WE KNOW TURF: Turf Varieties

Woerner Turf is one of the largest sod producers in America. We help many families and companies sod their lawn or project. In doing so, there are many turf varieties to choose from. To help you choose the right sod for your project, it is best to learn the differences between each variety. Otherwise you will end up having a non shade tolerant grass installed in your shady back yard.

Since we cover many markets all over the United States, it is imperative to know that we deal with Southern Grasses (Warm Season) and Colorado Grasses (Cool Season). There are four major types of grass used in home lawns in the southeast (Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, & Zoysia). All four are thought ot be non-native to the United States. There are two major grasses that are used in the Colorado market and are high performers in the northern climate conditions (Kentucky Bluegrass & Fescue).

Our Southeast Warm Season Grasses:

Bermuda is a native of Africa and was brought to the U.S. in 1751. Bermuda has been used in pastures, athletic fields and home lawns. It is now used extensively in the construction of golf courses. In the Atlanta area it is the choice of most homeowners.

Centipede, one of the most commonly used grasses in the south, was brought to the U.S. in 1918 from China by Frank N. Meyer, a plant explorer. Afterwards, Centipede was grown under the name Chinese Love Grass at the Belle Glade Experiment Station in south Florida. Centipede is the choice of of most homeowners along the gulf coast because of the ease with which it can be grown and maintained.

St. Augustine, another commonly grown grass in our area, was discovered growing in South Carolina in 1788. Its origin is not known prior to this time; however , it is believed to be native to South America. St. Augustine is a popular grass along the gulf coast, especially in central and south Florida. It seems to be more shade and salt tolerant, therefore is chosen for those purposes.

Zoysia was introduced from the Orient during the late 1800s. It has gained some popularity in recent years but is mostly used on golf courses and commercial projects.

Our Colorado Cool Season Grasses:

Kentucky Bluegrass It has been a controversial issue in Colorado to use KBG, but through the recent drought, it has proven to be a good performer to the drought like conditions. KGB is non native to the United States and is widely used in the western states.

Fescue was introduced into the United States from Europe in the early 1800's. It is also an option to use in the western states for the cold and dry conditions. There are about 100 species of Fescue grasses.

All these grasses have been studied extensively and in most cases plant breeders have developed improved cultivars which we use today. It is surprising to learn our lawn grasses are not native. It's important to know and understand this to better appreciate and understand the problems we have of growing these grasses in our landscape.

Bermuda - TIFWAY (Tifway 419)

DESCRIPTION: Tifway is a hybrid bermudagrass cross of Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis germplasma. It is characterized as having a dark green color with medium fine textured leaves. Tifway hybrid bermudagrass is dense with a medium to low growth habit. This variety is a vigorous grower and thus establishes quickly at planting.

USES: Golf course fairways and tees, athletic fields and landscapes.

CHARACTERISTICS: Temperature Range of Adaptation - Tifway grows best in warm climates within 45 degrees latitude to the equator. Temperatures in excess of 100 degrees F. (38 degrees C.) are readily tolerated by healthy Tifway. May become dormant after repeated winter frosts but recovers quickly when temperatures warm.

WATER QUALITY TOLERANCE: On a suitably drained profile Tifway can tolerate soil concentration of 2500 ppm total salts. It is well adapted to "brown" water sources and is commonly used in municipal and food industry effluent land application systems.

DROUGHT TOLERANCE: Tifway will survive droughts with minimal water availability. One to two inches (25 to 50 mm) of actual available water weekly to the plant will provide an acceptable turf surface. Tifway will survive at 1/2 inch (12 mm) irrigation per week, dependent on soil physics.

TRAFFIC/WEAR TOLERANCE: Tifway provides the best recuperative rates of all warm season turf grasses. A vigorous regenerator.

WEED TOLERANCE: Tifway's dense growth, when properly maintained, efficiently competes with the presence of many turf weeds. Tifway easily tolerates broadcast application of selective herbicides.

INSECT PEST TOLERANCE: With the exception of certain leaf feeding insects, Tifway demonstrates tolerance or quick recovery from damage after pest control treatments.

SOIL FERTILITY RANGE: Tifway grows best when soil pH is between 5.5 to 7.0. Soil levels of 100 pounds/acre (112 kg/hectare) of phosphorous and 150 to 200 pounds/acre to 224 kg/hectare) potassium will provide sufficient plant growth. Nitrogen applied at 1 pound/1000 sq. ft. per month will provide a healthy plant when combined with the recommended phosphorous and potassium.

ESTABLISHMENT: Tifway is a sterile (no viable seed) Triploid plant species and is successfully propagated as sprigs (rhizomes, stolons and Stems) or as sod.

