4 Creeping Bentgrass

Slide 1 Turfgrass ID: Agrostis stolonifera - Creeping Bentgrass Slide 2 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) Germination Rate: 10 - 14 days Slide 3 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) PROS Excellent low temperature tolerance Excellent resistance to ice damage Most tolerant turfgrass of continuous close mowing Fine textured, capable of producing a high quality turf with superior shoot density and uniformity Vigorous stolon growth, roots at nodes offering good recuperative capacity Slide 4 Vigorous stolon growth! Slide 5 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) CONS: Extremely high cultural intensity required to maintain properly Varies in colour – greenish/yellow to blue/green, depending on cultivar Not as wear tolerant as Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass High disease susceptibility Slide 6 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) CONS: Prone to herbicide injury – especially 2,4-D; use mecoprop only Tendency to thatch – above ground stolons in combination with nitrogen Cannot be used in a polystand with KB because of aggressive patchy, creeping growth habit Turf becomes very “puffy” at higher mowing Slide 7 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) General Use SPORTS TURF Widely used on putting greens, tees, fairways Tennis courts and lawn bowling Generally planted as a monostand Slide 8 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) Management Preferences Preferred mowing height 4 to 20mm (VERY low) Frequent irrigation 0.25 to 0.75 of actual N (nitrogen) per 100 sq. metres per growing month (Same as KB - quite high) Topdressing required to control thatch Shallow vertical mowing and brushing (verticutting) to control grain Prefers moist, cool, fertile soils Power raking required to ensure water/oxygen infiltration Seeding Rate: 0.2 - 0.5 kg / 100 sq. meters Slide 9 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) Slide 10 Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stolonifera (A. palustris) Vegetative Reproduction of Bentgrass for golf courses: complete final grading harvest stolons, keep moist spread over area to be established topdress roll keep well watered