Sports Turf Manager Association

- Turfgrass Management, A.J. Turgeon PhD













Map courtesy of Lowes

Most cool season turf growth occurs in the spring and fall. In the spring, there is a strong flush of shoot growth, which slows down or stops depending on the weather in the summer months, then picks back up during cooler temperatures in the fall.

- Turfgrass Management, A.J. Turgeon PhD








Photo courtesy of American-Lawns

Cool season grasses are made up of the Festucoids. The most common cool season grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, annual bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescues, and creeping bentgrass. The following provides pictures of each as well as a link for identifying each species.

Bluegrasses:

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Kentucky bluegrass, click here.


Rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Rough bluegrass, click here.


Annual bluegrass (Poa annua)




Photo courtesy of
University of California







For more identifying characteristics of Annual bluegrass, click here.


Ryegrasses:

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Perennial ryegrass, click here.

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Annual ryegrass, click here.


Fescues:

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Tall fescue, click here.


Fine fescues:

Creeping Red fescue (Festuca rubra)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Creeping Red fescue, click here.

Hard fescue (Festuca longifolia)




Photo courtesy of
University of Califorina








For more identifying characteristics of Hard fescue, click here.


Bentgrass:

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris)




Photo courtesy of
University of California








For more identifying characteristics of Creeping bentgrass, click here.