Compositions of fine fescue grasses for use as turf in airfield management

17 Pages·2014·1.86 MB·English

US008789310B2
(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 8,789,310 B2
Kobland (45) Date of Patent: Jul. 29, 2014
(54) COMPOSITIONS OF FINE FESCUE GRASSES (56) References Cited
FOR USE AS TURF IN AIRFIELD
MANAGEMENT
PUBLICATIONS
(76) Inventor: Christina Kobland, Lafayette Hill, PA
Ali Harivandi et al. The use ofNon-Moved Fine-Leaffescue Grasses
(Us)
on Golf Courses. Green Section Record. pp. 20-28. Nov-Dec. 2009.*
Kevin L. Hensler et al. Low-Maintenance Turfgrass Evaluation. Vir
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this ginia Cooperative Extensionp. 1-30. 2008.*
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Nigel Deacon et al. Fifty years of Air?eld Grass Management in the
U.S.C. 154(b) by 63 days. UK. pp. 1-9. International Bird Strike Committee. Apr. 2000.*
Chriss Pennell et al. AvaneX endophyte-infected grasses for the avia
(21) App1.No.: 13/409,362 tion industry now a reality. pp. 1-6. Sep. 2011.*
Gosser et al. Managing Problems Caused by Urban Canada Geese.
(22) Filed: Mar. 1, 2012 Berryman Institute Publication 13, Utah State University, Logan 8
pp. 1997.*
(65) Prior Publication Data
* cited by examiner
US 2012/0222351 A1 Sep. 6,2012
Related US. Application Data
Primary Examiner * Annette Para
(60) Provisional application No. 61/447,909, ?led on Mar. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Gary P. Topolosky; InnaY.
Belopolsky
1, 2011.
(51) Int. Cl. (57) ABSTRACT
A01G 1/00 (2006.01)
C12N1/14 (2006.01) Disclosed herein is a method for air?eld management com
A01N 63/04 (2006.01) prising the use of ?ne fescue grasses at air?eld installations
(52) US. Cl. that results in environmental bene?ts to airports, including
protection of human life and wildlife; reduced gas emissions
CPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. A01G 1/002 (2013.01) from decreased mowing, decreased storm water runoff due to
USPC .......................... .. 47/58; 424/935; 435/254.1
deeper and larger root systems of vegetative cover, increased
(58) Field of Classi?cation Search
soil stabilization, moderation of airport temperatures and heat
CPC ..... .. A01G1/002; A01N 63/04; A01H 15/00;
effects to the atmosphere, and tremendous ?nancial savings
A01H 5/10; C12N15/8286; Y10S 111/901;
to the aviation industry and consequently to the public.
A01C 7/008
USPC ....... .. 435/420; 47/58; P1t./388, 393; 111/200
See application ?le for complete search history. 16 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
US. Patent
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US 8,789,310 B2
1 2
COMPOSITIONS OF FINE FESCUE GRASSES A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted
FOR USE AS TURF IN AIRFIELD with grasses or other low durable plants, which usually are
MANAGEMENT maintained at a lower and consistent height. In recreational
contexts, the specialized names turf, pitch, ?eld or green may
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED be used, depending on the use of the ?eld and the continent.
APPLICATION Many different species of grass are used, depending on the
intended use and the climate. For example, coarse grasses are
This application claims the bene?t of prior-?led U.S. Pro used where active sports are played, and ?ner grasses for
visional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/447,909, ?led on Mar. ornamental lawns looked upon. Some grasses adapted to oce
1, 201 1, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by anic climates with cooler summers and others to tropical and
reference in its entirety. continental climates with hotter summers. Often a mix grass
or low plant types is used to form a stronger lawn when one
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY type does better in the warmer seasons and the other in the
SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT cooler climates.
