1. How you identify grass and environmental requirements 6.00
Turfgrass…
How you identify grass and environmental requirements
6.00

2. Identifying North Carolina lawn grass varieties.
There are six regions or zones based on climate in the US
Temperature
Available moisture
Length of growing season

3. U.S. Regions or Zones
Three of the U.S. regions or zones are in North Carolina.
Mountains and Western Piedmont= Region 1
Central and Eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plains= Region 2
Extreme Southeastern Coast=Region 3

4. Climatic Conditions in North Carolina
Many lawn grasses are grown in the North Carolina Regions
Each region has its own suitable grass

5. Region 1-Cool Season Grasses
Grasses that grow well here
Kentucky Bluegrass
Red Fescue
Colonial Bentgrass
Tall Fescue

6. Region 2- Cool or Warm Season depending upon location
Grasses that grow well here
Bermudagrass
Zoysia
Centipedegrass
St. Augustine
Carpetgrass
Tall Fescue
Kentucky Bluegrass

7. Region 3-Warm Season and Cool Season
Grasses that grow well here
St. Augustine
Bermuda
Carpetgrass
Zoysia
Bahiagrass
Tall Fescue

8. Cool Season Grasses Grow best in spring and fall Stay green in winter
Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Fine Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Annual Ryegrass

9. Warm Season Grasses Grow best in summer Go dormant in winter
Bermudagrass, Zoysia, St. Augustine, Bahiagrass, Centipede grass

10. Grasses
Most of the grass listed previously have many different cultivars

11. Identification-Growth Habits
Ways new shoots are produced
Rhizome=KY Bluegrass
Stolon= Centipedegrass and St. Augustine
Stolon and Rhizome=Bermuda and Zoysia
Bunch type=Tall Fescues, Perennial Ryegrass, and Annual Ryegrass

12. Grass Morphology
These are major grass structures you should know to help you identify them
Crown
Stolon
Rhizome
Blade
Tiller

13. Grass Morphology
Tiller
Leaf Sheath
Ligule
Collar
Stolon
Crown

14. NC Turf Files

16. Identification
Warm Season
Cool Season

17. Identification-Leaf Texture
Fine-Bermuda, KY, Perennial Rye, Zoysia
Medium-Centipede and Annual Rye
Coarse-Bahia, St. Augustine grass and Tall Fescue from medium to coarse

18. Identification-Color
Light green
Centipede

19. Identification-Color
Medium Green
Tall Fescue

20. Identification-Color
Medium green to dark green
KY, Bahia, St. Augustine grass, Zoysia

21. Identification-Color
Light to dark green
Bermudagrass

22. Growth Habit Rhizome- KY, Bahia Stolon- Centipede, St Augustine
Rhiz/Stolon- Zoysia, Bermuda
Bunch type- Tall Fescue, Perennial and Annual Rye

23. Mowing
Recommendations for height varies form 1” for Bermuda, Centipede and Zoysia to 3” for Tall Fescue
Refer to a chart
General Rule for mowing frequency is that less than half the total leaf surface is removed

24. Mowing continued
If recommended mowing height is 2” then grass should be mowed when it is less than 4” tall so that less than half will be removed

25. Use tolerance or wear Excellent-Bermudagrass
Very good-KY Bluegrass and Tall Fescue
Good-Zoysia and Bahia
Fair- mixes
Poor-Centipede and St. Augustine

26. Cultivation- Type of soil
Loam
Sand
Silt
Clay

27. Cultivation- Lime and Fertilizer
Follow the soil sample recommendations
Remember how to take a soil sample for a lawn?
Let’s Review!

28. Cultivation- Watering
This is not a constant
Watering is done as needed depending on weather and water conservation laws
Do you think people in CA or AZ should have lawns? Why or why not?

29. Pest control
Weeds
Insects
Diseases
Moles

30. Places to plant Shade Partial shade Full sun
Different grasses are adapted to amount of sun or shade