Table 1: Number of Plants with Rhizomes (Ohio State Research) Percentage of Plants with Rhizomes


Plant Sample


Tall Fescue Cultivar 1 Tall Fescue Cultivar 2 Tall Fescue Cultivar 3 Tall Fescue Cultivar 4 Tall Fescue 3-way Blend


Smooth-stalked meadow grass (Poa pratensis)


2003-2004 2004-2005 Fall 2005 (end of study) 10 11 6


6


12 13


33


20 27 17 29


54


17 43 19 28 27


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periods, tall fescue can access water deep in the profile and, therefore, can survive most hot and dry summers. For that reason, it has been marketed as a drought-resistant grass, where it should probably be more accurately termed a drought “avoiding” grass. In instances where tall fescue is used as a lawn grass, it stays green and tolerates most hot summers when the perennial ryegrass and smooth-stalked meadow grass would go dormant without supplemental irrigation.


The substantial root system also makes tall fescue very wear tolerant, especially once it has matured which, typically, takes two growing seasons. For tall fescue to be used on a sports pitch, it must have time to establish before the pitch is used. Unlike perennial ryegrass, tall fescue cannot be seeded in the spring and played on in the autumn. It really needs at least two growing seasons to reach a mature age where it can withstand intense sports traffic. Once it is established however, it is extremely wear tolerant (Figure 3).


Figure 2: Samples taken with a cup-cutter, turned upside down and soil washed away. Left; Smooth- stalked meadow grass, showing abundant rhizome growth. Right; Tall fescue, showing abundant root growth.


Additional advantages of tall fescue include its ability to survive in shaded environments and its ‘endophyte’ content. Endophytes are intercellular, symbiotic fungi that confer drought and pest resistance to tall fescues through production of toxic alkaloids. Research at Ohio State has shown that foliar feeding insect problems can be eliminated if 40% or less of the turf contains endophytes.


Drier turf. Less disease. Better conditions. DewCure


Unique product reduces excess leaf moisture caused by dew, guttation, rain, irrigation and frost


TM


Moisture management reduces disease pressure. Drier environment promotes healthy turf growth


Adheres directly to the leaf surface, inhibiting moisture retention for an extended period


Provides drier playing conditions for tournaments, matches and every day use


Controls light frost and promotes faster meltdown after heavy frost


Treated – DewCure Untreated


University research has demonstrated that DewCure reduces average leaf moisture levels, providing a drier environment that promotes the growth of healthy turf.


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