare areas, use
the best turf seed available for that location. The manager of
the turf will thank you years from now, even if it is yourself.
A STARTING PLACE
The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) is a cooperative
effort between the non-profit National Turfgrass Federation, Inc.
and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program
is one of the largest and most widely known turfgrass research
programs in the world. NTEP links the private and public sectors
of the seed industry through the common goals of improving grasses,
developing new cultivars, and establishing uniform evaluation
standards. Most quality turfgrasses are rated by impartial judges
and screened before coming to market.
THE NUMBERS ARE THERE FOR YOU
Each year field trials are set up in a uniform effort, designed,
developed and coordinated by NTEP. Each month in every growing
season dedicated university personnel traverse over many plots
of turf in this program. With clipboards in hand, these individuals
judge plots of turfgrass based upon many factors. These factors
include quality, color, spring green-up, leaf texture, density,
cover, seedling vigor/establishment, disease and insect damage,
drought tolerance, frost tolerance, traffic tolerance, thatch
accumulation, seedhead production, Poa annua invasion, and mowing
quality. For a complete explanation of each category or factor
log on to http://www.ntep.org/reports/ratings.htm.
Arguably, the most important factor rated is turf quality. Turfgrass
quality is a measure of the combination of aesthetics (i.e. density,
uniformity, texture, smoothness, growth habit and color) and functional
value of a grass stand. In the NTEP, a number system is used to
measure turf quality. A 1 to 9 scale is employed. The number 9
is of highest quality and the number 1 is given to turf that is
of poorest quality. Ratings of 5 or 6 are usually the cutoffs
for minimally acceptable turf.
There are several important rules when looking at the data from
any NTEP trial. Because of the ecology of turfgrass, quality ratings
can vary depending on the time of year, species of grass and intensity
and type of management. It is important to note that quality ratings
are relative within a species. One can safely compare a Kentucky
bluegrass cultivar to another Kentucky bluegrass cultivar in the
same study. However, do not compare the quality ratings among
species. This can cause errors. A Creeping bentgrass cultivar
(with a quality rating of 6) under putting green management cannot
be compared to a Tall fescue cultivar (with a quality rating of
6) in a low maintenance setting. An acceptable quality rating
value for a utility turf differs from the same value for a putting
green. The end use of the turf is different for each species and
dictates the judging criteria.
Another important rule is to look at data collected in your locale.
All of the data collected from across the country is posted on
the NTEP website (www.ntep.org), however, one should only use
data from your locale. When searching for a cultivar, choose one
that has been tested under the conditions in which you intend
to grow and manage it. It is important to look at the cultural
conditions and practices applied to the turf. Mowing height, fertility,
and irrigation regimes are important attributes that one needs
to know prior to making a selection.
For example, if I intended to search for a new grass for my putting
greens, I would follow these steps:
1. Search the available data gathered from locations that have
similar (if not the same) growing environment (soils and climate)
as my putting greens.
2. Search through the data for grasses grown under putting green
maintenance regimes.
3. Look closely at the attributes of the turf studied and match
the data to my needs.
4. Talk to other superintendents that have recently re-grassed
their putting surfaces to obtain their impressions of the grasses
they've planted.
5. Visit university field days and on-site plantings to see the
grasses first-hand.
By using these steps I can narrow my selection of available turf
down to a workable number before I begin to gather advice from
my peers that have experience with specific cultivars.
Trials, like this one done at the Midwest Golf
House, are designed to
evaluate grass varieties and their suitability to our Midwest
climate.
OUR LOCAL DATA
Most of the turfgrass cultivars listed below have performed
acceptably in trials in Urbana, and have been evaluated for at
least three growing seasons before being added to the lists. Also,
included is a list of creeping bentgrasses that performed well
(1998-2002) on a USGA sand-based green in our On-Site Putting
Green Trial at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, IL.
The Kentucky bluegrasses and perennial ryegrasses were irrigated
to prevent stress, were mowed at 0.75 to 2.0 inches (except where
noted), and received 2-to-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square
feet per year. The tall fescues and fine fescues have not been
irrigated, have been maintained at 1.75-to-3.0 inches, and have
received 1-to-2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year.
The creeping bentgrasses were irrigated to prevent stress, were
mowed at 0.5 inch (fairway) and 0.125-to-0.1875 inch (putting
green), and received 3-to-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square
feet per year. The putting green study occurred on native soil.
These lists should be used to guide turfgrass cultivar purchases
and should not be considered all-inclusive; cultivars not listed
may not have been tested in our trials or may perform well when
grown under different management and/or environmental conditions.
Seed of some cultivars may no longer be available nor be available
in all areas.
