Poly_Lawn_Dale Update 2

More information for the PolyLawnDale project this week. The image above shows the newest installation set up before any grass has germinated. Alternate methods of hydration and suspension are also shown. And since some of you have been asking, we’ve discovered the exact mix of seeds in the bag. It’s important to point out that this mixture — while at first impressively precise — is the most ubiquitous lawn grass that one can buy (Ned bought his at a local mom + pop hardware store). This mix =  American lawn grass in the southern USA.

Seed mix:

31.58% Gulf Annual Rygrass
27.46% Turnberry Tall Fescue
24.64% Millenium Tall Fescue
14.42% 2nd MIllenium Tall Fescue
.47% Other Crop Seed
1.33% Inert Matter
.1% Weed

Annual Ryegrass, perennial ryegrass or rough bluegrass are the standard grasses used for overseeding.  The best time to overseed the home lawn is mid to late October, but more accurately after the first frost. Annual ryegrass is the fastest germinating of the three varieties and often the least expensive.  Annual and perennial ryegrass both grow quickly, especially during late fall and early spring. Their water use rates are moderate and fertility requirements are low, maybe one to two pounds of nitrogen over the winter months. Annual ryegrass may be sown under unfavorable wet or dry conditions, it normally germinates in a matter of 7-10 days and can grow to a height of 2-4 feet.

Turnberry is a high quality turf-type tall fescue suitable for use in a variety of locations throughout the US. Turnberry would be useful for home landscapes in both full sun and shade, and especially well suited for home lawns and commercial settings maintained at high quality levels by landscape professionals. Turnberry is ideal for golf course roughs, both sun and shade in the transition regions of the US. Turnberry is a fine textured, medium dark green, high density tall fescue with excellent brown patch resistance.

Millennium Tall Fescue is a proprietary fescue developed by Turf Merchants inc. Millenium Tall Fescue was rated #1 in Southern California and New York, but didn’t do as well as the trial location in Utah. Millennium has slightly less summer density, which helps keep disease problems in hot humid conditions at a minimum. Rembrandt is slightly finer in leaf texture, but so little different you probably won’t be able to detect it. And, Plantation and Rembrandt both had a slightly higher Spring Greenup score, but not statistically different. Turfgrass research has come a long way, and Millennium is the variety to take you into the next century.