Cool Season Grasses grow the fastest during the fall and spring, preferring temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees.Cool season grasses stay green until temperatures drop below 32 degrees F for extended periods and can survive subfreezing temperatures. I have made some efforts to improve my lawns this year with core aeration, scarification, top dressing and over-seeding. Perennial ryegrass is a bunch-type (a.k.a. During the winter, warm-season grasses may go dormant and lose their green color if the average air or soil temperature drops below 50 - 55 F. Some warm-season turfgrasses will die if exposed to extended periods of subfreezing temperatures. This affects growing schedules, optimal transplant times, the time of year they finish, and when liners are available for purchase. Trying to grow a warm-season grass in a colder climate (or vice-versa) is a recipe for dead or very poor quality golf course turf. Understanding which cool season and/or warm season grass you have is … Examples of common warm season grasses include Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysiagrass and buffalo grass. In the northern United States, cool-season grasses are the dominant types used although there is some overlapping with warm-season types. Cool-season grasses usually grow best when temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees F; that is true of lawn grasses or ornamental ones. As their name implies, they like warm weather. Your email address will not be published. Native Grasses are also popular as a forage. This might be expected because warm-season grasses are seldom fertilized with supplemental nitrogen. Planting: Seeding warm season grasses can be a bit labor intensive, as the lightweight seeds can blow away quickly. This is mainly the southern states in the U.S. Many are evergreen. I will write a bit more on photosynthesis soon. Different grass types have different growth habits. Examples of the warm season grasses that some of our American, Australian and South African readers will be familiar with are Axonopus (Carpet grass), Cynodon (Bermuda grass), Paspalum (Bahia grass and Seashore paspallum) and Zoysia (Zoysia grass). Some types also do well farther south, in the challenging zone where climates and grass types transition from cool to warm. This cool-season group of grasses includes the very popular Kentucky bluegrass, both tall and fine fescues, and ryegrass family. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Ryegrasses withstand foot traffic and compacted soils. It is considered one of the loveliest lawn grasses. Cool Season Grasses. Tall fescue is a particularly tough cool-season grass that can survive in the Transition Zone. The pros of Kentucky bluegrass include the following: Kentucky bluegrass does, however, have some cons, such as: The pros of creeping red fescue include the following: Creeping red fescue's drawbacks include these: Do not forget that, in addition to lawn grasses, there are also ornamental grasses. Choose one of our subscription … It is too hot in summer for cool season grasses to stay healthy and too cold in winter for the warm season grasses. Your choice will depend, in part, on what the climate is like where you live. Cool- and Warm-Season Grasses Make for Better Pastures. They're suited to cooler climates and are at their best during the spring and autumn periods. Take zoysia grass, for example; cultivars of just one of the various types of zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica) include: Despite their name, warm-season grasses are also sometimes grown in regions that must endure cold winters. Most of Australia can grow warm season grasses, however the level of dormancy and shade needs to be considered because this influences the growth. Warm-season grasses perform best in southern climates where summers are hot and dry or humid and winters are mild. Cool season grasses (those which come into growth early in the year) such as Carex, Calamagrstis, Chasmanthium, Deschampsia, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Molinea and Stipa can be lifted and divided in late winter or early spring; Warm season grasses such as Arundo, Cortaderia, Imperata, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum … These roots also strengthen soil structure, reducing soil erosion. Accordingly, the two broad classes of turfgrasses are the warm-season and cool-season grasses. Cool season grasses are at their prime during the cooler months of fall, winter, and spring, and usually bloom before the warmer summer weather arrives. (Many golf courses, however, grow warm-season grasses in the warmer months, then overseed with a cool-season grass … Home » Cool Season and Warm Season Grasses. This typically means that they will over sow their warm season turf with rye grass seed in the autumn and the turf will transition from warm to cool season grass in the winter. This increases the protein content of the grass… Examples of cool-season types of grass include: In the case of cool-season grasses, compare Kentucky bluegrass and creeping red fescue as an example of what issues you should be considering when trying to choose a cool-season grass. Autumn and Winter Bowling Green Maintenance Guide. However, to achieve yield goals with cool-season grasses, they are often fertilized with some form of nitrogen. Bermuda grass, centipede grass, and zoysia grass are the main warm-season grasses grown in the Transition Zone. Warm season grass is highly resilient. Cool-season grasses, in general, perform best across the northern states. Since they grow quickly from seed, they make excellent nurse grasses, protecting slower-growing species, and are good for overseeding warm-season lawns. NRCS has a new program called Northern Bobwhite in Working Grasslands. When spring comes they will put undue