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| Photo From Clemmons, North Carolina |
Combat Extreme™ Southern Zone - is a 3-way mixture of turf type fescue and Armadillo Hybrid Kentucky Bluegrass or Longhorn which is heat and drought tolerant enough to be used in USDA Zones 8 - 10 (partial shade recommend for USDA Zone 9 and 10). Armadillo was discovered while on a germplasm collection trip to Oklahoma. This lone plant had managed to survive conditions where few grasses could. Scorching heat in the summer combined with frigid dry winters and low levels of precipitation allowed nature to develop a plant capable of withstanding tortuous climatic condtions. This mixture is approximately 90% turf type fescue grass seed and 10% Hybrid Kentucky Bluegrass seed by weight. By seed count, this makes almost an 50/50 blend of fescue and hybrid drought tolerant bluegrass.
A few years later, this hardy little survivor was hybridized with two Kentucky Bluegrass plants that had shown exceptional turfgrass traits. The resulting progeny were screened for improved turf characteristics and high grass seed yield. From this screening process a single plant was chosen. This single plant had proven more worthy than all of its siblings.
From this single, exceptional plant came the variety Armadillo grass seed. Armadillo, a truly unique cultivar, will go dormant while maintaining its rich green color under hot, dry conditions. At the first sign of moisture, it will quickly recover and resume growth. Armadillo is quicker to germinate than traditional Kentucky Bluegrasses. In field trials, its germination and establishment speed rivals that of elite turf-type tall fescues. The hardiness inherited form its Oklahoma parent allows Armadillo to thrive under shade conditions where shallow roots are present. With the presence of true bluegrass type rhizomes, Armadillo is able to quickly repair itself.
The other Kentucky bluegrass hybrid that may ben in Combat Southern Blend is Longhorn. Longhorn is a cross between Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera), Longhorn TM is well suited for bluegrass turf applications for improved heat and drought tolerance. Longhorn TM features a low-growing, moderately dense growth habit with a medium, bright green color and a medium-fine leaf texture and offers improved shade tolerance. Longhorn TM mixes well with most other cool-season grasses such fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrasses, and tall fescue. Because of its Texas bluegrass component, Longhorn TM is well suited for areas with temperate to hot summers and more temperate winters. It is well suited to mixes with turf-type tall fescues, affording improved density and recovery from damage. Longhorn has exhibited the following characteristices:
- Excellent heat tolerance. This grass, in fact, seems to grow better the warmer it gets in the summer. The growth and vigor of most Kentucky bluegrass varieties will generally decline under high heat (upper 80s-100s), which can reduce its traffic and wear tolerance during the hottest times of the growing season. The Texas hybrid appears to maintain more active summer growth, which translates into better traffic tolerance and ability to recover from traffic injury.
- Deep and extensive root production. These hybrids produce an extensive root system, which enhances heat and drought resistance. A dense root system will also improve traffic tolerance, ability to recover from wear, and will improve footing (traction) in a sports turf application.
- Extensive and aggressive rhizome formation. These grasses form large, extensive and aggressive rhizomes (underground stems). Different from roots, rhizomes contain growing points that produce new grass plants. Grasses that produce rhizomes are better able to tolerate traffic and will recover more quickly from traffic-induced wear – often without the need to reseed the worn areas. An aggressive rhizome system also means better traction in a sports turf situation.
- Low mowing height tolerance. Its excellent heat tolerance and aggressive root and rhizome formation characteristics allow this grass, when necessary, to be mowed at lower heights than many Kentucky bluegrasses – especially during the heat of summer. This can be important for “showcase” sports turf applications.
- Potential to require less irrigation. There is a good anecdotal field evidence to suggest that the hybrid bluegrasses require less irrigation than some of the Kentucky bluegrasses, and perhaps less than the turf-type tall fescues. This ability to sustain growth and vigor with less irrigation is likely due to its ability to form deeper roots than most other bluegrasses, and its excellent heat tolerance.
Three Combat Blends To Optimize Varieties:
- Combat Extreme™ Northern Zone - USDA Zones 4 - 5
- Combat Extreme™ Transition Zone - USDA Zones 6 - 7
- Combat Extreme™ Southern Zone - USDA Zones 8 - 10
Each Combat Extreme mixture will perform well outside of the given zone. For example, there is no reason you could not use Combat Extreme™ Transition Zone in USDA Zone 8 or Combat Extreme™ Northern Zone in USDA 6. These USDA Zones are given as optimal guidelines, but not as fixed rules.
The turf type fescue varieties selected for this blend have fine to medium leaf blades which allow it to form a dense turf. Armadillo is a very fine bladed grasses and it blends in exceptionally well in to our selected turf type fescues. These varieties were specifically selected for the warmer portions of the United States due to their characteristics and are grown in USDA Zones 8 - 10 (partial shade recommend for Zone 9 - 10).
