Cool-season grasses have adapted to grow well in areas of the country that experience tremendous temperature fluctuations: cold, freezing winters and hot, dry summers. However, these grasses grow best when temperatures are between 60-75 degree F, which is why they grow most actively in the spring and fall.

1. Cool Season Grasses
LNT 132 – Spring 2017
Mark Valen

2. Climatic Turfgrass Map

3. Cool Season Grasses
• Prefer growing temperatures of 60 ‐ 75 degrees
F.
• Often come from Europe and Asia.
• Grow best in spring and fall.
• Examples are bluegrasses, ryegrasses, fescues,
and bentgrasses.
• San Diego has climates that can be ideal for
warm season grasses and cool season grasses so
use cool season grasses near the coastal areas
and warm season grasses inland.

4. Cool Season Grasses
• Kentucky
Bluegrass
• Annual Bluegrass
• Perennial
Ryegrass
• Annual Ryegrass
• Tall Fescue
• Red Fescue
• Creeping
Bentgrass

5. Kentucky Bluegrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Boat‐shaped
• Leaf Color: Blue‐green
• Leaf Blade: V‐shaped to flat,
parallel‐sided margins
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Membranous
• Collar: Divided, yellow‐green
• Sheath: Split w/overlap
• Stems: Erect and slender
• Inflorescence: Open panicle
• Growth habit: Rhizomatous Poa pratensis

6. Kentucky Bluegrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Cool and humid
• Adapted Climates: Takes heat and some dryness
with added care, grows in transition zones
• Soil ph preference: 6‐7, likes good drainage,
avoid high or low pH.
• Native to: Eurasia
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: G
• Drought recovery: G
• Flood tolerance: G
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: G
• Shade tolerance: P
• Wear tolerance: G
• Salt tolerance: P
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

7. Kentucky Bluegrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: N
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: Y
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: Athletic fields
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: VG
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: Y rarely
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: with
Red Fescue for shade areas and with
Perennial Rye to lessen diseases.
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No

8. Kentucky Bluegrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: High
• Optimum Cutting Height: 1‐2”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
¾” for tees and fairways
• Nitrogen requirements*: 1‐1.5 lbs
• Water requirements: High
• Thatch removal: Once per year
• Establishment methods: seed and sod
• Seeding rates: 1‐1.5 lbs/1000sf
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, chinchbugs, sod
webworms, cutworms, armyworms.
• Diseases: rust, stripe smut, fusarium,
dollar spot, brown patch
Varieties:
• Merion: for lower mowing
• Park: fast establishment
• Midnight: dark green color
• Kenblue: finer texture
• Over 100 varieties exist

9. Kentucky Bluegrass
Key Features
• Boat‐shaped tip
• Blue‐green color
• Rhizomatious
• Very popular grass in cooler
climates of the northwest and
northeastern states
• Mow 1.5 ‐ 2” tall
• Likes full sun
• Makes lush looking lawn.

10. Kentucky Bluegrass
Key Features
• Often mixed with red fescue for
shade.
• Often mixed with perennial rye
for lessening disease.
• Common diseases in San Diego
are rust and fusarium.
• Rarely used in San Diego in past
20 years due to water needs and
summer disease problems.

11. Annual Bluegrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Boat‐shaped
• Leaf Color: Light green
• Leaf Blade: soft, puckered
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Acute – Membranous
• Collar: Divided, white
• Sheath: Split w/overlap
• Stems: Flat, can lay down
• Inflorescence: small panicle
• Growth habit: Bunch but can
have very short stolons. Poa annua

12. Annual Bluegrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Annual
• Optimum Climate: Cool and humid
• Adapted Climates: No hot weather,
no cold weather, avoid dryness.
• Soil ph preference: 6, likes wet soils
and high phosphorus soils.
• Native to: Europe
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: VP
• Drought recovery: VP
• Flood tolerance: P
• Smog tolerance: P
• Low temperature tolerance: G
• Shade tolerance: VG
• Wear tolerance: P
• Salt tolerance: P
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

13. Annual Bluegrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: Y
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: Tends to invade shady and bare
areas of existing turf and can take over.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: P
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: N
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: only
by accident by seeds blowing in.
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No

14. Annual Bluegrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: High
• Optimum Cutting Height: ½‐1”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
1/4” for putting greens
• Nitrogen requirements*: .5‐1 lbs
• Water requirements: High
• Thatch removal: None except on putting
greens
• Establishment methods: seed
• Seeding rates: comes in as a weed and
then takes over
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, chinchbugs, sod
webworms, cutworms, armyworms.
• Diseases: rust, fusarium, dollar spot,
brown patch
Varieties:
• None, although some believe that it has
developed some types that are more
perennial and a bit stoloniferous.