IMPROVED KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS CULTIVARS
| Absolute |
Barmax |
Columbia |
Limousine |
Parade |
SR2100 |
| Adelphi |
Baron |
Conni |
Livingston |
Plush |
SR2109 |
| Admiral |
Barzan |
Coventry |
Majestic |
Princeton 105 |
Summit |
| Allure |
Bensun (A-34) |
Cynthia |
Midnight |
Rambo |
Sydsport |
| Alpine |
Blacksburg |
Eagleton |
Mona |
Ram I |
Total Eclipse |
| America |
Broadway |
Eclipse |
Monopoly |
Raven |
Trenton |
| Ampella |
Bono |
Enmundi |
Mystic |
Rugby |
Victa |
| Argyle |
Bristol |
Estate |
North Star |
Rugby II |
Washington |
| Aspen |
Challenger |
Explorer |
Nugget |
Serene |
Welcome |
| Banff |
Cheri |
Glade |
NuGlade |
Shamrock |
Wildwood |
| Barblue |
Classic |
Julia |
Odyssey |
SR200 |
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PERENNIAL RYEGRASS CULTIVARS
| Academy |
Blazer II |
Diplomat |
Omega II |
Prelude |
Seville |
| Accent |
Brenda |
Edge |
Ovation |
Quickstart |
Sonata |
| Achiever |
Buccaneer II |
Elka |
Palmer |
R2 |
SR 4200 |
| Advent |
Caliente |
Equal |
Palmer III |
Ranger |
SR 4400 |
| Allaire |
Citation II |
Express |
Panther |
Repell |
Stallion Supreme |
| APM |
Calypso II |
Gator |
Passport |
Repell II |
Tara |
| Assure |
Dancer |
Gettysburg |
Patriot |
Riviera |
Target |
| Barrage ++ |
Dandy |
Goalie |
Pennant |
Riviera II |
Williamsburg |
| Barry |
Dasher |
Majesty |
Pinnacle |
RPBD |
Wind Star |
| Birdie II |
Delray |
Manhattan II |
Precision |
Runway |
Yorktown III |
| Blackhawk |
Derby |
Montery |
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TALL FESCUE CULTIVARS
| Adventure |
Carefree |
Falcon III |
Mesa |
Rebel Sentry |
Tarheel |
| Alamo |
Chieftan |
Finelawn |
Milennium |
Regiment |
Titan 2 |
| Apache |
Cochise II |
Finelawn 88 |
Monarch |
Rembrandt |
Thoroughbred |
| Apache II |
Coronado |
Finelawn Petite |
Montauk |
Safari |
Tomahawk |
| Austin |
Coronado Gold |
Genesis |
Mustang |
Scorpio |
Tomahawk E+ |
| Aztec |
Coyote |
Jaguar |
Mustang II |
Silverado |
Trailblazer |
| Barrera |
Crossfire II |
Jaguar II |
Olympic |
Shenandoah |
Trailblazer II |
| Bonanza |
Dasher |
Legend |
OnCue |
Shenandoah II |
Trident |
| Bonanza II |
Duke |
Leprechaun |
Plantation |
Southern Choice |
Tulsa |
| Bonzai Plus |
Duster |
Lexus |
Pyramid |
SR 8200 |
Vegas |
| Bonsai 2000 |
Eldorado |
Lion |
Rebel |
SR 8210 |
Virtue |
| Brookston |
Empress |
Marksman |
Rebel II |
SR 8300 |
Wolfpack |
| Bullet |
Falcon |
Marathon |
Rebel Junior |
SR 8400 |
Wrangler |
| Cafa 101 |
Falcon II |
Masterpiece |
Rebel 3D |
Sundance |
Wyatt |
FINE-LEAF FESCUE CUTIVARS (TYPE)
| 4001 (hard) |
Jamestown II (chewings) |
Shadow (E) (chewings) |
| Berkshire (hard) |
Jasper II (strong creeper) |
Shadow II (chewings) |
| Bighorn (hard) |
K-2 (chewings) |
Silhouette (chewings) |
| Bridgeport (chewings) |
Longfellow II (strong creeper) |
SR 5100 (chewings) |
| Brittany (chewings) |
Medina (chewings) |
SR 5210 (strong creeper) |
| Dawson (slender creeper) |
Nordic (hard) |
Tiffany (chewings) |
| Cindy Lou (strong creeper) |
Oxford (hard) |
Treazure (chewings) |
| Culombra (chewings) |
Reliant II (hard) |
Victory (E) (chewings) |
| Eco (chewings) |
Sandpiper (chewings) |
Victory II (chewings) |
| Flyer II (strong creeper) |
Seabreeze (slender creeper) |
Wrigley (chewings) |
BENTGRASS CULTIVARS
** All cultivars are creeping bentgrasses except where noted.
** PGU = putting green on USGA sand rootzone, PGNS = putting
green on native soil rootzone, F = fairway
| Bengal (PGNS) |
Penn A-2 (PGU, PGNS) |
Seaside II (F) |
| Century (PGNS) |
Penn A-4 (PGU, PGNS) |
SR 1020 (PG) |
| Glory colonial bentgrass (F) |
Penn G-1 (PGU, PGNS, F) |
SR 1119 (F) |
| Imperial (PGNS) |
Penn G-6 (PGU, PGNS, F) |
Tiger II colonial bentgrass (F) |
| L-93 (PGU, PGNS, F) |
Penneagle (F) |
Trueline (F) |
| Penn A-1 (PGU, PGNS) |
Providence (PGNS) |
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Luke Cella, CGCS
Editor Turfgrass Tips
Tom Voigt,
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
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