Centipede

This low-maintenance turf grass is very popular, has a natural medium- to dark-green color, and adapts well to poor soil. It's aggressive enough to crowd out weeds and needs less mowing than most grasses. It grows well in full sun, is very tolerant to high temperatures and high humidity, and more shade-tolerant than common Bermuda grass.

Centipede is well suited to acid soils. Because it uses nutrients well, it should not be over fertilized.

Centipede can be established by seed, plugs, sprigs, or sod. The method used is up to each individual and how quickly they want a complete lawn. Naturally sodding is the most expensive but offers an almost instant lawn. If you have some time and patience seeding will work if proper steps are taken in the preparation of the area. The best time to seed is the period from April through July. Using about 4 ounces per 1000 square feet will give you a decent lawn the following spring. Follow directions exactly on the package. The seed can be rather expensive, but if done properly will be successful.

Centipede is a low maintenance turf grass and does not respond well to excessive use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen. Centipede should not be fertilized as much as St. Augustine sod therefore you will never maintain that rich dark green color. Check the PH of your soil as anything over 6.5 will tend to cause yellowing as well as an iron deficiency.

Watering of centipede is simple. Water as needed. The turf grass does not require an excessive amount of water to survive. Water plenty and not as often. It will tolerate some drought conditions better than most grasses.

Overall centipede is the prefered grass in the deep south because of the ease it can be started and grown. It will provide you with a great lawn with little care.

APPLICATIONS:

• Performs well in a wide range of applications, including in soils with poor fertility and in full sun installations.
• Color: Rich medium to dark green.
• Texture: Moderately course blade structure.
• Mowing Height: 1 to 2 inches.
• Frequency: 1 to 2 times per week. Mowing too high or not often enough can encourage thatch development and other problems. Mow frequently enough that only 1/3rd of the blade height is removed.
• Watering: Newly planted turf should be watered daily and soaked thoroughly to a depth of 3 inches for the first 10 to 14 days to avoid dry out Thereafter as needed to the full depth of the root zone to prevent visual wilt.
• N Fertilization: 0.1 to 0.3 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. per growing month; although it will grow well with little fertilization. Soils: Tolerates a relatively wide range of soil types, but is best suited to well drained, fertile soils.
  pH Tolerance: Range: 5 to 6. Tolerance to saline soils is quite good.
  Wear Tolerance: Good recuperative qualities and fairly wear resistant due to its spongy resilience and relatively course blade structure. Not recommended for high traffic areas.
  Shade Tolerance: Outstanding. Greater than bluegrass, dichondra, and common Bermudagrasses.

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St. Augustine

Robust, attractive, low-growing warm-season turf grasses that establish rapidly, and thrive in temperatures to 105 degrees. Ideal for residential, commercial, and industrial landscapes.

CLASSIC ST. AUGUSTINE - a Woerner Turf Exclusive Originally propagated in south Baldwin County, Alabama, Classic St. Agusting has proven to be more heat and disease tolerant than other St. Augusting varieties. Classic St. Augustine is presently being tested at the University of Florida turf grass experiemental station in Jay, Florida. Classic is an exclusive product of Woerner Turf/Gulf Kist Sod.

BITTER BLUE ST. AUGUSTINE has a deeper, more bluish color than other St. Augustinegrasses.

FLORATAM ST. AUGUSTINE is the most resistant to SAD virus of all the St. Augustinegrasses.

APPLICATIONS:

• Performs beautifully in a broad range of settings and applications.
• Color: Medium to dark green.
• Texture: Dense, moderately course blade structure.
• Mowing Height: 3 to 4 inches.
• Frequency: 1 to 2 times per week.
• Watering: Newly planted sod should be watered daily and soaked thoroughly to a depth of 3 inches for the first 10 to 14 days to avoid dry out. Thereafter as needed to the full depth of the root zone to prevent visual wilt.
• N Fertilization: 0.4 to 0.8 pounds of actual N per 1,000 sq. ft. per growing month.
  Soils: Tolerates a relatively wide range of soil types; is best suited to well drained, fertile soils.
• pH Tolerance: Range: 5.8 to 8.5. Soils with pH of 6.7 to 7.5 are preferred Good tolerance to saline soils.
• Wear Tolerance: Good recuperative qualities and fairly wear resistant due to its spongy resilience and course blade structure. Not recommended for high traffic areas.
• Shade Tolerance: Good to Excellent. Greater than Bluegrass, Dichondra, and both common and hybrid Bermudagrasses.
• Heat Tolerance: Excellent.
• Cold Tolerance: As much as 50% greater than common St. Augustine.

