The winter hardiness of Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus and Agrostis spp. in comparison with Lolium perenne

Abstract Preliminary experiments were conducted to assess the winter hardiness of representative cultivars or populations of Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus and Agrostis spp. in comparison with a hardy (Premo) and a susceptible (Grasslands Ruanui) cultivar of Lolium perenne. Two controlled‐environment tests and a field experiment including two cutting and two fertilizer managements are reported. Grasslands Ruanui andH lanatus suffered most damage in all tests. In the controlled‐environment experiments, Premo was at least as hardy as the F. rubra and Agrostis cultivars but in the field Premo was more susceptible. Spring growth of Premo was affected more by the cutting and fertilizer managements applied the previous summer and autumn than was spring growth of F. rubra or Agrostis spp. It was concluded that, whereas use off. F. rubra or Agrostis spp. should not be limited by fears of winter damage, poor winter hardiness may limit the value of H. lanatus for hill and upland reseeding.