Your blend will contain two fescues from the options below (subject to change) and drought tolerant turf type fescues for hot regions of the U.S. Combat Extreme™ Southern Zone grass seed has improved germination which allows it to establish quicker than other varieties and its lower growth habit significantly reduces the amount of top growth. It does extremely well in full sun or partial shade in USDA Zones 8 - 10. Combat Extreme™ grass seed has superior heat and drought tolerance and makes that excellent shade blend that warm season grasses can not provide. Combat Extreme™ Southern Zone grass seed an excellent choice for professional or home use.
Garrison, one of the two fescue grasses used in this blend, was developed for areas with high traffic requiring low maintenance. Garrison will maintain its superior turf quality under less than optimum conditions. It has exceptional resistance to stem rust and disease. Its excellent drought tolerance helps preserve your lawn's dark green color while most other cool-season grasses have gone dormant from heat and drought stress. Garrison turf type fescue is a top choice for home lawns, parks and playing fields. Garrison is recommended for permanent turf in full sun or partial shade on golf course roughs, out-of-bounds areas and low maintenance sites. It can be used in poly-specie grass seed mixtures maintained at a moderate height of cut. Can be used in dry temperate regions in addition to hot and humid regions with excellent results.
Houndog 6, the second turf type fescue used in this mixture, is a new and improved heat and disease resistant tall fescue variety developed for superior turf quality across a wide area of adaptation on golf course roughs, out-of-bounds areas, and clubhouse lawns. Houndog 6 is a very dark green, moderately fine textured tall fescue with excellent wear tolerance. The presence of endophyte also contributes to improved biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, improved seedling establishment, enhanced spring/fall recovery and reduced summer/winter weed invasion.
Houndog 6 is recommended for permanent turf in full sun or partial shade on golf course roughs, out-of-bounds areas, and low maintenance sites, as well as home lawns, parks, etc. It can be utilized in poly-species grass seed mixtures maintained at a moderate height of cut. It is excellent for blending in with Armadillo hybrid bluegrass.
Chanelle is an exceptionally dark green tall fescue. Chanelle is a quick establishing grass with great drought tolerance and good winter hardiness. It will perform well with any top rate fescues in home lawns, park settings, sports fields, or anywhere a permanent high quality turf is desired. Chanelle works well in full sun in the North half of the U.S. or partial shade in the Southern half of the U.S.
Bingo is a new and improved, heat and disease resistant, tall fescue variety developed for superior turf quality across a wide area of adaptation. Bingo is a special bluegreen, moderately fine textured tall fescue with excellent wear tolerance. It exhibits a unique combination of traits including improved turf density and resistance to Brown Patch. Bingo is endophyte enhanced for added disease resistance. It is recommended for permanent turf in full or partial shade on golf course roughs, out of bounds areas, and low maintenance sites. It can be utilized in polyspecie grass seed mixtures maintained at a moderate height of cut. It can also be mixed with Ming for cool and warm season turf in transitional climates around the globe.
Fat Cat is one of our newest turf-type tall fescues that is very dark green and requires minimal fertilizer. Fat Cat grows more dense as the season goes on. Less mowing due to its semi-dwarf growth means less clippings. The aggressive tillering of Fat Cat allows it to fill in when holes develop in the turf. Fat Cat is recommended for permanent turf in full or partial shade on golf course roughs, out-of-bounds areas and low maintenance sites. It can be used in poly-specie grass seed mixtures maintained at a moderate height of cut. Can be used in dry temperate regions in addition to hot and humid regions with excellent results.
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USING THE QUICK GRASS SEED CALCULATOR:
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Grass Seed Options and Information:
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Characteristics of Combat Extreme™
| Self-repairing turf |
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| Strong, deep root system |
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| Produces a thick even lawn grass |
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| Excellent color and disease resistant |
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| Rapid germination and quick spring green-up |
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| Higher value for the home owner than conventional tall fescue grass seed |
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Blending fescue grass seed varieties together that have top performance on some of the desired characteristics allows the lawn to adapt itself to various conditions. In the shady areas, the grass seed varieties with good shade tolerance will prevail, in the high traffic areas the best wear tolerant grass seed varieties will prevail, etc. The result is a beautiful lawn grass everywhere, from the same seed blend. This is espcially true when combined with Armadillo Hybrid Kentucky Bluegrass. Armadillo is is extremely heat and drought tolerant as well as shade tolerant.
Combat Extreme™ fescue grass seed sets a new standard for home lawns. Not only is the Combat Extreme™ grass seed a blend of top performing seed varieties, now it has the ability to repair itself through outstanding tillering characteristics as well as requiring less water and fertilizer. That is why Combat Extreme™ grass seed is the only seed you’ll ever need! In our opinion, this is the best grass that we carry (for durability and hardiness) and the best turf type fescue blend on the market today!
Seeding Rate & Planting Time
- New turf: 6 - 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet or 240 - 320 lbs/acre for broadcast seeding
- Overseeding: 3 - 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet or 120 - 160 lbs per acre for broadcast overseeding
- Plant when soil temperature reaches 55 degrees in spring up until a minimum of 6 weeks before frost in fall
