Solving Those Overseeding Blues

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Solving Those Overseeding Blues

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Leah A. Brilman, Ph.D.Research DirectorSeed
Research of Oregonwww.sroseed.com

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Thanks!

• Eric Case - Marriots Camelback Golf Resort,
  Scottsdale, AZ
• Shawn Emerson, Joe Tropico, Chris Montague -
  Desert Mountain Golf Properties, Carefree, AZ
• Paul Elwood - The Gallery, Marana, AZ
• Jim Moore - TPC Eagle Trace, Coral Springs, FL
• Fred Klauk - TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, FL
• Cal Roth - TPC
• Dr. Bruce Martin - Clemson University, SC
• Dr. Larry Stowell - PACE
• Kelly Schuck - ProSource One, Glendale, AZ

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Why overseed ?

• Provide green color during winter
• more play and more revenue
• Increase wear tolerance during
• dormant season
• Improved playing surface during winter

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What to overseed ?

• Dependent on location, budget, and course design
• Greens - Most courses
• Fairways - Many courses
• Roughs - Some courses
• Species selection also depends on location,
• budget, and course design

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Why overseed withdifferent species?

• Use mixtures for genetic diversity
• Resistance to diseases and stresses
• Color contrast
• Improved transition
• Improved quality
• Smaller seeds
• Potential cost savings

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Why overseed withdifferent species?

• Resistance to diseases and stresses
• Chytridiomycete on Poa trivialis in SC

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Why overseed withdifferent species?

• Color contrast

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Species for Overseeding
Ryegrasses Perennial, intermediate, annual Fine
fescues Chewings, slender creeping red, strong
creeping red, hard Bentgrasses Velvet, colonial,
creeping, dryland, Idaho Bluegrasses Rough
bluegrass, Kentucky, others Other species
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Perennial Ryegrass
Assets Standard High quality - tops many
tests Rapid germination Quick
establishment Very dark green color Known
cultural conditions Good Poa control
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Perennial Ryegrass
Problems Poor transition, heat tolerance
high Susceptible to Chytridiomycete fungus
Wider leaf blade Larger seed size - more
difficult to establish in ultradwarfs Soil
surface disruption damage for
establishment Most expensive per square
foot
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Intermediate Ryegrass
New improved varieties for turf Quality
significantly better than annuals or older
intermediates Medium green Quality approaching
older turf-type perennials Quicker transition
than perennials Less expensive than
perennials Can be included in mixtures
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Fine fescues
Chewings, slender creeping red, Strong creeping
red, hard Very fine with stiff texture Good wear
tolerance Winter-active growth Improved
transition with high quality Rapid germination -
Chewings and red Resistance to Chytridiomycete
fungus Medium seed size
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Fine fescues
High salt tolerance Color and texture
contrast Increase genetic diversity of
mixtures Mixtures with perennial ryegrass,
bentgrasses, Poa trivialis Seeding rates
(alone) - Do not mow too soon Greens 25 - 30
lbs./1000 sq. ft. Tees 20-25 lbs./1000 sq.
ft. Fairways 10-15 lbs./1000 sq.ft. -
Excellent
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Dawson slender Perennial
ryegrass Creeping red fescue

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Velvet Bentgrass
Very small seed size (best for ultradwarfs) Best
putting surface Highest wear tolerance, high
density Medium establishment Germinates well at
low soil temperatures Medium dark green Best
shade tolerance Excellent transition
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Velvet Bentgrass
Creeping bentgrass
SR 7200 Velvet bentgrass
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Colonial bentgrass
Highland bentgrass is a dryland bentgrass not
a colonial bentgrass Highland Colonial A.
castellana A. capillaris blue-green true
green stolons stolons long rhizomes usually
no rhizomes scalp/false crown more upright
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Colonial bentgrass
Small seed (good for ultra-dwarf bermudas) Medium
establishment Medium dark green High wear
tolerance Good transition High turf quality High
density Less expensive
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Creeping bentgrass
Small seed (good for ultradwarfs) High putting
quality High salt tolerance Moderate transition -
cultivar dependent Can persist into early
summer Medium to slow establishment Dark to
medium blue green color Excellent if have heavy
play in early summer
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Other bentgrass
Dryland Highland bentgrass, Idaho bentgrass,
Redtop Small seed (good for ultradwarfs) Quality
not as high Moderate transition Variable
establishment Dark to medium gray green color
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Rough bluegrass
Smaller seed size (ultradwarfs zoysias) Medium
to fast establishment rate Stoloniferous (can
become weed) Transition - poor to good Fine
texture Light to medium green High density Very
susceptible to Chytridiomycete Blend of cultivars
or lots improves establishment
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Kentucky bluegrass
Smaller seed size (ultradwarfs zoysias) Slow
establishment rate, best if need spring or early
summer performance Stoloniferous /
rhizomatous Transition - poor to good Fine to
medium texture Dark green color High
density Excellent cold tolerance and retain their
green color under freezing temperatures
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Species Mixtures
Combines strengths/weaknesses Less likely to
have diseases Adjust initial management/mowing to
insure multiple species establish Smoothes out
transition, more staged Can reduce costs
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Species Mixtures
Successful mixtures Perennial ryegrass rough
bluegrass Above bentgrass (velvet, creeping,
colonial) Colonial bentgrass Chewings or red
fescue Velvet bentgrass Chewings or red
fescue Rough bluegrass bentgrass Perennial
ryegrass fine fescues Above
bentgrasses Slender creeping red creeping bent
- salt or Chrytridiomycete sites
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Other species
Hairgrasses - Deschampsia ssp. Dark to light
green Transitions well Very wear
tolerant Junegrasses - Koeleria ssp. Seeding
rates? Good color, wear tolerance
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Improving transition
Bermudagrass preparation Control thatch during
summer - frequent light verticutting,
topdressing Heavy verticutting damages stolons
and rhizomes needed for recovery Spring
Management Lower mowing height - scalping on
roughs Increased nitrogen Light verticutting if
hot - check bermuda Aerification and topdressing
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Future Work
Collect and evaluate more species Regionalize
species recommendations New species need
management/chemical work Work with Universities/
Plant Material Centers Economic seed
production Market development