1. Solving Those Overseeding Blues

2. Leah A. Brilman, Ph. D. Research Director Seed Research of Oregon www
Leah A. Brilman, Ph.D. Research Director Seed Research of Oregon

3. Thanks! Eric Case - Marriot’s Camelback Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ
Shawn Emerson, Joe Tropico, Chris Montague - Desert Mountain Golf Properties, Carefree, AZ
Paul Elwood - The Gallery, Marana, AZ
Jim Moore - TPC Eagle Trace, Coral Springs, FL
Fred Klauk - TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, FL
Cal Roth - TPC
Dr. Bruce Martin - Clemson University, SC
Dr. Larry Stowell - PACE
Kelly Schuck - ProSource One, Glendale, AZ

4. Why overseed ? Provide green color during winter =
more play and more revenue
Increase wear tolerance during
dormant season
Improved playing surface during winter

5. What to overseed ? Dependent on location, budget, and course design
Greens - Most courses
Fairways - Many courses
Roughs - Some courses
Species selection also depends on location,
budget, and course design

6. Why overseed with different species?
Use mixtures for genetic diversity
Resistance to diseases and stresses
Color contrast
Improved transition
Improved quality
Smaller seeds
Potential cost savings

7. Why overseed with different species?
Resistance to diseases and stresses
Chytridiomycete on Poa trivialis in SC

8. Why overseed with different species?
Color contrast

9. Species for Overseeding
Ryegrasses
Perennial, intermediate, annual
Fine fescues
Chewings, slender creeping red,
strong creeping red, hard
Bentgrasses
Velvet, colonial, creeping, dryland, Idaho
Bluegrasses
Rough bluegrass, Kentucky, others
Other species

10. Perennial Ryegrass Assets Standard High quality - tops many tests
Rapid germination
Quick establishment
Very dark green color
Known cultural conditions
Good Poa control

11. Perennial Ryegrass Problems Poor transition, heat tolerance high
Susceptible to Chytridiomycete fungus Wider leaf blade
Larger seed size - more difficult to
establish in ultradwarfs
Soil surface disruption & damage for establishment
Most expensive per square foot

12. Intermediate Ryegrass
New improved varieties for turf
Quality significantly better than annuals or
older intermediates
Medium green
Quality approaching older turf-type perennials
Quicker transition than perennials
Less expensive than perennials
Can be included in mixtures

13. Fine fescues Chewings, slender creeping red, Strong creeping red, hard
Very fine with stiff texture
Good wear tolerance
Winter-active growth
Improved transition with high quality
Rapid germination - Chewings and red
Resistance to Chytridiomycete fungus
Medium seed size

14. Fine fescues High salt tolerance Color and texture contrast
Increase genetic diversity of mixtures
Mixtures with perennial ryegrass,
bentgrasses, Poa trivialis
Seeding rates (alone) - Do not mow too soon
Greens lbs./1000 sq. ft.
Tees lbs./1000 sq. ft.
Fairways lbs./1000 sq.ft. - Excellent

15. Dawson slender Perennial ryegrass
Creeping red fescue

16. Velvet Bentgrass Very small seed size (best for ultradwarfs)
Best putting surface
Highest wear tolerance, high density
Medium establishment
Germinates well at low soil temperatures
Medium dark green
Best shade tolerance
Excellent transition

17. Velvet Bentgrass
Creeping bentgrass
SR 7200 Velvet bentgrass

18. Colonial bentgrass Highland Colonial
‘Highland’ bentgrass is a dryland bentgrass
not a colonial bentgrass
Highland Colonial
A. castellana A. capillaris
blue-green true green
stolons stolons
long rhizomes usually no rhizomes
scalp/false crown more upright

19. Colonial bentgrass Small seed (good for ultra-dwarf bermudas)
Medium establishment
Medium dark green
High wear tolerance
Good transition
High turf quality
High density
Less expensive

20. Creeping bentgrass Small seed (good for ultradwarfs)
High putting quality
High salt tolerance
Moderate transition - cultivar dependent
Can persist into early summer
Medium to slow establishment
Dark to medium blue green color
Excellent if have heavy play in early summer

21. Other bentgrass Dryland “Highland” bentgrass, Idaho bentgrass, Redtop
Small seed (good for ultradwarfs)
Quality not as high
Moderate transition
Variable establishment
Dark to medium gray green color

22. Rough bluegrass Smaller seed size (ultradwarfs & zoysias)
Medium to fast establishment rate
Stoloniferous (can become weed)
Transition - poor to good
Fine texture
Light to medium green
High density
Very susceptible to Chytridiomycete
Blend of cultivars or lots improves establishment

23. Kentucky bluegrass Smaller seed size (ultradwarfs & zoysias)
Slow establishment rate, best if need
spring or early summer performance
Stoloniferous / rhizomatous
Transition - poor to good
Fine to medium texture
Dark green color
High density
Excellent cold tolerance and retain their green
color under freezing temperatures

24. Species Mixtures Combines strengths/weaknesses
Less likely to have diseases
Adjust initial management/mowing
to insure multiple species establish
Smoothes out transition, more staged
Can reduce costs

25. Species Mixtures Successful mixtures
Perennial ryegrass + rough bluegrass
Above + bentgrass (velvet, creeping, colonial)
Colonial bentgrass + Chewings or red fescue
Velvet bentgrass + Chewings or red fescue
Rough bluegrass + bentgrass
Perennial ryegrass + fine fescues
Above + bentgrasses
Slender creeping red + creeping bent -
salt or Chrytridiomycete sites

26. Other species Hairgrasses - Deschampsia ssp. Dark to light green
Transitions well
Very wear tolerant
Junegrasses - Koeleria ssp.
Seeding rates?
Good color, wear tolerance

27. Improving transition Bermudagrass preparation
Control thatch during summer - frequent
light verticutting, topdressing
Heavy verticutting damages stolons and
rhizomes needed for recovery
Spring Management
Lower mowing height - scalping on roughs
Increased nitrogen
Light verticutting if hot - check bermuda
Aerification and topdressing

28. Future Work Collect and evaluate more species
Regionalize species recommendations
New species need management/chemical work
Work with Universities/ Plant Material Centers
Economic seed production
Market development