Photo Credit: Tim Evers
Contrary to conventional logic, establishing and managing recreational turf for parks, playgrounds, and sports fields is very easy in Alaska. With relatively few diseases and insects to deal with, turf managers in the Last Frontier have an easier job than their Lower 48 counterparts. The key is establishing and managing turf for Alaska-specific conditions.
Choosing the right grass variety for a specific location is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when establishing a new recreational field. The most important considerations in selecting the proper grass are cold tolerance, drought tolerance, rate of establishment, spring green-up, and the amount of sunlight the site will receive.
A Tale Of Two Turf Grasses
The two most commonly grown recreational-turf grasses in Alaska are Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue. Kentucky bluegrass is considered the prettier and hardier of the two grasses by many. It can also handle high traffic. For this reason, it is the grass of choice for baseball, soccer, and football fields in Alaska. However, it does have a high fertility requirement and needs sunny locations.