According to a study from the University of Illinois and
report entitled Species, Endophyles and Wildli eiA Primer
The present invention was not developed with the use of
any Federal Funds, but was developed independently by the on Turf Management for Airports, by Bruce Branham,
inventors. Theresa Kissane, and Edwin Herricks, (Departments of
NRES and CEE, University of Illinois, it is estimated that
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 20 since 1988, global wildlife strikes have been responsible for
at least 163 aircraft strikes and resulted in the death of more
The ?eld of the present invention relates to methods of than 194 people.
improved management of air?eld grasses, including areas The FAA wildlife strike database has recorded over 121,
both inside and outside of airport operation. More particu 000 (Civil and USAF) wildlife strikes between 1990 and
larly, the invention relates to the use of selected seed mixes of 25 2010. During the ?ve years between 2006 to 2010, there was
?ne fescue in order to reduce both the amount of mowing and an average of 26 strikes reported each day. As global travel
the presence of wildlife resulting in major environmental, increases every year, it is estimated that the number of strikes
economic and safety bene?ts. The invention also relates to increases accordingly. Most alarming is that the FAA esti
methods of improved management of roadsides, utility trans mates that only 20% of wildlife strikes are reported.
mission corridor rights-of-way, golf courses, parks, cam 30 Branham et al. report that birds were involved in 97.5% of
puses, cemeteries and other low traf?c areas where low main the strikes. The reported strikes increased from 1,744 in 1990
tenance, short turf grass and wildlife control are desirable. to 7,236 in 2005. From 1990 to 2005, 695 strikes involved
deer, and 79 involved reptiles. The white-tailed deer popula
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tion has increased from 0.3 million in 1900 to 17 million in
35 2005. From 1980 to 2005, the resident Canada goose popu
An aerodrome, (or airdrome) or air?eld is a term for any lation has risen 7.9% each year. Over the same time period,
location from which aircraft ?ight operations take place, the population of the red-tailed hawks increased 1.9%; the
regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or nei population of wild turkeys increased 12.7%; the population of
ther. The terms are used in International Civil Aviation Orga turkey vultures increased 2.2%; and the population of double
nization (ICAO) documents, for example in the Annex to the 40 crested corrnorants increased 4.9%. FIG. 1 illustrates the
ICAO Convention about aerodromes, their physical charac incidents of wildlife strikes from 1990 to 2005, Table 1 dem
teristics and their operation. The term “airport” is also used in onstrates the recorded statistics of the states with the most
the aviation industry. There is not a clear difference in mean reported wildlife strikes. FIG. 2 is a graphic representation
ing between the two terms in colloquial usage; however, the illustrating the time of year when most wildlife strikes occur
term airport may imply a certain stature (having satis?ed 45 in the United States.
certain certi?cation criteria or regulatory requirements) that
an aerodrome proper may not have achieved. That is to say, all TABLE 1
airports are aerodromes, but not all aerodromes are airports.
As used herein, the terms “airport”, “air?eld”, or “aero States with the Most Reported Bird Strikes 1990—2005
drome” shall be used interchangeably within the meaning of 50 STATE NUMBER OF STRIKES
the invention.
Airports are divided into landside and airside areas. “Land California 5590
side” land is airport land that is outside of the runway areas Florida 4447
Texas 4245
within the airport. Landside areas include parking lots, public
New York 3 632
transportation train stations, tank farms, grassy areas, mowed 55 Illinois 3139
turf, access roads and areas along highways near airports. Pennsylvania 2335
“Airside” land usually refers to land alongside of runways Ohio 21 19
within the airport. Airside areas include all areas accessible to
aircraft, including runways, taxiways, ramps and tank farms. Deterring birds from water on or near airports is an impor
Access from landside areas to airside areas is tightly con 60 tant part of many bird strike reduction programs. The FAA
trolled at most airports. Passengers on commercial ?ights has made a signi?cant effort of deterring birds from the ponds
access airside areas through terminals, where they can pur and waterways near airports. Overhead wires made with vari
chase tickets, clear security, check or claim luggage and board ous materials and in a variety of patterns can reduce bird use
aircraft through gates. The waiting areas which provide pas of such areas, although the costs of such efforts can be sub
senger access to aircraft are typically called concourses, 65 stantial. As part of a study to determine whether increasing
although this term is often used interchangeably with termi the spacing of grid wires reduces material and initial labor
nal. costs while still deterring birds, NRWRC researchers placed
US 8,789,310 B2
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lines 50-feet apart over wastewater ponds in South Carolina The FAA also has a working relationship with the Smith
and monitored bird usage. The total number of waterfowl sonian that goes back to the 1960s, when the two agencies,
using the ponds increased. Canada goose numbers declined, along with the military and aircraft manufacturers, began
while mallard, ring-necked, and ruddy duck numbers working together to identify the bird species from remains
increased. after a strike. Bird identi?cation helps air?eld personnel
implement habitat management schemes that discourage
The National Wildlife Research Center (NRWRC) con
ducts research to develop methods and provide guidance to birds from air?elds and provides information so aircraft
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airport operators, manufacturers can better design engines and aircraft to with
stand the impact of bird collisions.
