Figure 3: Wear resistance/durability of cool and warm season grasses used for sports turf
Tall fescue can be grown as a monostand or blend of 3-5 cultivars. The only species that can be mixed successfully with tall fescue is smooth- stalked meadow grass. If tall fescue is mixed with perennial ryegrass, another bunch-type grass, it could produce a very clumpy and unsafe playing surface. Even when mixed with smooth-stalked meadow grass, the tall fescue must constitute 85-90% of the seed mix by weight, or clumps will form. One way to ensure a uniform, fine
textured turf is to mow it regularly, no higher than 50mm. In our trials, tall fescue performed well and mixed with smooth-stalked meadow grass at mowing heights as low as 38mm, but started to lose density and textural quality at mowing heights above 75mm. There are several issues for turf managers maintaining tall fescue. Firstly, worn areas need to be overseeded regularly or small clumps will form (Figure 4). Ideally, tall fescue should be overseeded during the playing season, but tall fescue would probably not establish quickly enough and perennial
Figure 4: Heavily worn tall fescue that has lost density. Small clumps form that could interfere with play. Regular overseeding and mowing at the lower end of the optimum height range (38-75 mm) helps to improve density.
ryegrass would need to be used. This could lead to an unfavourable mix of grasses on the pitch, with the perennial ryegrass eventually taking over. Next, while there have been major strides in developing cultivars resistant to leaf spot, there has been little improvement in the resistance to brown patch disease and little is known of the tolerance to fusarium. Brown patch is a serious warm weather disease that can develop rapidly in hot, humid environments (24-35°C). It would appear that the development of much denser cultivars of tall fescue has actually caused an increase in brown patch disease occurrence, possibly because the turf canopy holds more moisture. Studies conducted by plant breeders found that disease severity was highly correlated with leaf blade density, suggesting that future cultivars may need to have a lower density, in order to have increased brown patch resistance. Good management practices, in conjunction with the selection of more resistant turf cultivars, are typical pro- active approaches to any turf disease.
What are you like?
Nick Nottingham, Greenkeeper at Luffenham Heath - women and greenkeeping don’t mix, apparently!
Who are you? Nicholas (Nick) Nottingham, Greenkeeper at Luffenham Heath Golf Club. Just on the ladder and heading upwards, hopefully!
Status? Single.
Who’s your hero and why? Any head greenkeeper who has to work with a commitee!
What is your dream holiday? A round the world cruise. I’ve only ever been abroad a couple of times.
What annoys you the most? Bad greenkeeping!!
What would you change about yourself? I’d like to be more academically minded.
Who wouldn’t you like to be? A politician.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Im not fussy!
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Take all my mates on holiday.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Stick at it! Don’t give up at the first hurdle. If you are a young greenkeeper, don’t get tied down by a woman!
What’s your favourite smell? Freshly cut grass on a spring morning.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Ambitious, Easy going and committed... see what I mean about being more academically minded!
What talent would you like to have? To be able to play golf well!
What makes you angry? Staff that don’t turn up or don’t work hard. They have got to be enthusiastic and like the job.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? To make sure all greenkeepers are looked after when they retire. eg health and pensions.
With brown patch there are key factors that affect disease severity. Most notably, it is important to be cautious about nitrogen fertility and water during hot and humid weather.
In conclusion, the quality of turf-type tall fescue has improved significantly over the last ten years and it may be a viable option for turf in the UK, especially on low maintenance areas and home lawns where mowing heights greater than 38mm are acceptable. In those situations where shade, drought, and heavy traffic are deciding factors, it may be worth some investigation. Whether it can compete with perennial ryegrass as the sports turf grass of choice is another matter. The establishment speed, tolerance of low mowing heights and uniform fine texture of perennial ryegrass makes it extremely useful for sports in the UK.
Pamela Sherratt & Dr. Karl Danneberger The Ohio State University Website:
www.Buckeyeturf.osu.edu
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