Page 34 - Transitioning Turfgrass

TRANSITIONING TURFGRASS

Figure 1 The strip seeder and its components that were used to convert a perennial ryegrass turf to seeded ‘Riviera’ bermudagrass
(Fry et al., 2007. Strip seeding: A new approach for converting cool-season turf to warm-season grasses. USGA Turfgrass and
Environmental Research Online 6(4):1-6).

mount importance since early plantings may en- Data on broadcast seeding of Zoysiagrass over
counter an aggressive growth of the cool season a cool season stand indicate that a 40-75% seed-
grass and low temperatures for seed germination ed zoysia ground cover may be obtained in three
or bud sprouting. On the contrary late plantings growing seasons. Ground cover reaches 90% in
may lead to reduced establishment and higher four growing seasons without closing the area,
susceptibility to winter kill. however, cool season suppression with selective
Post emergent herbicides or plant growth regu- herbicide is necessary.
lators have been tested with success to assist the Other methods have been developed with the
transition; however, the use of such products is not aim of making a more efficient use of the propa-
in accordance with the environmental sustainabil- gation material. Strip sodding, row planting, strip
ity recalled as one of the main factors leading to seeding and single plant transplanting are all
a soft transition strategy. For this reason, this issue methods that concentrate the propagation ma-
is not reported here. According to available data, terial in strips from which the warm season grass
a broadcast seeding of riviera bermudagrass on will progressively spread and completely cover
a verticut cool season stand gave a ground cover the ground. The advantage over the broadcast
of 12% the year of seeding and a 60% cover the seeding or sprigging as described above is that
following year. ideal conditions for establishment are created on

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