and the American public regarding the mitigation of bird
In 2001 , the FAA began working with the United States Air
aircraft strike hazards. NRWRC has focused its research on
Force to develop a radar system for detecting and tracking
understanding the nature of wildlife hazards at airports,
birds on or near airports. Because of the rapid development of
developing management tools to reduce those hazards, and
avian radar, the FAA switched its research focus and began
providing Wildlife Services’ biologists, airport personnel,
evaluating commercially available avian radar. Speci?cally,
and FAA of?cials with information on the latest strategies for
the FAA wanted to know how airport operators could use the
controlling wildlife hazards. technology to help implement their wildlife hazard mitigation
In a NRWRC study in Illinois, lines 15-feet apart over
programs.
narrow streams in the State also showed no signi?cant differ For the last 15 years, the FAA and the United States Depart
ence in total bird use before and after line installation. Mal ment of Agriculture (USDA) have conducted a research pro
lards, great blue herons, and great egrets all used the protected 20 gram to make airports safer by reducing the risks of aircraft
areas. Waterfowl using the protected areas might have per wildlife collisions. The research efforts designed to improve
ceived the overhead lines as protection from avian predators. wildlife management techniques and practices on and near
These ?ndings show that an integrated approach is necessary airports include methods for making airport habitats less
to haze birds effectively at protected locations. attractive to species that are the most dangerous in terms of
Understanding how birds perceive and react to deterrent 25 aircraft collisions. This is accomplished by studying which
methods is important for controlling property damage and species use the airport property, how they behave in that
protecting human health and safety, as well as preserving the environment, and why they are attracted; techniques for con
aesthetic value of places shared by birds and people. In a trolling species by restricting access to attractive features like
recent study, NRWRC researchers investigated the reaction of storm water ponds; and technologies for harassing and deter
captive brown-headed cowbirds (Mololhrus aler) and rock 30 ring hazardous species.
pigeons (Columba livia) to a perching deterrent that caused The FAA cosponsors the Bird Strike Committee-USA as
slight pain and the reaction of Canada geese (Branta part of its continued public outreach and education effort to
canadensis) to an area deterrent designed to provoke a fear increase awareness within the aviation community about
response. Objectives of the study were to determine (1) the wildlife hazards. This is an international forum where biolo
ef?cacy of these two techniques, (2) the latency of each tech 35 gists, engineers, airline personnel, and others come together
nique, (3) if members of a ?ock would communicate the to exchange ideas and learn about the latest technology to
apparent risk among themselves and to naive ?ock members, mitigate wildlife hazards.
and (4) if the birds would habituate to the techniques. The The tremendous focus, effort, research, studies and current
results of this study showed that both methods, when acti wildlife deterrent techniques clearly illustrates that there
vated, were effective in displacing birds. With each method, 40 exists a great need for a safe, effective and sustainable method
each bird had to experience the technique, as video observa of deterrence to wildlife at airports. The current invention
tions showed no evidence of communication among ?ock introduces a turf management strategy described herein that
members or to naive birds that were introduced to the ?ock. makes great progress into addressing this continuing need.
