Do you admire the lush carpet-like grass on a golf course and want the same grass for your lawn?
Seeding creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), a finely textured turfgrass with a leaf blade length of 2-10 cm, can be an excellent option for you.
Although adapted for cooler climates, with extra care, creeping bentgrass can give you a perfectly dense and smooth lawn grass in any climate.
Native to North Africa, Asia, and Europe, creeping bentgrass is a vibrant bluish-green grass that thrives best in cooler environments and in full sunlight. The turf requires high maintenance (mowing, fertilization, and irrigation) to keep it vibrant and healthy.
Creeping bentgrass exhibits a low to moderate tolerance for shade and moderate to high tolerance for foot traffic.
Pros of Seeding Creeping Bentgrass
Creeping bentgrass grows from stolons and underground rhizomes, forming a fine-textured, dense, and uniform surface. The soft-feeling grass maintains its vibrant green colour throughout the year, giving it a high-quality sheen.
Since it can withstand high foot traffic and a range of low mowing heights (0.5 – 0.125 inches), it’s the perfect turf for areas like golf course greens, croquet greens, fairways, DIY putting greens, and residential lawns.
Several varieties of the turf are available providing many options for landscapers. Newer varieties of the grass have a stronger tolerance to heat and diseases and require less maintenance.
Depending on the cultivar, a 1-pound bag of seed can cost between $37 and $160. The most popular varieties include Providence, Regent, SR 1020, National, and Penneagle.
Cons of Growing Creeping Bentgrass
The Creeping bentgrass is a high-maintenance grass that requires intensive management. It requires frequent mowing, especially during its peak growth phase in spring. If left unmowed, it becomes puffy, forming circular patches that disfigure the uniform cover.
The turf’s high intolerance to heat and drought means you’ll need to water it every 2-3 days a week. Newer varieties, depending on the season, can extend between 4-10 days. It’s best to determine the watering requirements through evapotranspiration.
Managing weeds is essential to keeping the grass in good shape. Annual bluegrass, in particular, is a significant weed problem for the turf.
Creeping bentgrass does not respond well to chemical herbicides and manual methods like pulling are preferred. A glyphosate application, for instance, can kill the sensitive grass.
Additionally, creeping bentgrass is susceptible to pests and diseases. Pests like white grubs, mole crickets, and webworms should be treated with pesticides as soon as they are detected.
Growing in moist and warm conditions and its tolerance to low-cutting heights make the turf vulnerable to ailments like gray snow mold, yellow patch, and take-all patch. Preventive fungicides can help manage the infections.
If you’re considering creeping bentgrass for your lawn, keep up with its maintenance needs, and it will give you a picture-perfect outdoor area all year.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.