What is one benefit of mixing cool-season cultivars?

Mixing cool-season cultivars can provide the benefit of minimizing disease. This approach promotes a diverse genetic pool, which can enhance the overall resiliency of the turf. When different cultivars are mixed, it reduces the likelihood that a single disease will spread rapidly throughout the entire area. Some cultivars may have resistance to certain diseases that others do not, allowing for a natural balance among them. This diversity helps maintain healthier grass by decreasing the chances of a severe outbreak and supports robust turf conditions throughout varying environmental stresses.

In contrast, while some mixes might incidentally lead to a faster growth rate or improved cold tolerance, these are not guaranteed outcomes of mixing cultivars. Additionally, reducing mowing frequency typically depends on the growth rate of the specific cultivars used and how they interact, rather than solely on the benefits of mixing them. Hence, minimizing disease is a more direct and significant benefit of mixing cool-season cultivars.