Species in Sportsturf

[Grassman]

Browntop Bentgrass (Agostis capillaris)
The main bent grass used in the UK. A perennial that spreads with short rhizomes and occasionally by stolons. Predominantly used for fine sports turf and any close mown area.

Chewings Fescue (Festuca rubra commutata)
A much used grass in fine sports turf. It is densly tufted but does not infill bare patches due to it lack of rhizomes. Quick germinating, wear tolerant and desease resistant.

Hard Fescue (Festuca longifolia)
Good for close mowing and has ability to stand abrasive wear. It is more suited to dry infertile soils, particularly when mixed with red fescue. There is no production of rhizomes so hard fescue is not particularly suitable to winter sports turf or areas of intense wear.

Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
This is the major turgrass species (particularly dwarf varieties) in the UK for hardwearing sports turf due to it's fast establishment rate, vigorous growth and high wear tolerance.

Slender Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra litoralis)
Densly tufted, fine leaved and low growing. This grass does very well in a closely mown turf. Once established it stands up well to abrasive wear and with closely packed tillers, spread by fine and slender rhizones, it is quick to recover from heavy damage.

Small Leaved Timothy (Phleum pratense bertolonii)
Sometimes used in winter sports turf that receive heavy wear. Produces few stolons but is very tolerant of wet, heavy soils and blends well with both fescues and bentgrass in colour and texture. A very useful grass on difficult clays.

Sheeps fescue (Festuca tenuflia)
Not suitable in sports turf due to its odd groth habit of forming unsightly swirly patterns.

Smooth Stalked Meadowgrass (Poa partensis)
This grass can be slow to establish but once it has it is extremely hard wearing and persistant. It spreads by means of slender creeping rhizomes that quickly infill damaged open areas. It does best on fertile chalk or limestone soils and is very drought tolerant.

Strong Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra rubra)
Not tollerant of very close mowing but very good for knitting a winter sports turf together with its very long, slender, creeping rhizomes. More suited to chalk and limestone soils

Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)
Not suitable in sports turfs as it forms large dense tussocks and has very course leaves.