Rumput Turf Grass

Why Does Identifying Turfgrasses Matter?
Proper management of a turf area requires correct identification of the turfgrasses on a particular site in order to determine appropriate management practices like: proper mowing height and frequency, fertilization needs, irrigation, and if needed pesticides. Often the turfgrass species that are present are not necessarily what was originally planted but are reflective of the cultural practices and prevailing growing environment. Together these two factors influence shifts in the turfgrass community of one species over another, which may affect management practices.

Identifying a Turfgrass: The Process
Identifying turfgrasses is much like solving a puzzle. Several pieces or identifying characteristics are viewed, their exact nature determined and the species identified. Unfortunately, no single characteristic or feature alone is sufficient to determine with complete certainty a particular turfgrass species. The first step in the identification process is to confirm that the plant in question is actually a grass and not a sedge or rush. Grasses have their leaves arranged in ranks of two (see photo/diagram), and a ligule is often present. By contrast, sedges and rushes have leaves arranged in ranks of three, and the ligule is poorly developed or absent. Another distinctive sedge characteristic is their triangular shaped stem (see image). Remember, the adage “sedges have edges”, thus they are not grasses. Sedges and rushes form an unreliable, poor quality turf that does not persist. These species are not normally cultivated as lawn species and are considered weeds.