However, when researchers deactivated each method after an In most airport protocol, the ?eld is composed of existing
initial period of activation, birds returned to the protected 45 weedy turf grass vegetation requiring regular mowing. Exist
areas. No habituation to either technique was observed. ing turf grass installations are input intensive, requiring high
NRWRC proposes that these results indicate that the loss of levels of labor and materials such as mowing, equipment,
comfort due to direct pain or the perception of risk due to chemicals and fertilizers (for example, petrocarbons), water,
chronic random stimulus remains a critical component in and energy, which are required in order to properly maintain
stimulating bird avoidance behavior. 50 the airport runways and surrounding areas. Hence, in addition
Another current means of “wildlife management” at air to being wildlife attractants, existing air?elds can be environ
ports refers to the practice of employing sharpshooters to kill mentally destructive4contributing to massive overloads of
any animal or bird that is located on airport property or storm water runoff, pollution of our waterways and oceans,
vicinity. depletion of groundwater supplies, and additional green
In 2009, following the USAir 1549 bird strike and emer 55 house gas emissions.
gency landing in the Hudson River, the FAA started a number Existing airport turf grass installations typically include
of initiatives to mitigate bird and wildlife strikes by airplanes. known wildlife attractants such as bluegrass, rye grass and
The FAA made its entire bird strike database available to the broadleaf annual and perennial weeds, which are problematic
public. Over the last three years the FAA has received 21,489 in that they are attractants to grazing wildlife, such as geese,
strike reportsi7,545 strikes in 2008; 9,484 in 2009; and 60 deer, and grasshoppers, all of which are especially trouble
4,460 through July 2010. some for airports. Other problematic animals include (but are
The FAA issued a certi?cation alert to airport operators on not limited to) rabbits, mice and other rodents, squirrels,
Jun. 11, 2009, reminding them of their obligation under the groundhogs, as well as many other species of birds. Predators
FAA regulations to conduct mandatory Wildlife Hazard such as fox, coyote, and hawks are attracted to the lower
Assessments and the FAA provides Airport Improvement 65 trophic levels of animals, including insects, which are
Program funds for assessments and for the development of a attracted to the typical weedy turf grass of air?elds. These
follow-up Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, if needed. animals are all hazardous to aircraft. The Federal Aviation
US 8,789,310 B2
5 6
Administration attempts to discourage wildlife from entering reduced mowing resulting in improved air?eld management
airside land by encouraging airports to specify less favorable and the bene?ts of improved storm water control, decreased
landside habitat conditions as one extra layer of protection. pollution, decreased gas emissions, temperature moderation,
The resulting environmental and economic impact demon biodiversity conservation and other safety, environmental and
strates a currently unmet need in modern turf grass land economic bene?ts disclosed herein. The invention utilizes
scapes at airports.
?ne fescues successfully grown on air?elds in a manner never
At the 29th Meeting for Bird Strike Committee, Bill before appreciated and provides an operative result that had
Walmsley discusses best practices for establishing endophyte
not been achieved heretofore.
