It produces a coarse turf with dark to blue-green foliage. Augustinegrass, also called Charlestongrass, is popular and well-adapted to Louisiana. Centipedegrass can be established from either seed or vegetatively however, with its delicate seeds, seeding is preferred only on larger acreage with irrigation. Overfertilization of centipedegrass can result in excessive thatch buildup, iron chlorosis and an overall dieback referred to as "centipedegrass decline."Ī very limited number of improved varieties exist, with cold-tolerant TifBlair being the most recent. It tolerates little drought or salinity but does well in shade. It does well in acid soil (pH 5.2 to 5.8), has a low fertility requirement and grows slowly, giving it the name "lazy man’s grass." Centipedegrass is popular for Louisiana lawns and areas that receive lower maintenance and traffic. Bermudagrass hybrids must be established vegetatively through planting sod, plugs or sprigs. Researchers at the AgCenter and other institutions across the Southeast have been evaluating improved seeded varieties and have several to recommend over the common varieties.Ĭentipedegrass, also called Chinese lawn grass, is a well-adapted, light-colored, crabapple-green, medium-textured grass. Traditionally, hybrid bermudagrasses have provided the highest-quality turf areas and are used in high-maintenance areas, such as golf courses and athletic fields. Many different types of bermudagrass are available for Louisiana, ranging from common bermudagrass that is well suited for uses such as lawns, utility areas and lower-input athletic fields, to the "ultra dwarf" bermudagrasses that require extremely high maintenance for use on high-end golf course putting greens. It tolerates drought and some salinity, but not shade. The aggressive bermudagrass is ideal on athletic fields and golf courses. What are the physical and environmental limitations? Sunlight, water quantity and quality, soil pH, soil type and internal soil drainage are important factors when selecting different species.īased on LSU AgCenter research results, turfgrass specialists have arrived at the following brief descriptions of how different grasses can be expected to behave in Louisiana.īermudagrasses, also called wiregrass or couchgrass, are planted in almost every turf setting across Louisiana. A great grass that is not sustained adequately will die out and/or go to weeds. What is the level of maintenance (money and time)? Turfgrass should be selected according to the amount of resources and time one is willing to invest. What is the intended use of the turf area? Some grasses have a utilitarian purpose, such as true ball roll on a golf green, sustainability or wear tolerance on athletic turf or a dog yard. To select the appropriate turfgrass, one must answer these questions: The LSU AgCenter has been conducting adaptation research on some of these species for over 35 years. Selection of the proper species of turfgrass for each location and use is critical for the long-term sustainability of the turf. Augustinegrass, carpetgrass and seashore paspalum – can all be viable choices for permanent turf in Louisiana it just depends on the local environment, use, soil type, preference and how much you are willing to put into the turf. Warm-season grasses – such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Therefore, their uses should be short-term and limited to cool-period overseeding. Cool-season grasses – such as tall fescue, bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass and annual ryegrass – are not adapted to Louisiana. Turfgrasses are of two general types: cool-season and warm-season grasses. From Saturday night in Tiger Stadium to golf courses, lawns, cemeteries, sod farms, airports, roadsides and parks, turfgrasses provide environmental, economic, recreational, employment, health, safety and aesthetic benefits to Louisiana.
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