Many lawn problems result from seeding grasses incapable of producing a high-quality turf. Since a lawn is seeded with the expectation that it will be permanent, it is important to select a grass adapted to the area, capable of delivering the desired performance and suited to the intended level of management. The least expensive seed selections are likely to give the poorest results, but expensive seed will not necessarily guarantee good results.
In Ohio somewhat few species of grass are useful for home lawn turf. The recommended species include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescue. Table 1 summarizes information pertaining to the recommended uses of these grasses, their potential quality, relative management costs and seeding rates.
Kentucky bluegrass: Kentucky bluegrass is the primary turfgrass in Ohio. With proper management, it forms a fine textured, high-quality, long lasting turf. It has an aggressive sod-forming nature that allows rapid recovery from injury. It is winter-hardy and can withstand severe drought; however, it often becomes dormant during periods of hot or dry weather.
Kentucky bluegrass requires moist, well-drained, fertile soil. It will not tolerate extremely acid or alkaline soils and generally does not tolerate shade. Germination and establishment rate are slow, and weeds may become a problem if seeded in spring or summer. Kentucky bluegrass can be established from seed or as sod with equal success.
For a high-quality, weed-free turf, Kentucky bluegrass requires a medium to high level of management with regular applications of fertilizer. Although not needed for survival, irrigation is required during hot, dry periods if turf quality is to be maintained. All varieties respond well to a mowing height of 2 to 2 1/2 inches.
Ryegrass: Both perennial and annual (or Italian) ryegrasses are used for turf purposes. Ryegrass seed labeled "common" or "domestic" is usually a mixture of annual and perennial types. The ryegrasses have the most rapid germination and seedling establishment of all the turfgrass species. For this reason they are used primarily where rapid establishment is desired.
Annual ryegrass usually persists for only one season, making it useful only as a temporary cover. These selections lack acceptable color, are difficult to mow and do not make a high-quality turf. Similar shortcomings are also exhibited by the older varieties of perennial ryegrass. These older perennial types usually persist for only a few years because of poor winter hardiness. The use of annual ryegrass or older varieties of perennial ryegrass are not recommended for Ohio lawns. Newer varieties of perennial ryegrass developed specifically for turf have higher density, improved mowing quality, greater cold tolerance, better disease resistance, darker green color and finer leaf texture than the older perennial ryegrass selections. These improved varieties exhibit quick germination, and rapid establishment making them ideal selections for use as a quick cover and in heavily trafficked areas.
All perennial ryegrasses require well-drained soils of medium to high fertility. The maintenance, fertility and pH requirements are similar to the improved bluegrasses. The optimal mowing height is 2 to 2 1/2 inches. Well-sharpened mower blades are necessary to achieve a high-quality cut. Supplemental irrigation is required to maintain high quality during drought conditions.
Tall Fescue: Tall fescue continues to be a preferred species selection for usage on many Ohio turfgrass sites, particularly in the southern part of the state. Although the traditional "Kentucky-31" and the new, improved "turf type" cultivars are all technically tall fescues, dramatic differences in quality and appearance exist. Tall fescues in general tolerate soils of low fertility, persist well under low maintenance, and possess good insect and disease tolerance under Ohio conditions. This species possesses rapid establishment, excellent wear tolerance and due to its deep rooted nature, is heat and drought tolerant and will remain green through most Ohio summers without supplemental irrigation. Juvenile tall fescue seedlings are not cold tolerant and will be prone to winterkill. However, well-established seedlings and mature lawns will endure most Ohio winters.
The old "Kentucky-31" cultivar is a coarse, bunch type selection and should not be confused with the fine fescues. "Kentucky-31" tall fescue is desirable only in areas where its coarseness and a bunch growth habit are not objectionable. This cultivar should not be used on lawns where high quality is important.
New, improved, "turf-type" tall fescue cultivars have many improved quality characteristics over the "Kentucky-31." These turf type cultivars are less coarse, grow more upright, tiller more readily and exhibit a darker green color than the old "Kentucky-31." Their major attribute is a lower maintenance requirement than Kentucky bluegrass. These improved types are being used on many lawn sites and are replacing "Kentucky-31" on playgrounds, parks and low maintenance athletic fields.
Fine Fescue: Red, hard and chewings fescue are fine leaved turfgrasses that maintain well under conditions of shade, low soil moisture, low fertility and low pH. The fine fescues require well-drained, slightly dry soils with minimum levels of management. Overfertilizing, overwatering or establishing on poorly drained soils will result in a decline in quality.
With correct management, the fine fescues can make an attractive turf of fair to good quality. In Ohio, fine fescue is seldom seeded alone and seldom is it intended to constitute the primary species where conditions favor establishment and maintenance of other cool season grass selections. Fine fescue is used primarily in mixtures (with bluegrass) on low maintenance and shade lawns.
Bentgrass: The bentgrasses form an extremely fine textured, dense, uniform, high-quality turf when managed correctly. However, good cultural practices are so expensive and time consuming that few homeowners are prepared to grow a bentgrass lawn. The primary use of bentgrass in Ohio is on golf courses. Bentgrass, when found in a home lawn, is usually considered a weed.
Bentgrass is not compatible with bluegrass and should never be included in a lawn seed mixture.
Zoysiagrass: Zoysiagrass is a vigorous sod-forming grass that has received much publicity in recent years. It is very drought and heat tolerant and is resistant to weed invasion. Its winter hardiness is marginal, making it better adapted to southern than to northern Ohio. After the first fall frost zoysiagrass turns straw color and doesn't turn green again until May. Because of a slow rate of establishment and because of the lack of winter color, zoysiagrass has not become popular and should not be used for home lawns in Ohio.
Cultivar recommendations for each turfgrass species reviewed can be found in Extension Fact Sheet 4027-Lawn Turfgrass Cultivar Selection.