Turf - Recommended Turfgrass Varieties

With late summer or fall planting coming up for turfgrasses, I thought I would reprint the current recommended varieties from the Maryland/Virginia turfgrass variety working group. We would recommend these varieties for mid-state and lower Delaware.

2009-2010 Virginia-Maryland Turfgrass Variety Recommendations

Authors as Published: Mike Goatley, Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech; Whitnee Askew, Research Associate, Virginia Tech

The Maryland-Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendation Work Group meets each Spring to consider the previous year’s data from Virginia and Maryland National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials and to formulate these recommendations. Virginia and Maryland variety recommendations are essentially identical except for specialized grasses and research situations that differ due to adaptation and state regulation. To qualify for this recommended list turfgrass varieties: 1) must be available as certified seed or, in the case of vegetative varieties, as certified sprigs or sod; 2) must be tested at sites in both Virginia and Maryland; 3) must perform well, relative to other varieties, for a minimum of two years to make the list as a “promising” variety and for three years to make the recommended category. All test locations in Virginia and Maryland are considered in making these recommendations. Seed availability may vary between turf seed suppliers. Some species and varieties may have limited adaptation.

Kentucky Bluegrass – Individual varieties selected must make up not less than 10%, nor more than 35% of the total mixture on a weight basis. All varieties must be certified. Selections can be made from Category I alone or various combinations of Categories I, II, and III as noted. Kentucky bluegrasses listed as “Promising” (Category III below) can account for no more than 35% of the blend by weight).

Category I – Recommended Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties (65–100% of blend by weight).
Award, Awesome(3), Beyond, Bordeaux(3), Brilliant, Cabernet(3), Courtyard, Diva, Everest(3), Everglade, Excursion, Glenmont(1), Impact, Juliet, Liberator, Midnight, Moonlight(3), NuDestiny, NuGlade, Princeton 105, Quantum Leap, Raven, Skye, Sudden Impact, Total Eclipse(3), and Touche.

Category II – Promising Kentucky Bluegrasses (10–35% on a weight basis) – These grasses have performed in the top statistical quality category for a minimum of 2 consecutive years in Virginia and Maryland trials. Seed may be difficult to locate for some cultivars. Note: Durablue, ThermalBlue, and ThermalBlue Blaze are commonly referred to as Hybrid Bluegrasses, but they are classified by USDA as Kentucky bluegrasses. To date they have had better performance in traditionally warmer areas of Virginia.
Alexa II, Aries, Aura, Barrister, Belissimo, Bewitched, Bluestone, Durablue, Emblem, Everglade, Ginney II, Granite, Mystere, NuChicago, NuDestiny, Rhapsody, Rhythm, Solar Eclipse, ThermalBlue, ThermalBlue Blaze, Wild Horse, Yankee, Zinfandel

Tall Fescue – For tall fescues, both recommended and promising varieties can be used in the VCIA Sod Certification Program.

Category I – Recommended Tall Fescue Varieties (90–100% on a weight basis)
2nd Millennium, Avenger, Biltmore, Bingo, Blackwatch, Bravo, Cochise II(3), Cochise III, Constitution, Coyote II, Crossfire II(3,4), Davinci(3), Daytona(3), Endeavor(3), Falcon IV, Fidelity, Forte, Good-En(3,4), Grande(4), Grande II, Greenkeeper WAF, Guardian 21, Houndog 5, Hunter, Inferno, Justice, Magellan, Masterpiece, Matador(3), Matador GT(3), Onyx(3,4), Padre, Picasso(3), Penn 1901, Raptor, Rebel Exeda, Regiment II, Rembrandt(3), Southern Choice II(3), SR 8250(3), Taos, Tarheel, Tarheel II, Tempest, Titanium, Tombstone, Turbo, Ultimate(3), Watchdog, and Wolfpack.

Category II – Promising tall fescue varieties (may be 90–100% of the mixture on a weight basis)
3rd Millenium SRP, Aggressor, Aristotle, AST 7002, AST 7003, AST 9003, Braveheart, Bullseye, Cannavaro, Catelyst, Cezanne RZ, Cochise IV, Compete, Escalade, Einstein, Essential, Faith, Falcon V, Falcon NG, Fat Cat, Finelawn Xpress, Firecracker LS, Firenza, Gazelle II, Greenbrooks, Guardian 21, Hemi, Hudson, Jamboree, Lindbergh, Monet, Mustang 4, Ninja 3, Raptor 2, Rebel IV, Renovate, Reunion, Rhambler SRP, Rocket, Shenandoah, Shenandoah Elite, Sidewinder, Speedway, Spyder LS, SR 8550, SR 8600, SR 8650, Stetson II, Tahoe II, Talladega, Terrier, Titanium, Toccoa, Traverse, Trio, Tulsa Time, Umbrella, Van Gogh, Wolfpack II

Kentucky bluegrass varieties recommended for mixing with tall fescue sod to enhance sod strength (up to 10% of the seed mixture by weight): All cultivars in Categories I and II above.