15. Annual Bluegrass
Key Features
• Can be a weed or a desired grass.
• Very invasive by seed
• Often infiltrates putting greens in
San Diego.
• Prefers cool, moist weather.
• Is an annual grass and dies out if
summers are hot.

16. Annual Bluegrass
Key Features
• Not a good turf all by itself.
• Light green appearance.
• A bunch grass with some varieties
being slightly stoloniferous.
• Seedheads can form even at
putting green mowing heights.

17. Tall Fescue
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Rolled
• Leaf tip: Acuminate
• Leaf Color: Medium green
• Leaf Blade: Flat, stiff, serrated, veiny
• Auricles: Small, narrow
• Ligule: Membranous, wide
• Collar: Broad, divided
• Sheath: Split w/overlap
• Stems: Erect
• Inflorescence: Panicle
• Growth habit: Bunch
Festuca arundinaceae

18. Tall Fescue
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Transition zones
• Adapted Climates: Dry, hot, or
moderately cold
• Soil ph preference: 5‐8, can tolerate
alkaline soils and moderately salty
soils.
• Native to: Europe
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: VG
• Drought recovery: G
• Flood tolerance: G
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: G
• Shade tolerance: G
• Wear tolerance: G
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

19. Tall Fescue
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: N
• Golf course greens: N
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: R
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: Utility areas
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: P
• Sod grass: Y – with netting
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses:
sometimes with Kentucky Blue to
provided quicker recovery from injury.
Best if planted alone.
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

20. Tall Fescue
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Medium
• Optimum Cutting Height: 2‐2½”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
1 1/2 ” for new finer varieties
• Nitrogen requirements*: .4‐1 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium ‐ low
• Thatch removal: None
• Establishment methods: seed
• Seeding rates: 7‐9 lbs.
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: rare due to tough blade,
root damage by grubs
• Diseases: rust, fusarium, brown
patch, helminthosporium
Varieties:
• Marathon: finer texture, available in
sod if netted, easier to mow.
• Bonsai: even finer texture, can be
mowed at 1 ½ “, also available in sod
if netted.
• Several other varieties exist.

21. Tall Fescue
Key Features
• Most popular turf in San Diego for
year round green color.
• Has better drought tolerance and
disease resistance than other cool
season grasses.
• Mow at 2 ‐ 3” for best appearance
and most healthy turf.

22. Tall Fescue
Key Features
• Older varieties were very coarse
and tough to mow.
• New varieties are finer‐bladed
and some dwarf types can be
mowed at 1.5”.
• Bunch grass so it does not repair
easily. Damaged areas must be
re‐seeded or replaced with new
sod.

23. Red Fescue
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Acute
• Leaf Color: Dark green
• Leaf Blade: Involute, bristle‐like, stiff.
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Membranous
• Collar: Narrow, indistinct
• Sheath: Open partway
• Stems: Erect
• Inflorescence: Narrow panicle
• Growth habit: Short rhizomes
Festuca rubra

24. Red Fescue
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Both
• Optimum Climate: Cool, humid
• Adapted Climates: Avoid very cold
and very hot climates – provide
shade in hot weather
• Soil ph preference: 6.0
• Native to: Europe
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: G
• Drought recovery: G
• Flood tolerance: P
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: G
• Shade tolerance: E
• Wear tolerance: G
• Salt tolerance: P
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

25. Red Fescue
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: R
• Airfields: N
• Roadsides: N
• Others: Used as a shade grass and an un‐
mowed ground cover on slopes.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: G
• Sod grass: N
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: Y
• Mixtures with other grasses:
commonly with Kentucky Blue for
shady areas.
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

26. Red Fescue
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Low‐Medium
• Optimum Cutting Height: 1‐2’
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
¼ ” for putting greens
• Nitrogen requirements*: .2‐.5 lbs
• Water requirements: Low
• Thatch removal: Once every 1‐2 years.
• Establishment methods: seed
• Seeding rates: 3.5‐4.5 lbs.
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, chinchbugs, sod
webworms, cutworms, armyworms.
(but due to tougher blade, less of a
problem)
• Diseases: Red thread, fusarium,
helminthosporium
Varieties:
• Pennlawn: dark green color

27. Red Fescue
Key Features
• Very fine blade.
• Often used primarily for shady
areas.
• Can also be used non‐mowed for
slopes as a ground cover.
• Can not tolerate hot summers.

