Grass Selection

Turf Integrated Pest Management begins with growing the grass species most likely to succeed. Choose the best adapted species for the site conditions and the intended use of the area. The wrong species in the wrong place will led to increased need for water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Use these guidelines for choosing turf grass species when renovating or establishing athletic fields and lawns.

Grass species well adapted for use in Maine as athletic fields or general lawns include Kentucky Bluegrass, Creeping Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue, Hard Fescue, and Perennial Ryegrass.

Different grades of athletic fields should be planted according to what has been shown to work optimally:

Mixtures including Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass are best.

Level A athletic fields:

80% Kentucky Bluegrass (2-3 varieties)
20% Perennial Ryegrass (2 varieties)

Level B athletic fields:

60% Kentucky Bluegrass (2-3 varieties)
20% Red Fescue
20% Perennial Ryegrass

General Lawns:

40% Kentucky Bluegrass (2 varieties)
20% Chewings Fescue
20% Hard Fescue
20% Perennial Ryegrass

Certain varieties of fescue and perennial ryegrass have Endophytes, a beneficial fungi, that controls surface feeding insects. Choose to use these if available.

Improved varieties of each species exist and should be considered for use. The following have good, general characteristics based on The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (http://www.ntep.org/):

Kentucky Bluegrass: Liberator, Award, Midnight, Nuglade, North Star, Baronie, Odyssey

Perennial Ryegrass: Citation III, Linn, Stardance, Pennfine, Advantage, Palmer III, Secretariat, Brightstar II, Calypso, Premier II, Pennant II

Chewings Fescue: Shadow II, Banner III, Brittany, Tiffany, Bridgeport

Hard Fescue: Discovery, Reliant II, SR 3100, Osprey, Defiant, Nordic

Red Fescue: Florentine, Shademaster II, Jasper

Printable Version [PDF]

Additional Resources:

Turfgrass Management [Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Office]

Photo credits:

http://blaircountylawnservice.com/