Bermudagrass – Varietal differences in texture and winter hardiness are important considerations. If no notation follows the variety name this indicates it has performed in the top statistical category at both Blacksburg and Hampton Roads Research Stations. Varieties with the notation # are only recommended in the warmer regions of Virginia due to concerns regarding their cold tolerance. Note that there are no guarantees regarding winter survival for any recommended or promising variety, and one not noted for cold tolerance might perform well indefinitely in colder regions of the state depending on climate patterns.

Category I – Recommended vegetatively propagated bermudagrass varieties: Aussie Green#, Celebration# , GN-1#, Midfield, Midiron, Midlawn, MS-Choice#, Patriot, Premier, Quickstand, Shanghai, Tifton 10, Tifgreen#, TifSport, Tifway#, Tifway II#, Tufcote, and Vamont.

Category II -Recommended seeded bermudagrass varieties: Blackjack#, Contessa, Transcontinental#, Princess-77#, Pyramid 2#, Riviera, Savannah#, Sovereign, Southern Star#1, Sundevil II#, Veracruz#, and Yukon.

Zoysiagrass – (Varietal differences in texture and winter hardiness are important considerations.)

Category I – Recommended vegetatively propagated zoysiagrass varieties: Meyer. Category II – Recommended seeded zoysiagrass varieties: Zenith, Compadre Category III – Promising vegetatively propagated (V) and seeded (S) zoysiagrass varieties: Cavalier (V), Companion (S), Himeno (V), J-14 (S), J-36 (S), J-37 (S), Marquis (V), Sunburst (V), Zorro (V), ZEN­400 (S), and ZEN-500 (S). Promising for Eastern VA only: DeAnza (V), El Toro (V), Emerald (V), Jamur (V), Miyako (V), Victoria (V), and Zeon (V).

Perennial Ryegrass – (not for use in sod production) Use certified seed.

Category I – Recommended perennial ryegrass varieties:
Affirmed, Applaud, Apple GL, Brightstar SLT, Brightstar II, Buena Vista, Calypso 3, Catalina II, Divine, Exacta, Gator 3, Grand Slam(3), Inspire, Jet, Line Drive GLS, Manhattan 4, Paragon GLR, and Stellar.

Category II – Promising perennial ryegrass varieties (limited data/availability of seed): 1G Squared, Accent II, AllStar 3, Amazing GS, ASP6004, Attribute, Barlennium, Charismatic II, Citation Fore, Dart, Dasher 3, Defender, Derby Xtreme, Exacta II GLSR, Fiesta 4, Fusion, Grand Slam 2, Gray Fox, Harrier, Homerun, Keystone 2, Kokomo II, LS 2300, Manhattan 5 GLR, Notable, Palace, Palmer IV, Phenom, Plateau, Pleasure Supreme, Palmer 5, Primary, Protégé GLR, Prototype, Regal 5, Repell GLS, Revenge GLX, Secretariat II GLSR, Silver Dollar, Soprano, SR 4600, Stellar GL, Transformer, Uno, Zoom.

Fine Fescues – For general use in low maintenance areas or in partial to full shade. Promising varieties have limited performance data or availability as certified seed. Neither blending varieties nor mixing species have been studied extensively in MD or VA. Limited research does not indicate any advantage to blending or mixing varieties from the different fine fescues (e.g.; creeping red, chewings, hard, or sheep fescue). Use only certified seed.

Creeping red fescue – Recommended varieties: None. Promising: Cardinal, Class One, Epic, Fortitude, Garnet, Pathfinder, and Wendy Jean.

Chewings fescue – Recommended: 7 Seas, Longfellow II, SR 5130,. Promising: Ambassador, Compass, Lacrosse, and Zodiac.

Hard fescue – Recommended: Berkshire, Chariot, Discovery(4), Gotham, and Predator. Promising: Firefly, Oxford, Reliant IV, Spartan II, and SR 3000.

Sheep fescue – Recommended or promising: None at this time.

Kentucky bluegrass varieties recommended for mixing with fine fescue sod to enhance sod strength (up to 10% of the seed mixture by weight): All cultivars from Kentucky bluegrass Categories I, II and III

Varieties marked with superscript notations denote the following:
(1) to be considered for removal in 2010 due to declining performance relative to other varieties.(2) to be considered for removal in 2010 due to declining seed quality.(3) to be considered for removal in 2010 due to the absence of recent testing of certified seed lots in MD and VA.(4) to be considered for removal in 2010 due to lack of recent testing in MD and VA.
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