28. Red Fescue
Key Features
• Not good for mowed sunny lawn
areas ‐ only shade.
• Basically a bunch grass but does
have short rhizomes.
• Has been used as an overseeded
grass for winter.
• Some northern and coastal
climates plant this as their entire
lawn area – some golf courses do
too.
• Also known as “Creeping Red
Fescue”

29. Perennial Ryegrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Folded
• Leaf tip: Acute
• Leaf Color: Dark shiny green
• Leaf Blade: Flat, very glossy on the underside
of the leaf
• Auricles: Moderate claws
• Ligule: Long, truncated
• Collar: Narrow to broad ‐ divided
• Sheath: Split w/overlap
• Stems: Erect
• Inflorescence: Erect spike
• Growth habit: Bunch Lolium perenne

30. Perennial Ryegrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Both
• Optimum Climate: Cool, moist, mild
climates
• Adapted Climates: New varieties
take hotter weather.
• Soil ph preference: 6‐7, takes
compacted and infertile soils well.
• Native to: Asia, North Africa
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: P
• Drought recovery: P
• Flood tolerance: P
• Smog tolerance: G
• Low temperature tolerance: P
• Shade tolerance: G
• Wear tolerance: G
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

31. Perennial Ryegrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: Y
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: Y
• Airfields: Y
• Roadsides: Y
• Others: Over‐seeding warm season lawns in
winter. Better quality than Annual Ryegrass.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: VP
• Sod grass: with Kentucky Blue
• Erosion control: Y
• Unmowed: Y
• Mixtures with other grasses:
commonly mixed with Kentucky Blue
to lessen diseases.
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

32. Perennial Ryegrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Medium
• Optimum Cutting Height: 1.5‐2”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
½ ‐1 ” for fairways and tees.
• Nitrogen requirements*: .4‐1.0 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium high
• Thatch removal: No
• Establishment methods: Seed
• Seeding rates: 7‐9 lbs.
• Improved varieties are now finer, easier
to mow, darker, and more heat tolerant.
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, chinchbugs, sod
webworms, cutworms, armyworms.
• Diseases: Red thread, fusarium,
pythium when overseeding in fall if
temperatures spike up during seed
establishment.
Varieties:
• Pennfine, Derby, and Manhattan are
examples of newer varieties that are
easier to mow, darker, finer, and more
heat tolerant. Over 100 new varieties
exist.

33. Perennial Ryegrass
Key Features
• Fast germination.
• Great for quick lawn in cool
climates.
• New varieties are now more heat
resistant, look like bluegrass, and
are easier to mow.
• Best mowed at 1.5 ‐ 2.5”
• Bunch grass.

34. Perennial Ryegrass
Key Features
• Often used to over‐seed warm
season dormant turfs.
• Can be mowed low for fairways
and tees.
• Can be planted at high rates for
quick germination, appearance,
and playability in one week as for
stadium turfs.

35. Annual Ryegrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Rolled
• Leaf tip: Acuminate
• Leaf Color: Light green
• Leaf Blade: Flat, wide, glossy
on the underside of the leaf
• Auricles: Long claws
• Ligule: Long, obtuse
• Collar: Broad, divided
• Sheath: Split
• Stems: Round, erect
• Inflorescence: Erect spike
• Growth habit: Bunch
Lolium
multiflorum

36. Annual Ryegrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Annual
• Optimum Climate: Cool climates, no
heat
• Adapted Climates: None
• Soil ph preference: 6‐7, prefers wet
soils.
• Native to: Southern Europe
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: P
• Drought recovery: VP
• Flood tolerance: P
• Smog tolerance: P
• Low temperature tolerance: VP
• Shade tolerance: G
• Wear tolerance: P
• Salt tolerance: P
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

37. Annual Ryegrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: Y
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: N
• Commercial sites: Y
• Cemeteries: N
• Airfields: N
• Roadsides: Sometimes
• Others: Over‐seeding lawns
cheaply, temporary lawns until
further planting or construction.
Seeded to cover fire‐ridden slopes.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: VP
• Sod grass: No
• Erosion control: Temporary
• Unmowed: Y
• Mixtures with other grasses: in cheap
seed mixes or to quickly germinate when
needed. Fastest germinating grass!
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

