What is the best grass to plant for a sports field?

Question

We are just about to plant grass for a new rugby field and I was wondering a certain type of grass would be better to plant than say regular Kentucky blue grass. The field is located in central Illinois on the plains, usually with good rain year round (less in the summer of course). The follow up question would be is it too late to plant this fall (last week of October)?

Answer 1

Most turf grasses die back in the winter. If you want a tough, green field, you need to oversow thickly with a winter ryegrass and maintain heavily with adequate moisture and mowing to maintain for the wear and tear of the game. Then work on plugging with a bentgrass or similar heavy turf-type grass in the spring. Your best bet would be to talk to your extension service, or the local sports clubs to see what they use for their fields.

Answer 2

Contact your Cooperative Extension Service agent for your county. They in turn can put you in contact with the turf grass specialist at your nearest Ag university. The university experts work with sports field superintendents across the nation as well as turf grass growers and have all the latest grass varieties being used and under development. Don't be afraid to ask about irrigation, drainage, soil prep and maintenance. The Extenstion Service agents are master degree or higher agronomists or horticulturists.....they aren't there to sell you anything, just give you the right info.

Answer 3

I have done some reading about K31 fescue some of the golf courses have been experimenting with it on there fariways seeding at a rate of 4 to 5 times higher than the normal rate. K31 is a very sturdy grass very good heat/drought tolerant, insect/deasie resistant, holds up well to heavy traffic, one draw back its not what you would call a pretty grass wide blade, light green color not like bluegass, turf type fescues which are thin blade darker green.