In this topic, you will be studying turf grasses and lawns. Some people think that
growing lawns in the Southwest is not sustainable, but there are certain beneficial
aspects of growing a turf grass lawn that cannot easily be replaced. To learn more
about this debate, read the supplemental article posted in the folder.
Like herbaceous plants used for landscape color, the climate of Arizona definitely
influences what types of turf grasses are grown and when we can grow them. In
Phoenix, you can grow warm-season grasses that survive our hot summer but go
dormant in the winter. You can also grow cool-season grasses that grow well in
the winter and spring but cannot easily survive our hot summer. Before viewing
the videos read the following sections of the textbook and answer the following
questions.
Define the following terms:
Cool-season grasses - withstand winter cold but typically languish in hot, dry
summers. Grow in the Northwest, with abundant summer rainfall. SEE PAGE
676.
Warm-season grasses - thrive in hot weather and turn dormant and brown in
the winter. Grow in CA and the Southwest. SEE PAGE 676.
Hybrid grasses - (reinforced natural grass) is a product created by
combining natural grass with synthetic reinforcing fibers. Used for stadium
pitches and training pitches, American football and other sports
Sod - most expensive way to start a lawn, but gives instant coverage with
almost no weed problems
Sprigs - pieces of grass stem and root used to plant warm-season grasses;
give faster coverage than seeds. Plant in spring. SEE PAGE 677.
Plugs - small-rooted plants used for warm-season spreading grasses such as
buffalo and hybrid Bermuda. Plant in spring. Water often until root takes
hold
Overseeding - planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, easy way to
fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass
varieties and enhance the color of the lawn
Scalping - cutting the grass so low that the crown (where the plant emerges
from the earth) is damaged by the mower blade
You are now ready to watch the videos for this section entitled Southwest Turf
grass and Arizona Cardinals Football Playing Field. Click on the Video link in the
Folder on the course website. At the end of the videos, you should be able to
answer the following questions based on information in the videos Adobe
Presenter presentation and your textbook.
1. What benefits are derived in the landscape from growing a lawn?
Cuts dust, help cool your immediate environment.
What are some of the expenses involved when growing a lawn?
Extra Water
Study Guide-Southwest Turf grass and Lawns
2. What examples of cool-season grasses were presented in the video as grasses
that can be used for lawns in the Phoenix area?
Turf tall fescue, Lolium (Annual and perennial ryegrass)
What are examples of warm-season grasses?
Bermuda
Why can’t people living in central Arizona grow a single type of grass year-
round?
Won’t maintain its color due to weather.
Because of the difference in climate Arizona grows both warm-season
grass and cool-season grass. There is not one grass that can
accommodate both seasons.
3. What advantages/disadvantages were discussed in the video for each of the
different types of cool season-grasses? For example: What cool-season grass
can be planted in the fall and will stay greener longer throughout the winter
into spring and early summer?
Tall Fescue
Is it better to grow annual or perennial ryegrass?
Perennial
Which type of ryegrass is more expensive to plant and which is more difficult to
maintain?
Annual
oBright green
oElongated blades
oWeak
oIntolerant of foot traffic
Which type of ryegrass is better if a person has children and pets?
Perennial
oShort and stiff
oDense and durable (tolerant to foot traffic)
oDark green
4. The video mentioned two general types of Bermuda grass - what are they?
Common Bermuda and Hybrid Bermuda
And how are they different?
Common bermudagrass will quickly send up seed heads that stand above
the level of grass leaves. Hybrid bermudagrass will send up fewer seed
heads.
What are some of the advantages to planting hybrid Bermuda grass?
Hybrid Bermuda, bred for its dark blue-green color and its thick, short
growth
shade tolerance, disease resistance, compact growth and color.
Hybrid Bermudagrass is sterile, it does not produce pollen.
Wear resistant, sterile, densely matted habit, fine texture, dark green
5. How do some of the examples of hybrid Bermuda grass that were
demonstrated in the video differ (Santa Ana, Tifway and Midiron)?
Santa Ana: planted in sod, fine texture.
Midiron: more maintenance, coarser texture, tough and hardy, not much
maintenance.
Tifway: fine texture, used in putting greens. Aggressive root growth and
rapid recover after heavy use
6. What types of turf grasses grow best in the Phoenix region in lawn areas under
trees and in shade?
St. Augustine
What types are not tolerant of shade?
Bermuda
What is the best turf grass to use for a sunny residential Phoenix landscape
location in the summer?
In the winter?
Summer = Midiron
oBecause of its tolerance to a variety of mowing and watering
practices
Winter = Perennial Rye Grass
oTolerant to use, short and stiff, frost resistant
7. When designing and planting a lawn area, what key points should one
remember to include and do?
What is the difference between using seed, sod and sprigs to plant a lawn?
Sod is mature turf grass that has been grown and cut into long strips by
professional growers. Plugs are small sections of sod that have mature
roots.
How is common Bermuda grass typically planted?
Seed
How is hybrid Bermuda grass typically planted?
Sod or stollens or plugs.
8. When does Bermuda grass turn brown and dormant?
When grass goes dormant for the cold winter months, it shuts down and
turns brown in order to conserve water and nutrients. When grass goes
dormant in the summer, it also turns brown. Summer dormancy occurs
when the grass is stressed out by intense heat and drought. It can stay in
this dormant state safely for 3-4 weeks without dying, although intense
drought will kill it over time. Dormant turf is not very pleasant to look at
with its unsightly brown tinge. Fortunately the grass will green up once
conditions improve.
When types of lawns in Phoenix are overseeded, and what type of grass is used
in the overseeding process?
Perennial ryegrass
What is the seeding rate per 1,000 square feet of lawn used for overseeding
cool-season grasses?
10-15 pounds of seed per
After overseeding, how often and for how long should one sprinkler irrigate to
establish?
3x a day for 5 minutes for the first week, then cut back and water once a
day
9. Once established, about how often should a lawn be sprinkler watered?
First planting, water 3-6 times a day every day, then start cutting back
after 2-3 weeks. Eventually, once every 2-3 days.
10. What type of fertilizer is used to fertilize lawns?
Ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate
How much fertilizer is generally needed to keep a lawn healthy?
3-6 pounds of nitrogen per thousand square feet. Per year. About 4 times
a year.
11. Why is it important to regularly mow lawns?
Frequency
oCool season – mow once weekly
oWarmer season – mow 2 – 3 times weekly
How do mowing heights differ between the different types of grasses
commonly grown in the Phoenix area?
Warm-Season Grasses
oBahia: 2.5 to 4 inches
oBermuda: 0.5 to 2.5 inches
oBuffalo: 1.5 to 4 inches
oCentipede: 1 to 2.5 inches
oKikuyu grass: 1 to 1.5 inches
oSt. Augustine: 1 to 3 inches
oZoysia: 0.5 to 3 inches
Cool-Season Grasses
oFine fescue: 1.5 to 4 inches
oKentucky bluegrass: 0.75 to 3.5 inches
oPerennial ryegrass: 0.75 to 2.5 inches
oTall fescue: 1.5 to 4 inches
If you want more information about lawns, check out the websites in the External
Links/Turf grass folder on the course website. The Arizona Master Gardeners
Manual on Lawns is especially informative. Plants mentioned in this video are
listed below.
Cynodon (Common and hybrid Bermuda grass; locally used cultivars include Santa
Ana, Tifway 419 & Midiron)
Lolium (Annual and perennial ryegrass)
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