Overseeding Buffalograss Turf with Fine‐Leaved Fescues

Abstract

Buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] use as a turf Petersen and Moser, 1985; Pitman, 1999). in the northern USA is limited to a certain extent by its extended winter dormancy. A mixture of buffalograss with cool-season turf-Fine-leaved fescues including hard fescue (HF), blue grasses might extend the turf's green appearance and enhance quality. fescue (BF), sheep fescue (F. ovina L.), Chewings fes-Research was conducted to determine the effects of overseeding finecue (CF), and creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra) leaved fescue (Festuca spp.) in buffalograss turf on turfgrass color are adapted to low-maintenance use (Roberts, 1990; and quality and the effects of species, seeding rate and date, and core Watschke, 1990) and are drought resistant but do not cultivation on fine-leaved fescue establishment in buffalograss turf. tolerate high-temperature stress (Hanson et al., 1969). Hard fescue (F. longifolia Thuill.), blue fescue (F. ovina L. var. glauca These characteristics could complement buffalograss in Lam.), and Chewings fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaud.); seedturfgrass mixtures. ing rates (10, 20, and 30 g m Ϫ2); seeding dates (fall, spring, or split This study was conducted to determine the effects of fall-spring); and core cultivation (single or double pass) were evaluoverseeding fine-leaved fescue in buffalograss turf on ated for species composition, turfgrass quality, color, and green cover at the John Seaton Anderson Turfgrass Research Facility located turfgrass color and quality and the effects of species, seednear Mead, NE. Buffalograss turf overseeded with blue fescue in fall ing rate and date, and core cultivation on fine-leaved had the highest turfgrass quality, color, and green cover ratings. Fall fescue establishment in buffalograss turf. overseeding resulted in the highest shoot density values. Spring overseedings were below acceptable levels. Botanical composition of the MATERIALS AND METHODS mixtures overseeded in fall reached 75 to 80% fescue and 20 to Seeding date and seeding rate studies were conducted at 25% buffalograss after 2 yr. Seeding rate effect was linear with each the John Seaton Anderson Turfgrass Research Facility located increment between 10 g m Ϫ2 and 30 g m Ϫ2 increasing fine-leaved fesnear Mead, NE. The soil was a Tomek silty-clay loam (fine, cue shoot density, turfgrass quality, color, and green cover. Blue fescuesmectitic, mesic Pachic Argiudolls). The experimental design buffalograss mixtures overseeded in the fall exhibited 80% green cover was a randomized complete block with treatments arranged when buffalograss was dormant. Turfgrass green cover in the mixture in a 3 (species) ϫ 3 (seeding rate or seeding date) ϫ 2 (core was extended by 2 months when compared to buffalograss monostands cultivation) factorial. Treatments were replicated three times growing in areas adjacent to the study. The results of this study support and treatment plot size was 1.5 by 2.4 m (3.6 m 2). the use of fine-leaved fescue and buffalograss mixtures to extend Mature...

Blue Fescue Overseeding Improves Performance of Fairway Height Buffalograsses

“…In Utah, Johnson (2003) reported a buffalograss-blue fescue mixture had the best overall quality and uniformity compared with the other fine fescue-buffalograss mixtures. In Nebraska, researchers also found buffalograssblue fescue mixtures maintained acceptable quality ratings during summer stress and good color retention in fall and spring (Severmutlu et al, 2005;Shearman et al, 2006).…”

“…Although this was the case, the visual turf appearance was characteristic of a typical buffalograss turf. The mixture plots consisted of 71% blue fescue and 29% buffalograss shoots per unit area in summer, whereas Severmutlu et al (2005) reported botanical composition of the mixtures reaching 75% to 80% fine fescue and 20% to 25% buffalograss in the fall. Their study was conducted at lawn heights of cut (i.e., 63 mm), whereas this study was maintained at a 16-mm mowing height.…”

“…However, efforts to establish long-term mixtures of warm-and cool-season turfgrasses have generally not been successful (Beard, 1973;Johnson, 2003). Researchers in Nebraska and Utah reported improved spring and fall green color retention in buffalograss turfs overseeded with fine fescue (Festuca species) on a long-term basis (Johnson, 2003;Severmutlu et al, 2005). Blue fescues are well adapted to dry situations and are good choices for low-maintenance turfgrass sites (Roberts, 1990).…”

“…Blue fescues are well adapted to dry situations and are good choices for low-maintenance turfgrass sites (Roberts, 1990). In Nebraska, overseeding buffalograss turfs maintained at lawn heights of cut with blue fescue resulted in improved turfgrass quality and green cover (Severmutlu et al, 2005). With these aspects in mind, this study was initiated to determine the effects of blue fescue overseeding on turfgrass fall and spring color retention and turfgrass performance of buffalograss genotypes maintained under golf course fairway conditions.…”

Establishment and persistence of zoysiagrass–tall fescue mixtures

“…In Kansas and much of the northern part of the transition zone, there is resistance on the part of homeowners and some golf course and sports turf managers to using zoysiagrass because of its extended period of brown color during dormancy compared with cool‐season grasses (Menegon, Macolino, McCalla, Rimi, & Richardson, 2017). Researchers have explored improving the fall, winter, and spring color of other warm‐season grasses by creating mixtures with cool‐season grasses (Menegon et al., 2017; Severmutlu, Riordan, Shearman, Gaussoin, & Moser, 2005). Mixing zoysiagrass with a cool‐season grass, such as tall fescue, has the potential to improve sward color during zoysiagrass dormancy, which could be of interest to homeowners, golf course superintendents, and sports turf managers.…”