Characteristics of different Poa pratensis and Phleum spp. cultivars under close mowing.

The effect of close mowing at 8 mm during the summer on 26 Poa pratensis and 4 Phleum spp. varieties was studied in 1987-88. A number of the P. pratensis cultivars could tolerate mowing at 8 mm, as evidenced by high number of shoots/m2 and high percentage ground cover in the second season of cutting. Only 4 of the cultivars in this trial, however, are on the current UK Turfgrass Seed list. Of these, Limousine performed particularly well under close mowing, while Julia and Parade were intermediate, with Evora performing poorly. Several other cultivars, not on the Turfgrass Seed list, showed good persistence and quality under close mowing, e.g. Annika, Larissa, Topfit and Rotor. Of the Phleum cultivars, only Barvanti showed good tolerance as evidenced by high cover, although the quality of the turf, as indicated by shoot density, leaf width and summer colour, was not correspondingly high.