grasses at airports. (2010 Best Practice Guidelines for Novel
Endophyte Grass Establishment atAirports). The report, like SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
others, discusses only tall fescues, ryegrasses and cool season
turf grasses. Currently, tall fescues are used at some airports Disclosed herein is an improved method of air?eld man
in an attempt to deter wildlife from the air?elds. Other grasses agement comprising growing ?ne fescue grasses on the air
commonly used for airport turf include Kentucky bluegrass as ?eld and maintaining them as monocultures free of weeds and
a cool season species and Zoysiagrass and buffalograss as other grasses. Weeds and other grasses serve as wildlife
warm season turf grass species. attractants and require regular mowing, the mowing process
AgResearch Ltd., New Zealand’s largest Crown Research
which itself serves as a wildlife attractant due to the distur
Institute, an independent state owned research and develop bance it creates. Such method results in reducing wildlife
ment company, investigated the use of endophytes in ryegrass grazing on the air?elds, reducing the predators that are drawn
and fescues for wildlife management, stating that the bird 20 to the grazers, and the insects that are diminished due to
strikes cause a challenge of $1 .5 billion to the aviation indus control of wildlife-attractant weeds and grasses, and reducing
try annually. Speci?cally, AgResearch Ltd. focused its study the maintenance required on air?elds by the airports from an
on two turf species of grassiJackal, a tall fescue variety, and
average 22 mows per year to one mow per year. The ?ne
Colosseum, a ryegrass, which are now on the market through fescue grasses of the invention are selected from hard fescues,
PGG Wrightson Seeds. The tall fescue was chosen for air 25 creeping red fescues, chewings fescues, slender creeping red
?elds and is being trialed at major airports in New Zealand. In fescue, and/or combinations, blends and mixes thereof. Also
May 2011, AgResearch and scientist Chris Pennell received disclosed is a method of improved turf management compris
the DuPont Innovation Award that recognizes the commer ing the steps of seeding and growing ?ne fescue grasses, and
cialization and outstanding science and technology in Aus maintaining them as substantially weed-free monocultures to
tralasia. 30 ful?ll the two-fold goal of reduced mowing and wildlife
Despite the recent success and spreading popularization of deterrence.
tall fescues, the use of tall fescues does not resolve the various
challenges of air?eld management as discussed herein. The BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
tall fescues can grow to heights of 48 inches or more, and
therefore require steady mowing resulting in a great eco 35 The foregoing summary and the following detailed
nomic burden on airports which carries into greater costs of description of the invention, will be better understood when
air travel to the consumer. read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the
As the aviation industry is faced with potential for exten purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the
sive loss of life and property due to wildlife strikes each year, drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It
the frequency and consequences of wildlife activity dictate 40 should be understood, however, that the invention is not lim
that these occurrences remain in the forefront of every air ited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
port’ s wildlife management plan. Beyond the environmental, FIG. 1 is a graph showing the reported incidents of wildlife
social and ?nancial consequences of wildlife strikes, a report strikes in the United States, as recorded between the years of
presented by Larry A. Dale at the August 2008 USA/Canada 1990 to 2005.
Meeting of the Bird Strike Committee, goes further to outline 45 FIG. 2 is a graph showing the time of year when most
the legal liability faced by airports and their management. In wildlife strikes occur in the United States.
addition to federal and state policies, the court system has also FIG. 3 is a histogram showing the frequency of birds
become involved to ensure that airport management take counted on an air?eld experimental plot containing the ?ne
steps to conduct accurate assessments and to develop and fescue grasses planted according to the methods of the inven
implement an effective wildlife management plan for wildlife 50 tion.
hazard mitigation. FIG. 4 is a histogram showing the frequency of birds
According to the invention, it is disclosed herein that ?ne counted on an air?eld control plot.
