Module 6:

6.1 Turfgrasses

1   Perennial ryegrass

This is the main desirable turfgrass that is wanted and football pitches. The grass is illustrated below, showing some significant identifying features. When a pitch assessment is carried out make sure you can correctly identify this grass because it is what you want in a pitch.

2   The key identifying features for this grass in a sward are typically as follows:

• A smooth and shiny under side of the leaf blade, which is also has a readily visible mid-rib.
• A duller upper side of the leaf blade that is also finely ribbed.
• The ligule is quite small, being only about 1mm in size.
• Auricles are present, although these can also be quite small to see.
• The basal leaf sheath is typically a reddish to purple colour, which is usually discovered when the outer leaf sheath is peeled back to expose the coloured base.
• A flowering stalk can often appear where the pitch is not cut frequently enough, especially during drier weather.

We will now look at Annual meadow grass as a comparison.