Module 1 - Section 3 - Quiz 3 - Study Guide 3 - Turfgrass
Cool-season grasses
●Grass species that are biologically active within a temperature range of 40 degrees to 80
degrees Fahrenheit
●Near the northern states in the United States
●Kentucky Bluegrass
●Ryegrass group, primarily perennial ryegrass and annual ryegrass
●Fescue grass
Warm-season grasses
●Grass species that are biologically active within a temperature range of 65 degrees to 110
degrees Fahrenheit
●Active between late March and Thanksgiving (mid latter November)
●Most common and popular in Phoenix includes the Bermuda Grass
●Zoysia grass
●St. Augustine grass
Hybrid grasses
●Offspring from crosses of grass species or strains that have superior genetically -
determined traits
●Horticulturalists have been interested in the development of hybrid grasses since the early
1900s
●Turf managers are interested in darker grass plant leaf colors, a finer texture resulting
from narrow grass leaf blades, a denser, lower, and shorter growth habit, improved
drought heat and cold tolerances, biological sterility for limited grass allergies (no
pollen,) and disease resistance
Sod
●Involves the installation and management of turfgrass
●Rectangular sections of grass - covered soil that are 1 - 2 inches thick and are held
together by matted grass roots
●Sod is sold in bulk by turf growers for fast installation
Sprigs
●Involves the installation and management of turfgrass
●3 to 6 inches of grass stems or runners without soil that are planted in rows or broadcast
spread and lightly covered with surface mulch to start a lawn
●Picture shows a grass plant with stolons and rhizomes
●Stolons are stems of grass that are slightly at the surface or above
●Rhizomes are stems of grass that are slightly at the surface or below
●Connected to the stems are 3 nodes where the grass plants will emerge
Plugs
●Involves the installation and management of turfgrass
●2 to 4 inches wide chunks of sod that are either round or square that are spaced evenly
over a surface to start or repair a lawn
Overseeding
●Involves the management of turfgrass in Southcentral Arizona
●The laying of grass seed on top of existing grasses to promote new growth or to replace
the existing grass with a new strain for a season.
●During the cool season, the warm season grass, Bermuda grass, remains dormant and
brown (not dead)
○Overseeding is done to continue the green coloration in the yard
○The Bermuda grass is scalped in late September and early October
○At that time, a cool - season grass seed, typically like perennial ryegrass is laid
down over the top of the Bermuda grass stubble
○With proper irrigation in a few weeks, the perennial ryegrass seeds will germinate
and create a green lawn
●Overseeding is optional
●Overseeding occurs in early October when transitioning into the winter lawn from the
summer lawn
●Night temperatures begin to lower between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit
●Begins by mowing the Bermuda grass lawn to ⅛ to ¼ inch height known as scalping
○Birds love to eat ryegrass seeds
○After sowing the seeds, cover the seeds with fine, composted, organic mulch
○Seeds need to be watered 10 to 20 minutes several times a day
○Perennial ryegrass germination takes about 5 to 12 days
○The frequency of water should be reduced as growth occurs
○After 2 weeks of established germination, mowing may occur for lawn upkeep
○After scalping, spread grass clippings as a mulch to help germinate ryegrass seeds
and reduce the cost of overseeding and recycle nitrogen/nutrients/organic matter
back into the lawn
Scalping
●Involves the management of turfgrass in Southcentral Arizona
●Removal of an excessive quantity of grass leaf tissue at any one mowing, resulting in a
stubbly brown appearance due to exposed stems, dead leaves, and even bare soil
●Viewed negatively by professional turfgrass managers
●Do not mow grass too short
●In late September and early October, turfgrass managers are transitioning from the
summer lawn (Bermuda grass lawn) to the winter lawn (perennial ryegrass lawn)
●The Bermuda Grass lawn is scalped very short prior to the application of seed in a
process called overseeding
Turf grass lawn 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)
Background notes
●The term “lawn” or “laune” originated from celtic origin meaning “an enclosed place of
worship”
●Lawns were clipped by grazing animals, such as sheep, or by a scythe in the past
●Frederick Olmsted was a famous landscape designer in the late 1860s
○Lawns should be massive and extend over property lines to give suburban housing
developments a park - like setting
○The early 20th century incorporated lawns due to the National ad campaign by the
U.S. Garden Club
○Taking care of a lawn became a civic pride that kept neighborhoods spiffy
●Decades of research funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the golf
industry
●Artificial turf is made up of nylon and polypropylene plastic polymers that are woven
together similar to how carpet is manufactured
○Provides few environmental benefits compared to a living lawn
○Surface temperatures were similar to asphalt and concrete
○Can be as hot as 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during summer afternoons
