October 1999 - Volume VI, Issue 10


Grass Establishment Calendar for Cool Season Grasses

David M. Kopec, Extension Turfgrass Specialist

Establishing grass from seed, sod, sprigs, or stolons is based on the grass selected for the lawn (warm or cold season grasses) and the season of the year that allows for the greatest establishment.

COOL SEASON GRASSES

Cool season grasses include the lawn grasses that thrive in Arizona in the fall, spring and (at mid-elevations) winter. In this newsletter, we will address the establishment and maintenance of cool season grass for permanent lawns (not as overseeding bermudagrass).

Permanent cool season grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine leaf fescues. The fine leaf fescues include creeping red fescue, hard fescue, and Chewings fescue. Creeping red fescue is the most popular fine leaf fescue by far, since it is used with Kentucky bluegrass (added as a shade component).

KBG/RYE/TALL FESCUE/FINE FESCUE

SOD

LOCATION

SPRING

FALL

Early

Optimum

Late

Early

Optimum

Late

Sierra Vista

April 1

May 5

May 20

Oct 1

Oct 15

Nov 15

Globe

April 10

April 25

May 10

Oct 5

Oct 25

Nov 15

Kingman

April 1

April 30

May 15

Sept 10

Oct 10

Nov 10

Flagstaff

May 15

May 30

- -

- -

- -

Oct 15

Winslow/

Holbrook

April 15

May 30

June 15

Aug 5

Sept 1

Oct 15

Window Rock

May 20

June 1

June 15

Aug 1

Aug 25

Sept 30

Payson/

Prescott

May 1

May 15

June 1

Sept 1

Sept 25

Oct 15

Saint Johns

May 10

May 20

June 1

Aug 25

Sept 15

Oct 30

Kentucky bluegrass can be installed in winter periods as dormant sod, as long as the ground is not frozen, and there is adequate winter rain or irrigation to prevent dessication.

Tall fescue or ryegrass sods (if selected), should be installed under warmer conditions.

All cool season grasses are easily established from seed. Sod is available for Kentucky bluegrass, and, to a limited extent, for tall fescue and perennial ryegrass (as netted sod).

KBG/RYE/TALL FESCUE/FINE FESCUE

SEED

LOCATION

SPRING OPTIMUM

FALL OPTIMUM

Sierra Vista

May 10-20

Sept 15 - Oct 10

Globe

May 18 - May 26

Sept 10- Sept 25

Kingman

April 15 - May 15

Sept 1 - Sept 20

Flagstaff

June 1 through . . .

. . . August 10

Winslow/Holbrook

May 10 through . . .

. . . Sept 1

Window Rock

May 15 through . . .

. . . Sept 1

Payson/Prescott

May 10 through . . .

. . . Sept 10

St. Johns

May 15 - June 1

August 25 - Sept 5


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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.


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