Introduction To Cool Season Lawns

Lawn grasses are first divided into 2 separate categories, Warm Season Grasses, and Cool Season Grasses. As their names suggest, they are both best suited to differing climatic regions.

Characteristics Of Cool Season Lawns

Cool Season grasses generate from seed only. Each seed will sprout a single shoot, as the shoot matures, it hardens and sends out new shoots from its sides. As this process continues, the original shoot is now a single plant containing many shoots, and thickening and growing into it neighbouring lawn plants. This process is called TILLERING. When the process is repeated millions of times and in close proximity, this is what now becomes a Cool Season Lawn.

Mix and Match Cool Season Lawns

Cool Season Grasses have many differing strengths and weaknesses. Because of their plant structure that contain no runners, the seeds of differing varieties are often mixed together to achieve the benefits of each variety to compensate for the weakness of the other,

For example, Bluegrass is highly desired due to it's softness and low irritation, however, it will not live in shaded areas or tolerate the cold very well. In this case, a Fine Fescue may be mixed into the lawn seed to compensate for these deficiencies. The same mix and match happens with many varieties of cool season lawns in differing regions of the world to achieve different results.

Repair and Spreading of Cools Season Lawns

The only spreading a Cool Season Grass will do is by its thickening process called tillering. Because they have no runners, these grasses cannot invade gardens or paths, or go anywhere else they are unwanted.

To repair damaged or dead areas of lawn turf is as simple as either re-seeding the affected area, or cutting out the area, and replacing it from a new turf roll from your turf supplier.

Lawn Mowing Heights

As a part of our lawn care, all Cool Season Grasses should be mowed at a higher height when compared to Warm Season varieties. A 40 mm minimum is the accepted standard not to mow below. Any lower leaves the lawn susceptible to weed invasion, disease, poor health and even death.

Growing Cool Season Lawns In Warmer Climates

Yes, Cool Season Grasses can be grown in warmer climates, with some varieties being more tolerant than others. Most will not survive any humidity, and to keep them alive and in peak health will require greater amounts of water, monitoring, and lawn care to be used when compared to Warm Season varieties.

Unless a significant reason or purpose is under consideration, or the turf owner has the time and patience required, Cool Season Grasses are usually best left to their premium places of residence that they are most suited to. In today's water wise world, this precious resource which is Water, can be used in far more beneficial and useful ways than maintaining an unsuitable grass variety in an unsuitable environment.

Varieties

• Tall Fescue
• Fine Fescue
• Bent Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Bluegrass

Also Known As

• Cool Climate Grasses
• C3 Grasses
• Bunch Type Grasses