stress on the cool season grass in order to make room for the recovering warm season species to take over again. Just remember that once the frosts of fall arrive, their blades will turn a color ranging from brown to light tan. Warm Season Grasses They will put on the most growth during … They do best in coastal regions with mild winters and cool, moist summers. The warm season grasses with both stolons and rhizomes such as the couch (Bermuda grass) and Kikuyu grasses are used in sports field and other heavy wear situations. The… If you are starting a new lawn for the first time in your life, it may dawn on you that you have never really considered what types of lawn grasses there are to choose from. It also sports a soft texture that makes it pleasant to tread upon barefoot, in contrast to the rougher texture of tall fescue, in particular. Difference Between Warm and Cool Season Grasses. The warm season turf grasses are best adapted to growth in the temperature range of 270 to 350 C, they grow best during the warmest part of the year and can go dormant and even suffer injury during cold weather. Warm season are known as C4 grasses and cool season grasses are known as C3 grasses. Warm-season grasses are those that work best in climates where the ground doesn't really freeze and temperatures stay on the warm side throughout the year. It is more salt-tolerant than many kinds of grass. Some warm season grasses include Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium), Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sp. This is part 3 in the three part series to help you better understand your forage and your pastures. “non-spreading”) … Warm-season turfgrass are those species with optimum growth at temperatures between 80 and 95°F (27 to 35°C). … ), Hardy Pampas Grass (Erianthus), Perennial Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Switch Grass (Panicum) and Prairie … Cool-season plants photosynthesize most efficiently when soil and air temperatures are cool and moisture is abundant. Cool Season turf grasses are best adapted to growing during the cool and moist periods of the year and do most of their growing in the UK during late spring/early summer. They grow best in temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees celcius. In between, across the country, lies the transition zone, where both warm-season and cool-season grasses can do well. The main difference between the two groups is the way in which they photosynthesise or produce food for themselves. You can find both cool season and warm season grasses in the United States. The longer the individual blades of grass… They have two greens at every hole, one with creeping bentgrass for the winter period and one with seashore paspallum for the summer period. The C3 & C4 reference refers to carbon, and the number represents how many carbon atoms within each compound. This is an in-between region. Like Saint Augustine grass, it is not good for high-traffic areas. Cool season grasses can handle temperature fluctuations that come in areas where there are true warm and cold seasons. Master Greenkeeper John Quinn is the author of Performance Bowling Greens, and several other titles on Greenkeeping, Club and Business Management. In warm season grasses the first product of photosynthesis is a 4 Carbon sugar molecule, so they are referred to as C4 grasses. Cool season grass species include creeping bentgrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass. Cattle producers often need a native warm season grass for livestock to graze in warmer months when Virginia’s cool season grasses or dormant. Perennial Ryegrass. I was recently teaching golf industry professionals in Southern China, which is in this transition zone and the golf club where I was staying has gone to extreme lengths to make sure its customers are kept happy all year round. Transition Zone It is important to know which grass is most suited for your zone or you will have a brown lawn or sickly lawn. If the South East is in the transition zone, would Zoysia Japonica perform better than Bermuda grass? My post from yesterday sparked a few questions by email about the term “Cool Season Grass”, a question only likely to crop up in the UK once every decade or so when we eventually get some hot summer weather! Meanwhile, among the warm-season types, Bermuda grass, centipedegrass, and zoysiagrass are cold-tolerant enough to be grown there. Cool-season grasses tend to green up faster in the spring and stay green longer into autumn due to their preference for cooler temperatures. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. The grasses with both Stolons and Rhizomes include Kikuyu, Couch (Bermuda) grass, Zoysia, Seashore Paspalum and so on. It is one of the most cold-tolerant lawn grasses. C4 photosynthesis is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation that has allowed grasses to thrive in very warm and tropical environments. Cool-season grasses … Designing with cool season ornamental grasses … COOL SEASON GRASSES include Ryegrass, Fescues, Bluegrass and Bentgrass. In a decent summer you will see growth rate tail off in mid summer and this will usually be followed by another growth spurt in late summer/early autumn. Photosynthesis A brief summary of the differences between warm and cool season grasses below: Cool Season Grasses Cool Season turf grasses are best adapted to growing during the cool and moist periods of the year and do most of their growing in the UK during late spring/early summer. Annual Ryegrass Differs From Perennial and Winter Rye Grass, Perennial Ryegrass: A Serious Lawn Contender, How to Grow Grass on Slopes and Hillsides, How to to Get Rid of Brown Patch Fungus on Grass. While doing this I discovered that one of my lawns (the largest and furthest from house) is what I believe to be Bermuda