Penncross Creeping Bentgrass Seed Planting & Care
Penncross Bentgrass Seed - The Bentgrass Standard Since 1955. In the 1930's, bluegrass was the turf of choice
for fairways, with Seaside and vegetative bents found on the greens. Summer
heat and other stresses left them vulnerable to weeds, Poa annua and disease
invasion. An aggressive bentgrass was needed to compete on golf courses.
Professor Burt Musser took on the challenge by gathering bentgrass strains from several locations, and established a research and development program that integrated seedling vigor, seed
yield, various soil types, aggressiveness, disease resistance, low mowing properties and overall appearance and color. After years of research, the finished product was named Penncross.
Penncross is exclusively a first-generation cross of three vegetative clones, which are planted by hand in Oregon. The parent material, developed by Dr. Musser and then graduate student
Dr. Joe Duich, is still maintained at Penn State University, where it is not allowed to flower, and vegetative stolons are air expressed to Oregon, to plant new fields of Penncross to
produce the seed.
Recommended Uses For Penncross Bentgrass
Golf Courses (fairways, tees and greens) and Winter Overseeding of Bermudagrass Greens. Penncross can be used for lawns but Homeowners should investigate the care required for this grass, along with the soil, air and drainage requirements needed to make this grass grow before planting.
Areas of Adaptation of Penncross BentgrassThrives as a permanent
turf in cooler areas of the United States and performs well in areas South of
the transition zone with intensive management. Climatic Zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (may not be adaptable to all areas within each zone).
Seeding, Establishment & Maintenance of Penncross Bentgrass
- The high seed count, over 6,000,000 seeds per pound, allows for lower seeding rate 1 - 2 lbs./1,000 sq.ft. for new seeding and 1/2 to 1 lbs./1,000 sq.ft. when seeding into existing turf grass stand.
- Plant the seed to make good seed to soil contact -- but no deeper than 1/4" -- and keep seedlings moist until well rooted.
- Germination will take place
in 7 - 15 days, depending on soil temperatures
- The first mowing may be
expected within 30 days, or when the plants have sufficiently rooted.
- Mow at a
3/4 inch (19.1 mm) height of cut or lower until turf is established.
- Optimum
greens mowing height for PennCross is 3/16 - 5/16 inch (4.8 - 7.9 mm) but
can be adjusted higher or lower depending upon maintenance practices and
intended use.
- Limited use
of the area can be expected in 6 weeks.
- PennCross performs best in soils
with a pH of 5.5 to 8.
- It has a moderate nitrogen requirement with 1 - 2 pounds
of actual N per 1,000 square feet per year, adequate in most situations.
- PennCross performs best on sandy soils and tolerates clay
soils with adequate drainage.
- Bentgrasses do not perform well in wet areas;
however, PennCross can tolerate saturated soil conditions for short
periods of time.
Maintenance of Penncross Bentgrass Penncross
performs best in soils with a pH of 5.5 to 8. It has a moderate nitrogen requirement with 1-2
pounds of actual N per 1,000 square feet per year adequate in most situations.
Penncross's optimum mowing height is 3/16 to 5/16 inch but can be adjusted
higher or lower depending upon maintenance practices and intended use.
Penncross performs best on a sandy soil and tolerates clay soils with
adequate drainage. Bentgrasses do not perform well in wet areas, however,
Penncross can tolerate saturated soil conditions for short periods of
time.
Mowing Height For Penncross Bentgrass
 |
MOWING HEIGHTS
|
Greens |
3/16 to 5/16 mowing 5-6 times
per week |
|
Tees |
3/8 to 5/8 inch
|
|
Fairways |
1/2 to 3/4 inch mowing 3-4 times
per week |
|
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Technical Information
Courtesy of Tee-2-Green
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