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Maintenance Schedule for St. Augustine:
Appropriate Maintenance during the months of May -September is very crucial for St. Augustine. The following specifications should be followed closely to insure a problem-free lawn: (1) Spray St. Augustine with "Dachniel" three days after sod installation, then again two weeks later; then every 14-21 days thereafter until the end of September. Use the mixing ratio listed on the label. (2) During the hot dry spells between May and September, St Augustine is susceptible to chinch bugs. Chinch bug damage results in a yellowing circle in the sod; as the damage worsens the circle becomes larger. To control the chinch bugs check with the local County Extension Service; different areas of the country will have a varying methods of treatment. With careful maintenance you should enjoy a problem free lawn.

Also, be sure to water on a regular basis in the EARLY MORNING HOURS , preferably 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Never water St. Augustine sod in the evening hours or after dark.

Zoysia

A beautiful, fine textured variety that forms a dense lawn that is resistant to weeds. Can withstand very heavy usage and is recommended for both residential and commercial lawn applications.

Zoysia provides a very dense, uniform, low-growing, easy to maintain lawn with a very upright growth habit. It is widely adapted to areas throughout the south and southeast; and exhibits good tolerance to saline soils.

• Color: Light to medium green
• Texture: Very sturdy, upright growth habit. Forms uniform, dense, lowgrowing, fine-textured, high quality turf
• Mowing Height: 1 to 2 inches for lawns; 0.5 to 1 inch for golf fairways. Slow growth
• Frequency: Once a week for lawns; two to three times per week for fairways
• Watering: Newly planted sod should be watered daily and soaked thouroughly to a depth of three inches for the first 10 to 14 days to avoid dry out. Thereafter as needed to the full depth of the root zone to prevent visual wilt.
• N Fertilizations: 0.3 to 0.5 pound of actual N per 1,000 square feet per growing month.
• Soils: Tolerates a wide range of soil types, but grows best in well drained, reletively fine-textured soils
• pH Tolerance: Range: 6 to 7. Good tolerance to saline soils.
• Wear Tolerance: Excellent, but recovery is slow.

Tall Fescue

Fescue is a cool season grass grown mostly in the northern parts of the United States. Fescue performs beautifully through warm summers and is especially well suited to relatively cool, moist growing conditions in 'transition zone' areas where neither cool- nor warm-season grasses perform well.

• Color: Rich, medium to dark blue-green
• Texture: Medium-fine blades, with high grass plant density for luxurious sod formation; superior weed resistance
• Mowing Height: 1.5 to 2.5 inches Frequency: 1 to 2 times per week. Slower growth habit can mean reduced mowing requirements
• Watering: Newly planted sod should be watered daily and soaked thoroughly to a depth of 3 inches for the first 10 to 14 days to avoid dry out. Thereafter as needed to prevent visual wilt
• N Fertilization: 0.1 to 0.5 pound of actual N per 1,000 sq. ft. per growing month. Needs less Phosphorous [PI and Potassium [K]
• Soils: Grows well in heavy clay to sandy soils. Above average tolerance to acidic, alkaline, saline, or poorly drained soils
• pH Tolerance: Wide Range: 4.7 to 8.5
• Wear Tolerance: One of the most wear tolerant of the 'transition zone' turf grasses. Recovers quickly from occasional abuse better than most grasses
• Shade Tolerance: Thrives in sunny locations, yet tolerates up to 80% shade at 2.5 inch mowing height.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass is the most beautiful and hardy of the cool-season lawngrasses. Rich blue-green color makes this premium turf one of the most popular for both residential and commercial lawns. Also widely used for athletic fields and parks with high wear areas.

• Color: Medium to dark blue-green
• Texture: Medium-fine blades, with high grass plant density and excellent leaf uniformity; superior weed resistance
• Mowing Height: As low as 0.5" in direct sun; 2.5 inches in shade
• Frequency: 1 to 2 times per week.
• Watering: Newly planted turf should be watered daily and soaked thoroughly to a depth of 3 inches for the first 10 to 14 days to avoid dry out. Thereafter as needed to prevent visual wilt
• N Fertilization: 0.4 to 0.8 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per growing month. Soils- Performs best in moist, well drained, fertile, medium-textured soils.
• pH Tolerance: 5.5 to 8.8, with 6.0 to 7.0 preferred
• Wear Tolerance: Vigorous rhizome development for excellent recuperative ability
• Shade Tolerance: Performs best in full sun, yet tolerates up to 65% shade at 2.5 inch mowing height
• Heat Tolerance: Maintains good color and appearance in hot weather when properly watered and cared for
• Cold Tolerance: Thrives in cool weather and withstands temperatures of zero or below

"Woerner Turf - for wherever you put down roots"