Turffiles:Turfgrasses:Bentgrass, Creeping

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Bentgrass, Creeping

[Agrostis palustris Huds.]

Creeping bentgrass is the most widely used cool-season grass on golf course putting greens. It is a fine-textured species that can tolerate close mowing heights and spreads by stolons. This allows it to recover from traffic and golf ball marks. However, it has very high maintenance requirements including fertilization, topdressing, mowing, and frequent fungicide applications, particularly during the summer months.

Characteristic	Description
Seedhead / Flower	seedhead is a compressed panicle; each spikelet is eliptical, with a single seed
Vernation Type	leaves rolled in the bud
Ligule Type	membranous; rounded or blunt, finely irregular-toothed or entire, minutely hairy on back, 0.04 - 0.08 inches (1 - 2 mm) long
Growth Season / Life Cycle	cool season turf
Auricle Type	absent
Leaf Blade Tip Shape	sharp-pointed; flat, distinctly ridged upper surface, slightly creased on lower surface, surfaces and edges rough
Leaf Blade Width	0.08 - 0.2 inches (2 - 5 mm) wide
Stolon Presence	present; slender
Rhizome Presence	absent
Collar Type	divided; indistinct, usually slanted with unequal sides
Sheath Margin	open
Sheath Type	round; sheath is smooth


creeping bentgrass ligule, sheath	creeping bentgrass rolled vernation

Note: Still not sure this is the right turfgrass? The Turf & Weed Identification Decision Aid may help. Check the TurfFiles glossary for definitions of unfamiliar terms.

Diseases Which May Affect This Turfgrass

anthracnose
brown patch
copper spot
damping off
dollar spot
fairy ring
gray snow mold
Microdochium patch (pink snow mold)
Pythium blight
Pythium root dysfunction
Pythium root rot
red leaf spot
slime mold
summer patch
yellow patch
yellow tuft

© North Carolina State University. This information sheet was prepared by Arthur H. Bruneau, Bridget R. Lassiter, Gail G. Wilkerson, Emily J. Erickson, Casey Reynolds, Jenifer J. Reynolds, and Gregory S. Buol. Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, North Carolina State University. Prepared April 29, 2008. Available on-line at www.turffiles.ncsu.edu. This publication was made possible through a grant provided by the Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education (CENTERE) whose purpose is to support worthwhile projects that will benefit both the private sector and the public, and protect the environment.

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