Guide to Sports Grass

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS - Lolium perenne

This grass is considered an excellent species for use in most sports. It is used extensively for winter games pitches such as football and rugby. Hard wearing characteristics also make it suitable for cricket, tennis and in some areas of golf. It grows in a wide range of soil types but prefers plenty of nutrients and moisture. It has a tufted growth habit.

5g = 3000 seeds approx.

SMOOTH STALK MEADOW GRASS - Poa pratensis

This grass has a spreading growth habit which is achieved by new shoots from an underground stem called a rhizome. The ability to produce new plants means it can recover quickly from wear. The main benefit of using this grass is not normally realised until it is established. It can be used in winter sports, cricket outfields and golf fairway situations.

5g = 17000 seeds approx.

FINE TURF GRASSES

CHEWINGS FESCUE - Festuca rubra commutata

This grass has fine leaves and a tufted growth habit. A tolerance to close mowing makes it particularly suitable for golf greens, tees, fairways, tennis courts, bowling greens and cricket squares.

5g = 5000 seeds approx.

SLENDER CREEPING RED FESCUE - Festuca rubra litoralis

This grass is similar to chewings fescue but has a creeping habit and can rejuvenate by an underground stem called a rhizome. The species is particularly suited to golf greens, tees, and fairways but it may also be used in winter sports seed mixtures to aid density and recovery of the playing surface.

5 g = 5000 seeds approx.

BENT GRASS - Agrostis sp.

The grasses within this species can spread by means of either rhizomes (browntop bent) or by creeping overground stems called stolons (creeping bent). Many shoots are produced by this grass helping to create a compact sward. This grass is used extensively in golf and bowling green mixtures. It may also form part of a mixture for golf fairways, tennis courts, horse race courses and cricket - squares and outfields - to improve density and recovery of the sward following wear.

5g = 50,000 seeds approx.

ANNUAL MEADOW GRASS -Poa annua

This grass is usually considered a weed by sports turf managers as it encroaches naturally into all playing surfaces. In fact it is not unusual for it to be the dominant grass even at top sporting venues. Once established it grows quickly, self seeding in to the bare areas caused by player wear. It will tolerate a wide range of growing conditions but poor characteristics make it a difficult grass to manage. As a sports spectator it can normally be identified by patches of an unattractive yellowish green colour.

5g = 17000 seeds approx.

OTHER GRASSES USED IN SPORTS

Sheeps fescue

Hard fescue

Tall fescue

Velvet bent

Rough stalked meadow grass

Crested dogstail

WEED GRASSES IN SPORTS TURF

Annual meadow grass

Yorkshire fog

Agricultural grass sp.

ANNUAL MEADOW GRASS YORKSHIRE F

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