Evaluation of Kentucky Bluegrass and Red Fescue Cultivars for Sod Production1

Abstract Until recently, much of the commercial sod produced in the Northeast has been ‘Merion’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) Many turf authorities now feel that blends of improved Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) cultivars should be used to broaden the genetic base of the mixture. This type of mixture would be adaptable to a wider range of environmental conditions. ‘Merion’, ‘Baron’, ‘Fylking’, and ‘Pennstar’ Kentucky bluegrasses and ‘Jamestown’, ‘Highlight’ (Festuca rubra var. commutata Gaud.) and ‘Pennlawn’ red fescues were studied singly and in mixtures for commercial sod production. Cultivar compatibility in mixtures were evaluated by turf quality ratings and tiller counts, rate of establishment, durability as measured by tensile strength of harvested sod, and rate of sod knitting after transplant. All cultivars and mixtures provided acceptable visual turf quality with Baron, Pennstar, and Baron‐Pennstar, Merion‐Baron mixtures providing the highest turf quality ratings. Tensile strength was not altered by use of improved Kentucky bluegrass cultivars alone or in mixtures. Red fescue significantly reduced sod strength when included in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass. This reduction did not affect handling of the harvested sod when up to 67% red fescue by weight was included in the seed mixture. Jamestown and Highlight red fescue produced significantly more tillers than Pennlawn, and those cultivars were better able to compete with Merion Kentucky bluegrass.