Cool Season Grasses
On average, these climates have cold winters and warm/hot summers. Usually
they also have regular intervals of rain throughout the summer months,
but grasses will tolerate some extended periods of draught by going
dormant.
Durable cool-season grasses include the most popular - Kentucky bluegrass,
perennial rye, tall and fine fescues. New blends of the turf-type tall
fescues are also becoming more widespread.
Identifying cool season grasses:
Textures
Look at the grass' texture to tell it from other types. Coarse tall
fescue's big blades and bunches look rougher than bluegrass's and rye's
narrow,
fine leaves. If your grass has thin, needlelike leaves it is probably
a fine fescue.
Colors
Kentucky bluegrass is true green like
fine fescue but turns brown easily during hot weather. Look for new
cultivars of tall fescues noted for their reliable dark green even
in summer, and perennial ryes that sprout bright green, then darken.
See an old lawn with dead patches? Think bent grass, now popular only
on golf courses because of its high maintenance requirements.
Growth habits
Rye and tall fescue sprout and take over quickly compared
with bluegrass and fine fescue. Most fescues are are likely to bunch
up, however, new varieties of fescue are less likely to do this.
Tall fescue needs little additional irrigation and stands up to regular
use as on a playground. Bluegrass needs
regular irrigation
to survive.
Typical Cool Season Grasses
Kentucky Blue Grass
Turf Type Tall Fescues
Fine Fescues
Rye Grass
Titan
Thermal
