Certainly THE NEWEST golf turfgrass to hit the industry in many years, it is not difficult for the well-trained turf manager to cultivate paspalum. But its maintenance guidelines are distinctly different from other turfgrass species—and in particular, Bermudagrass. Paspalum is a very salt-tolerant,  warm-season grass with desirable turfgrass characteristics. This specialty grass is sometimes used in warm-season areas where either the soil or irrigation water has a high salt content. It also does well near the ocean, where it is subject to saltwater.

Attributes
• Most salt-tolerant of all grass species (salt water can, in some cases, be used as a herbicide to kill weeds such as mimosa and crabgrass)
• Also thrives on recycled, or ‘gray,’ water
• Excellent color
• Requires relatively little fertilization
• Very dense and aggressive; crowds out Poa annua and other weeds
• Withstands wide range of pH in soils
• Remains green for two to three weeks longer in the fall than Bermuda

Drawbacks
• Goes dormant at about 55° – not a problem in places like Hawaii where the temperature rarely drops below 70°, but can be an issue in non-tropical climates.
• Tends to be laid as sod on tees, fairways, slopes, and roughs, which makes installation far costlier than using Bermuda sprigs
• Can be prone to diseases such as Pythium, dollar spot, armyworm, mole cricket, spittlebug and curvularia
• Takes two to three weeks longer than Bermuda to green up in the spring
Grass Index
Bentgrass |
Bermudagrass |
Carpetgrass |
Fine Fescue |
Kentucky Bluegrass |
Kikuyugrass |
Paspalum |
Perennial Ryegrass |
Zoysiagrass