Grass Mixes and Blends: The Best of All Traits

Grass Mixes and Blends: The Best of All Traits

© 1997, 1998 Streamline Publications

"There really is a difference between grass seed mixes and blends," said Paul Albright, owner of Albright Seed Company.
"Creating turf blends and mixes is a science, but it's also an art. Finding a balance between the various cultivars and species to produce a turf that is disease resistant, stays green, and looks good can be a real challenge."
Blend Versus Mix
The difference is often misunderstood but is essential when considering environment and use.
A blend is produced when grasses of the same genus (cultivars of the same species of grass) are comingled. The main advantage in a blend is the smooth, even appearance of the resulting turf. Ryegrass is popular because it grows quickly and is uniform and quite beautiful. Disease resistance is another trait of this popular grass.
Ryegrass cultivars have a generally good resistance to brown patching, and leaf spotting. Ryegrass mowing qualities, heat and cold resistance are also very good.
Blending various cultivars together takes advantage of individual traits in combination to produce a better overall lawn than any single cultivar could. Since the differences between grasses of the same species are relatively minor, the effects of possible trait combinations can be noted as small variations.
Mixing Species
The obvious question is if blending cultivars of a species makes for a somewhat better lawn, why not mix species and take advantage of the larger differences.
That is the entire concept behind grass mixes.
An example that makes the point is the popular mix of ryegrass and bluegrass. The two species are significantly different. Perennial ryegrass is a bunch grass. This means that if a spot of ryegrass turf is damaged it can be repaired only by reseeding or tillering.
Conversely, bluegrass can self-repair a damaged spot of turf because it is a rhizomatous grass. A rhizome is a creeping stem or runner that extends outward from the main plant underground. The rhizome will send a shoot up to the soil surface while extending new roots downward. Some creeping grasses have above-ground runners called stolons.
Bluegrass "clones" itself as part of its normal growth pattern. As part of a turf mix, it contributes a self-repairing quality.
But bluegrass has some weaknesses. Among them are poor disease and fungus resistance and a coarser texture than ryegrass.
A mixture of the right ryegrass and bluegrass cultivars can result in a beautiful turf. One that greens-up quickly, has an even and fine appearance when mowed, and is tough enough to stand up to traffic and children's play.
Another interesting property of this mixture is that the disease and fungus resistance inherent in the ryegrass seems to protect the less resistant bluegrass. This super-additive quality makes the rye and bluegrass mixture even better than one might expect.
Mixed Blends...
...a Logical Step
If blends are good and mixes are even better, the combination of both should create a turfgrass that maximizes the good traits of each and minimizes the bad. That is exactly what Albright Seed Company offers in VALLEY FINE TURF—a mixed blend of two fine-leaf perennial ryegrasses and two bluegrasses. The result is a beautifully uniform, lush green, fine-textured lawn that mows clean.
Two ryegrasses, two bluegrasses and a creeping red fescue in Albright's FINE LEAF PARK MIX has all the attributes of VALLEY FINE TURF plus shade tolerance.
Albright's 80/20 MIX contains 80% turf-type tall fescue and 20% Kentucky bluegrass. This is an extremely tough, self-repairing, drought resistant mix that does well in sun or shade. Use 80/20 for heavy traffic areas; it's ideal for athletic fields.
Contact S&S Seeds for the right blend, mix or blended mix to meet all your turf needs.

Valley Fine Turf

Specially formulated with 2 Perennial Ryegrasses and 2 Kentucky Bluegrasses to take advantage of third generation fine-leaf ryegrasses. Uniform, fine textured, lush. Cuts clean.

Call (805) 684-0436 to order or order online.

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P.O. Box 1275
Carpinteria, CA 93014-1275
(805) 684-0436
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