Overton, Texas
October 6, 2006
The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station has released a new
turf grass for winter lawns that promises to be "dwarfier" and
with a darker green color than previous releases.
The new turf grass is an annual
ryegrass, Axcella 2, and is an "upgrade" from the original
Axcella released in 2001, said Dr. Lloyd Nelson, small-grains
breeder with the Experiment Station and developer of both
grasses.
"Axcella was the first-ever annual ryegrass developed for
over-seeding sports fields and home lawns in the southern U.S.
during the cool season,"
Nelson said. "Axcella was selected
to be a dwarf, but highly vigorous, grass that would maintain a
green turf even at temperatures below freezing."
As a dwarf variety, Axcella forms
a "thick, dense sod" but doesn't grow tall quickly and doesn't
need to be mowed as often, he said.
The earlier release of Axcella had
similar growing characteristics, but was a lighter green. The
newer version comes closer in color to that of traditional
warm-season grasses such as St. Augustine, and has a finer
texture than previous releases.
Using a winter over-seeding means
a homeowner or sports field manager can maintain a green and
natural lawn or field throughout the winter, Nelson said.
Other ryegrasses are available for
over-seeding, such as perennial varieties. But without proper
management, perennials can persist well into the summer growing
season, choking out warm-season varieties that come out of
dormancy in the spring, such as Bermuda grass.
Like its predecessor, Axcella 2
dies out at the same time Bermuda grass is starting to green up,
allowing it to produce a healthy summer lawn, Nelson said.
Three years ago, another ryegrass
variety, Panterra, was released from Nelson's breeding program.
"Axcella 2 is improved compared to
Panterra in that it is more uniform and has a finer texture than
does Panterra," Nelson said. "However, both varieties are very
good. Axcella 2 may live about one week longer than Panterra in
the spring."
Nelson said Axcella 2 must be
seeded around Oct. 15 when the soil temperature has cooled and
rainfall is expected. The seed should be uniformly spread at
from 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
The seeded turf should be watered
by sprinkler irrigation for at least 30 minutes per day for five
days, he said.
The five-day watering plan is
needed for the seed to germinate and establish itself in
warm-season sod.
"Planting prior to a rain event or
a cool front should improve chances of obtaining a good stand of
the new turf," Nelson said. "The warm- season sod needs to be
mowed close, or at about 1 inch or less, but does not need to
tilled up before over-seeding."
The use of over-seeded ryegrass
not only gives a beautiful winter turf, it also strengthens sod
during the winter and summer. Strengthening the sod is
particularly important for soccer and football fields, Nelson
said.
"Winter sports such as soccer and
spring football can damage a dormant sod, but the active growing
ryegrass will continue to grow and protect the dormant sod,"
Nelson said. "If a good stand has been established, the grass
will also crowd out many winter and early season weeds. If wear
spots occur during the winter, more Axcella 2 seed can be
spot-seeded in the wear areas, and if watered they should fill
in those areas."
In Texas, Axcella 2 seed will be
sold through Estes Inc.
and through numerous local seed companies or feed stores.
Seed supplies will be limited this
year, but should be plentiful in 2007, he said. |