Dwarf Ryegrass

A relative term related to perennial ryegrass cultivars developed, grown and maintained in turfgrass situations. The first turf-type perennial ryegrass cultivar can be considered Manhattan, which was released in 1967. This was a significant improvement from earlier developments in the 1960s and previously used agricultural cultivars.

Since then, breeding improvements have continued and currently a dwarf ryegrass might be considered one which has a good shoot density (often with a relatively fine leaf) at a relatively low height of cut, inferring that it is able to persist at that height and provide a resilient sward, being able to withstand a certain amount of usage and subsequent wear.

The height of cut will depend on the context, hence the emphasis on the term relative. A cultivar which provides a good shoot density at 20-25mm for a football pitch might be considered ‘dwarf', whilst for a lawn, tennis court, golf fairway, or cricket square this would one that is cut at 10-15mm or where it is used within a bowling or golf green at 5-7mm. However, for the latter situation the perennial ryegrass would not be used in place of the desirable browntop bentgrasses or red fescues, but rather as a complement to them in certain situations.