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 |
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.