Does Native Bentgrass Benefit Any Insects Or Animals

Bentgrass (Agrostis) is a big genus with over 100 species, but only about 4 are used for turfgrass in the Us. None of these four are well adapted to southern climates. The only use of this species in the Southward is for golf course putting greens where environments are closely managed.

Throughout the New England States and the Pacific Northwest where climatic conditions are ideal for bentgrass, the species is used for lawns, athletic fields and golf courses. In Europe and parts of Asia, the grass is native and normally found on lawns, pastures and sport fields.

Of the four species used for turf, creeping bentgrass is the ane most commonly used on southern golf greens. The species was introduced into the U.s. from Europe during the Colonial Period.

Description. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) is a perennial absurd season grass that forms a dense mat. The grass spreads by profuse creeping stolons and possesses rather vigorous, shallow roots. Stems (stolons) are decumbent (creeping) and slender and produce long narrow leaves. Leafage blades are smooth on the upper surface and ridged on the underside, 1 to 3 mm wide and bluish light-green in appearance. The ligule is long, bleary, finely toothed or entire and rounded, auricles are absent.

The species is characterized by single flowered spikelets in a meaty panicle. The panicle in flower is regal to statuary in appearance. Seed of creeping bentgrass are as well small to be identified without magnification. Seeds are ovate, less than 1 mm long, usually awnless with an occasional short, straight awn and silvery in appearance.

Accommodation and Employ. Creeping bentgrass is adjusted to cool, humid environments such as those found in the northeastern United States. Cool nighttime temperatures are specially advantageous to bentgrass. In the South, high daytime temperatures together with warm nighttime temperatures create highly adverse conditions for bentgrass. During summer months in the South, carbohydrate reserves are depleted in bentgrass and the turf becomes susceptible to any boosted stress - drought, traffic, shade, insects or affliction.

As a result, the only use of bentgrass in the South is for golf greens where small-scale acreage allows for very intense direction. In the South, bentgrass is best adjusted to the transition zone where cooler temperatures prevail. But even in this surface area, special attention needs to be given to soil preparation, water management, air circulation, shade, exposure and other factors.

Varieties. Presently, simply the seeded varieties of bentgrass are used in the South - Seaside, Penncross, Emerald, Penn Links, Cato, Crenshaw, SR1020 and Penneagle. A number of vegetatively propagated strains of bentgrass are used in the northern states, but they accept establish very limited utilise in the South. These include Cohansey (C-7), Toronto (C-15), Congressional (C-19), Nimisilla, and some local strains propagated on individual sites.

Seaside creeping bentgrass is the oldest seeded variety in use today. It is an extremely variable grass that develops into patches of private strains with dissimilar colors, textures and densities. The seed supply for Seaside is harvested from natural stands indigenous to the littoral regions of Washington and Oregon.

Penncross is a more uniform variety with superior turf quality, disease tolerance and vesture tolerance. Where play is heavy, Penncross is probably the amend choice. Penncross was released by Pennsylvania Land University in 1954. Seeds are harvested from crosses of three vegetatively propagated strains.
Emerald, Penn Links, SR1020, Cato, Crenshaw and Penneagle are newer varieties of bentgrass that have seen only express apply in the Due south.

Propagation. In the instance of bentgrass, particular attending needs to be given to seedbed preparation. Well tuckered soil mixtures are essential for growing bentgrass in the South. Highly permeable mixtures of sand and organic amendments placed over a drainage system are commonly used for bentgrass green construction.

Seeding rates for bentgrass golf greens vary from 0.v to one pound per 1,000 sq. ft. If mulch is applied over the seed, near fifty pounds mulch per one,000 sq. ft. are used. Calorie-free, frequent watering is necessary on these highly permeable greenish's mixtures to go on the seedbed moist. The mulch may reduce the frequency of watering from 5 to vii times per twenty-four hour period to 2 to 3 times per day. Under ideal conditions germination may begin 5 days after seeding.

Frequent fertilization is also helpful to establish a cover of bentgrass on these sand mixtures. A starter fertilizer might be practical earlier seeding and one month later. Soluble nitrogen fertilizers tin can be practical at low-cal rates at 10-solar day intervals afterward seeding until a complete cover develops.

Early fall is the best time to seed bentgrass in the South. Jump planting dates exercise non allow adequate growing time for plants to mature prior to summertime stress.

Management. Intensive management and frequent observation are keys to the success of bentgrass golf game greens in the South. Watering, fertilization, mowing, cultivation, and pests must be closely managed to go on bentgrass greens during summertime months.

Water must exist closely managed to meet the moisture needs of the grass, just not exclude oxygen from the soil. Water also serves to moderate the temperature during heat stress periods. Watering schedules and rates must be based on water use rates (evapotranspiration) and the water holding capacity of the soil. During summertime months, watering practices may determine success of failure with bentgrass. Well drained greens (permeable soil mixtures and good surface runoff) and well designed irrigation systems give the turf manager an edge on bentgrass greens. At times little or no irrigation may be needed; at other times, very light applications of water (misting) may be needed to absurd the turf by evaporation from the leafage surface.

The turf manager must closely manage the water needs of bentgrass during heat stress periods. Excess water, or saturated soils, can be as damaging as bereft h2o during estrus stress. The successful turf manager matches irrigation rates to water apply rates (evapotranspiration) and uses a misting organisation to cool the turf during mid-solar day stress.

Fertilization practices are also critical on bentgrass greens. The successful manager plans fertilizer applications to promote growth without depleting saccharide reserves. During absurd periods such as autumn and early jump, fertilizer promotes stolon and foliage growth every bit well as carbohydrate storage in stolons. Nevertheless, late spring and summer applications of fertilizer promote leaf and stolon growth at the expense of carbohydrate reserves. Thus, very picayune fertilizer should be used between June and September on bentgrass greens. Perhaps monthly applications of nitrogen at 0.5 pound per 1,000 sq. ft. tin can be made from October to May and 0.25 pound per 1,000 sq. ft. from June to September for a total of about 5 pounds of nitrogen per ane,000 sq. ft. per year.

In improver to nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and atomic number 26 are required on most golf greens. Soil and institute tissue analyses volition alert the turf director to specific needs of bentgrass for these nutrients. On an annual basis, one to ii pounds of phosphorous, 4 to five pounds of potassium and several foliar applications of iron are generally needed. But, soil and tissue samples will indicate specific nutrient needs.

Mowing heights of 3/16-inch or less are common on bentgrass greens. But, during summer stress periods raising the height to 1/iv inch helps the bentgrass survive heat stress and tolerate wear.

The use of walking greens mowers in place of riding mowers besides helps keep bentgrass greens through the summer. If riding mowers are used, turns should be made off of the putting surface.
Cultivation practices, including aeration, vertical mowing and topdressing, demand to be done during the fall and spring on bentgrass greens to avoid added stress during the summer. All of these tillage practices help the turf managing director control thatch, graininess and compaction on bentgrass greens.

To effectively control insect and disease bug, frequent surveillance is essential. Sod webworms, cut worms, mole crickets and white grubs demand to be treated equally before long as the insects are found. In the case of sod webworms, equally many every bit 4 or 5 generations may occur in a unmarried year.

Constructive disease command requires preventive applications of fungicides for dollar spot, brownpatch and other disease problems. Turf managers must be warning for development of diseases during warm, moist conditions.

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Source: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/Bent.html

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