grass. Dormancy typically kicks in at around 10 degrees when the entire turf will take on a yellow colour. Cool Season Grass. Required fields are marked *. Ornamental grasses can also be classified according to warm-season and cool-season kinds. Some of the most popular kinds of warm-season grasses are: Each of these categories can be broken down further by listing the different cultivars that are available. Manage mowing in shady spots. Warm season grasses grow best in the southern parts of the United States, while cool season grasses perform well in temperate and northern climates. Warm Season … In the Deep South, warm-season grasses are generally grown. The blades having a dark color to them that accounts for the "blue" in the common name. Even though cool season grass seed grows well during the fall and spring months, don’t plant your … Warm season turf identification In general, northern areas of Australia can grow warmer season grasses quite well throughout the year. As with all plants, each type of grass has its pros and cons. Rather, they go into a suspended state of growth and form complex sugars which act as antifreeze. Meantime if you have any questions just drop me a line as usual or leave a comment on this post. Its quick germination makes it a popular choice of overseeding Bermuda grass lawns. It is one of the best kinds of warm-season grass to grow in a location that has shade (in fact, Saint Augustine grass profits from a spot that offers dappled shade). Warm-season grasses like it hotter (between 80 and 95 degrees F). Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. You will have to research these pros and cons to make a decision just as you would in the plant-selection process for landscape plants. Learn how your comment data is processed. As an example, compare Saint Augustine grass and zoysia grass. By Joe Trlica / October 26, 2015 / Comments Off on Cool- and Warm-Season Grasses Make for Better Pastures Print Email. Would you say the South East of England is in the transition zone (Kent/Sussex)? Cool season grasses are suitable for cooler areas and where the lawns can be maintained. Some warm-season grasses do well there due to the hot, dry summers, as do some cool-season grasses, like tall fescue, because of the cold winters. The cool season grasses are best adapted to grow well in temperatures ranging from 150 to 240 C. This group includes all of the usual turf forming suspects that are common in the UK such as Agrostis (Bent grasses), Poa (meadow grasses), Festuca (fescues) and Lolium (rye grasses). The dry matter (DM) yields of mixtures of cool and warm‐season herbage species were measured to test their potential for increasing cool‐season … Cool season grasses should be received in fall or early spring and potted up immediately. Lawns are most commonly of cool season grasses but in warm regions, particularly coastal areas, warm season grasses can be used for lawns. … The heat of summer slows them down and can even cause them to go dormant. While it might take these grasses up to three years to truly settle and thrive, they can provide both … Warm-season grasses usually brown up some by fall or winter, but still can add winter interest in … They are often called southern grasses because they grow best in hot summer areas and lack the winter hardiness of the cool-season grasses. Warm season grasses usually do not require as frequent division as cool season grasses. The first product of photosynthesis in cool season grasses is a 3 Carbon sugar molecule so these grasses are commonly referred to as C3 grasses. Common cool season grasses … Warm Season Grass Though cool season grass is a viable option for many CRP contract holders, warm season grass has some distinct advantages. A brief summary of the differences between warm and cool season grasses below: Cool Season Grasses These types of lawn grasses grow actively from mid-April to mid-October. Sericea lespedeza is an extremely aggressive invasive plant that spreads rapidly in fields and takes over native species such as warm season grasses and pasture hay. This is where they receive the particular characteristics synonymous for each type. Warm-season (C 4) grasses normally contain less protein than is found in cool-season (C 3) grasses. The pros of Saint Augustine grass include the following: But Saint Augustine grass also has its cons, such as: The pros of zoysia grass include the following: But zoysia grass also has some cons, such as: In the central United States, the northern United States, and the most southerly provinces of Canada, you are more likely to see people growing cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses include Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Centipedegrass, Zoysiagrass, Bahiagrass and Carpetgrass. This program has the nick name, “Beef and Bobs”. To help control sericea lespedeza, fields can be sprayed with herbicide or seasonal controlled burns are conducted to clear out the invasion. What kinds: These grasses, such as native prairie and zoysia, love the heat and thrive in warm climates. Warm Season Grasses prefer the heat of southern … This is interesting. Seed seems expensive and difficult to source with supplies coming from France or the US. Cool- and warm-season grasses have different dormancy and growth patterns. However, there is a band of territories around the world where the annual climatic conditions are not suitable for one type of turfgrass all year round, especially if you want to produce a nice green turf. Warm-season grasses thrive in the lower Southeast and Southwest, where growing-season temperatures range between 80 and 95 degrees. The opposite of a warm-season grass is a cool-season grass, and golf courses in climates where it gets colder will choose one of those. 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