Experiment 2 Experiment 2 investigated the influence of three different Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) cultivars with varying growth aggressiveness levels, mixed with tall fescue (TF) at different seeding ratios (97:3, 95:5, and 90:10 weight/weight TF:KBG), on establishment speed, sod strength, and sod handling (Table 3). A 100 percent TF control was also included for comparison. Some key findings include:
• Establishment Speed:
o Treatments with 10 percent KBG generally had slower establishment speed compared to those with 3 percent or 5 percent KBG. Treatments with 3 percent KBG often showed similar establishment speed to the 100 percent TF sod. Te largest difference between the fastest and slowest establishing treatments was only about 8 days to reach 90 percent vegetation cover.
o Similar to Experiment 1, neither KBG classification systems nor growth aggressiveness labels were good indicators of establishment speed differences when KBG was mixed with TF.
• Sod Strength and Handling:
o Overall, there were minimal differences in sod strength (required work to tear sod and maximum tensile load to tear sod) across the various mixture ratios and KBG cultivars at 9, 10, and 12 months after planting.
o While the 100 percent TF sod produced similar required work to tear values, there were a few instances where 100 percent TF sod was weaker in maximum tensile load compared to sod mixtures containing KBG, though this was not consistent.
o At 9 and 12 MAP harvests, differences in max tensile strength were observed in cultivars when KBG was mixed at 10 percent by weight, suggesting a greater KBG cultivar influence at higher inclusion rates (e.g., 'Fullback' at 90:10 TF:KBG had higher max tensile load than 'Armada' at 90:10 at 12 MAP).
o Sod handling ratings were generally acceptable (≥3) across most treatments, with no significant differences observed. Te 100 percent TF often had numerically lower sod handling ratings, but no statistical differences.
• Turfgrass Quality: o Tere were no significant differences in visual turfgrass quality among treatments at all three sod harvests.
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TPI Turf News September/October 2025
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