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Around 30 different types of grass seed are used worldwide. Each of these will produce a carpet with different characteristics.
There are two types of lawns large groups according to the climate to which they are best suited:
Cool climate turfgrasses perform best during the autumn and spring months and during the summer with the high temperatures they can suffer if watering is not done to cool them during the day.
Warm climate grass seeds are extremely heat-resistant and drought-resistant, but on the other hand, they go dormant in winter, so they lose colour and turn yellowish. Normally when the high temperatures return, these grasses wake up again.
Knowing these details, we are going to review each of the different grasses together to find the most suitable for the needs of each place.
Poa pratensis
This grass is widely used in all types of areas because it is very vigorous and forms a dense cover. It goes into dormancy in hot summers, but resprouts when the ambient temperature becomes milder. Its colour at its best is an intense green.
It is able to recover from use thanks to its rhizomes, but other species are more suitable for intensive use. It is usually sown, but can also be established with sods.
Poa trivialis
Finer and more delicate grass than Poa pratensis, it forms very dense canopies, but is more yellowish in colour. Its ability to compete with other grasses is limited and it may be contaminated by other species and give a non-uniform appearance.
Its root system is short so it does not tolerate drought well. On the other hand, it tolerates cold and poorly lit areas better. It is also suited to poorly drained soils, but has a low tolerance to trampling.
Its establishment is slow and it is generally sown with seed, although it can also be obtained with sod, it does not require too much care for its maintenance and a mowing of 1.5 to 5 cm is recommended.
Agrostis palustris
Agrostis allows very low mowing, which forms very compact, dense and fine turf. It is widely used on golf courses due to its extraordinarily vigorous and fast-establishing stolon growth. It can be shaded for a few hours a day, but needs direct light. Due to its vigour, it usually recovers quickly after a pest attack. It needs high maintenance, maintaining a well-drained soil, little saline and fertile. Due to its vigour it generates a lot of thatch, which can cause diseases and agronomic problems that are difficult for a private individual to deal with. It is not recommended for private lawns if it is not going to be intensively maintained.
It can be established by seed or sod, with sod being the best option due to its speed.
Festuca spp.
Also known as fine fescues, these are grasses with delicate, very narrow, brush-like leaves. They are mixtures of fescues such as red fescue or fescue pratensis. They have different growth habits, but are classified together because of their similar characteristics. They are resistant to well-drained, dry, poorly fertile soils, but do not tolerate poorly drained soils at all. They are often used in mixtures with other species such as Poa pratensis or Lolium perenne.
Establishment is by seed. They germinate easily and establish quickly. It does not need frequent and abundant watering and the high doses of fertilisers work against it. It is a good lawn for private gardens as it does not need a lot of care and mowing can be done with any domestic mower.
Festuca arundinacea
It has very wide blades, which results in a sparse turf. It has little resistance to low temperatures, but in return it has excellent heat tolerance. It generates a large root system which gives it good resistance to pests and drought. In addition, it also tolerates salinity and low fertility. It is resistant to trampling, so it is recommended for installation in areas of heavy use. It recovers slowly from damage, but mixes with other grasses to overcome its slow recovery.
It is easy to establish by seed, but some care must be taken, e.g. do not mow it when the leaf is dry.
Lolium perenne
It is popularly known as Ryegrass. It does not tolerate drought and temperature extremes. It has good wear tolerance and low shade tolerance. It establishes quickly and likes moist, fertile soils with a pH of 6 to 7. It is very popular for its deep green, medium maintenance and is a good choice for home gardens. It is very important that mowing tools are very sharp for a quality cut.
Cynodon dactylon Bermuda)
A very popular warm season grass, it spreads vigorously with rhizomes and stolons and forms very dense turf. Its vigour allows it to adapt to many different climates, but from 10°C it goes dormant and loses its colour. It is usually established by sodding and its mowing height is 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Its main disadvantage is the large thatch it generates, which must be removed by frequent scarifying.
Zoysia spp.
Native to Asia, it is capable of creating very attractive lawns. Its growth is slow despite having stolons and rhizomes, and its establishment is slow and is recommended to be done by sodding. It is perfectly adapted to warm or humid and cool regions. It tolerates heat, humidity, drought and shade well, and grows in clay soil without difficulty.
Stenotaphrum secundatum
It forms a coarse turf, which is not at all cold tolerant and is only used in warm areas. It tolerates shade well, but during drought without irrigation the plant dies. It requires sandy, well-drained, moist soils with a low pH.
Eremochloa ophiuroides
Clumping grass, spreads by stolons and grows slowly. It does not tolerate cold and is perfect for very hot and humid areas. Medium drought tolerance as its roots are shallow. Medium shade tolerance. Even with all of the above, it requires watering during the dry season for its survival.
It is low maintenance, requires little mowing and fertilisation, but has a low tolerance to salinity. It is used in domestic lawns due to its low maintenance and low use. Establishment is usually with seed or sod, but with sod is quicker.
Paspalum notatum
A dense, thick grass, it has some cold tolerance but is adapted to warmer areas, both dry and wet. Its needs are basic, so it does well in dry, infertile areas. The appearance of the grass is not very good, but for hot areas it can be a good solution.
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Buy on AmazonOther species of interest for establishing lawns are:
These are the most common types of grass seed. Your the right choice is essential for a long-lasting cover that is adapted to the microclimate. The growth potential with our recommendations you can have a perfect lawn.
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One Response
post without technicalities and easy to read, so it's a pleasure to read, thanks admin.