38. Annual Ryegrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Low
• Optimum Cutting Height: 1.5‐2”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
½ ‐1 ” for fairways and tees.
• Nitrogen requirements*: .4‐1.0 lbs
• Water requirements: Medium high
• Thatch removal: No
• Establishment methods: Seed
• Seeding rates: 7‐9 lbs.
• A temporary grass!
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, chinchbugs, sod
webworms, cutworms, armyworms.
• Diseases: Red thread, fusarium,
pythium when overseeding in fall if
temperatures spike up during seed
establishment.
Varieties:
• For turf, basically none however many
varieties exist for agriculture.

39. Annual Ryegrass
Key Features
• Very fast germination.
• Dies rapidly in warm weather over
80 degrees.
• Fast lush growth; often too fast!
• Can be so lush that it clogs lawn
mowers.
• Light green color.
• Bunch grass.

40. Annual Ryegrass
Key Features
• Best for inexpensive overseeding
or for erosion control.
• Not recommended for high
quality turf areas.
• Tends to be fibrous and tough to
mow.
• Good temporary winter lawn.

41. Creeping Bentgrass
Anatomical Features
• Vernation: Rolled
• Leaf tip: Acuminate
• Leaf Color: Medium green.
• Leaf Blade: Flat, soft.
• Auricles: Absent
• Ligule: Long, acute
• Collar: Narrow to broad
• Sheath: Split with overlap
• Stems: Erect or prostrate
• Inflorescence: Erect spike
• Growth habit: Stoloniferous Agrostis palustris

42. Creeping Bentgrass
Adaptation and Tolerances
Adaptation:
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial
• Optimum Climate: Cool, humid
• Adapted Climates: Transition zones,
hot areas for putting greens with
extensive care.
• Soil ph preference: 6.0, avoid
compacted soils.
• Native to: Eurasia
Tolerances:
• Drought hardiness: VP
• Drought recovery: P
• Flood tolerance: E
• Smog tolerance: P
• Low temperature tolerance: E
• Shade tolerance: G
• Wear tolerance: P
• Salt tolerance: G
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good,
G=Good/Medium, P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor

43. Creeping Bentgrass
Uses and Applications
Uses:
• Residential lawns: N
• Golf course fairways: Y
• Golf course greens: Y
• Parks: N
• Commercial sites: N
• Cemeteries: N
• Airfields: N
• Roadsides: Sometimes
• Others: High maintenance formal
lawns. Most commonly to make
putting greens.
Applications:
• Recuperative potential: G
• Sod grass: Y
• Erosion control: N
• Unmowed: N
• Mixtures with other grasses: No
Key: E=Excellent, VG=Very Good, G=Good,
P=Poor,
VP=Very Poor, Y=Yes, N=No, R=Rarely

44. Creeping Bentgrass
Culture, Pests, and Varieties
Culture:
• Intensity of Culture: Very high
• Optimum Cutting Height: 3/4”
• Special Use Cutting Heights:
1/8 – 1/4” for fairways and tees.
• Nitrogen requirements*: .8‐1.4 lbs
• Water requirements: High
• Thatch removal: 2‐3 x per year
• Establishment methods: Seed, stolons,
sod.
• Seeding rates: .5‐1.0 lbs.
• A temporary grass!
*lbs of nitrogen / 1000 sf / growing month
Pests:
• Insects: grubs, chinchbugs, sod
webworms, cutworms, armyworms –
most insects like the soft blades and
stems.
• Diseases: All – use preventative
maintenance methods and
preventative fungicides if needed.
Varieties:
• Penncross: good heat tolerance
• Seaside: better salt tolerance
• Emerald: deep green color
• Again, over 50 varieties exist

45. Creeping Bentgrass
Key Features
• Primary use is for putting greens.
• Can be mowed as low as 3/16”.
• Very soft.
• Disease prone and easily killed by
drying out.
• Spreads by stolons.
• Colonial Bentgrass (Agrostis
tenuis) is a more upright bent
sometimes used for lawns in the
northern states.

46. Creeping Bentgrass
Key Features
• Requires a high levels of
maintenance to look good.
• Bentgrass greens in San Diego are
often infiltrated with annual
bluegrass.
• Needs frequent thatch removal.
• Planted by seed, sod, & stolons.