fescues grass species can be used successfully according to
the invention to replace existing typical airside and landside DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
turf, which are often very weedy wildlife attractants that 55
require continuous mowing at airports. Current air?eld turf The embodiments of the current invention encompass a
grass maintenance necessitates continuous mowing to main novel method of using existing short turf-type grasses, par
tain the grass at acceptable heights. Not only does the mowing ticularly ?ne fescues which have the two-fold effect of elimi
?ush and mutilate insects and small animals and produce nating both the high maintenance aspect of turf management
straw, both of which attract hazardous wildlife to runway 60 and the wildlife attractant feature. Despite recognition in the
safety areas, but mowing also is an energy and labor intensive turf management ?eld that endophytic grasses are desirable,
practice that inherently increases the potential for operational the use of ?ne fescues is heretofore unknown in air?eld man
con?icts and safety risks with other ground equipment and agement. Embodiments of the invention require little, if any,
aircraft on the air?eld. mowing, little, if any, fertilization or watering, and reduced
To date, with many national and global efforts to address 65 chemicals, gasoline and alternate energy sources, and
the stated problems, it has not been known to address the reduced labor. In certain embodiments of the invention, wild
combined features of wildlife deterrence and the need for life avoid eating the turf, possibly due to a naturally present or
US 8,789,310 B2
7 8
enhanced endophyte contained in the ?ne fescue mixture of 082’, ‘JASPER ll’, ‘SRX 52961’, ‘PST-EFL’, ‘Path Finder’,
the invention. The result is reduced maintenance, reduced ‘Shade Mark’, ‘ABT-CR-3’, ‘PST-47TCR’, ‘DGSC 94’,
cost, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and increased safety in ‘ABT-CR-2’, ‘Florentine’, ‘SRX 52 LAV’, ‘PST-4FR’, ‘ASC
areas where wildlife poses a threat to humans, protecting both 172’, ‘ASC 087’, ‘Salsa’, ‘BAR CF8 FUS1’, ‘Shademaster
people and wildlife. S 11’, ‘Common Creeper’, ‘Boreal’, ‘Dawson E+’, ‘ASR 049’,
The embodiments of the invention are directed to the use of ‘BAR SCF 8 FUSS’, ‘Seabreeze’, ‘AHF 009’, ‘lSl FL 12’,
?ne fescue grasses for use in air?eld applications. Fine fescue ‘Heron’, ‘lSl FL 11’, ‘Attila E’, ‘ABT-HF1’, ‘4001, SRX
grasses include varieties such as, but not limited to, chewings 3961’, ‘Osprey’, ‘Rescue 911’, ‘Oxford’, ‘MB-82’, ‘AHF
fescue (Fesluca rubra var. conunulala), creeping red fescue 008’, ‘ABT-HF-2’, ‘Pick FF A-97’, ‘Bighom’, ‘ABT-HF4’,
(Fesluca rubra var. rubra), slender creeping red fescue (Fes ‘ABT-HF3’, ‘Nordic’, ‘Discovery’, ‘Reliant ll’, ‘DeFiant’,
Zuca rubra var. Zrichyophylla andFesZuca rubra var. l illoral is) ‘BAR HF 8 FUS’, ‘Minataur’, ‘SR 3200’, ‘PST-4 MB’, ‘SR
and hard fescue (Fesluca longifolia and Fesluca brevipila). 6000’, ‘QUATRO’, ‘Fire?y’, ‘Rhino’, ‘Chariot’, ‘Beacon’,
The use of all species, subspecies, genus, cultivars, blends ‘Gotham’, ‘Predator’, ‘Bershire’, SR3000', ‘Viking’, SR
and mixes of ?ne fescue grasses are within the scope of this 3150', ‘Eureka’, ‘Aurora Gold’, ‘Berkshire’, ‘Epic’,
invention. As used herein based on common usage, a “blend” ‘LaCross’, ‘7 Seas’, ‘Spartan 11’, ‘Wendy Jean’, ‘Zodiac’,
is a selection of several cultivars of the same species. A “mix” ‘Aurora 11’, ‘lntrigue’, ‘Edgewood’, ‘VNS’, ‘Triumph Lo
is the selection of more than one species. In the agricultural Gro’, ‘Seabreeze GT’, ‘Fotitude’, ‘Dawson E’, ‘Cardinal’,
?eld, blends are often used to increase biodiversity. One pre ‘BMXC-502’, ‘C-SMX’, ‘Compass’, ‘Celestial’, ‘DP
ferred embodiment of the invention intended as a general 77-9885’, ‘DLF-RCM’, ‘Garnet’, ‘J-5’, ‘Musiva’, ‘CO3
purpose mix is a blend of different cultivars of ?ne fescue 20 4676’, ‘Classono’, ‘lS-FRR 23’, ‘Jasper 11’, ‘Lacrosse’,
grasses only. ‘Razor’, ‘Shademaster’, ‘Cascade’, ‘DP 77-9360’, ‘DP-77
It is known that ?ne fescue grasses are appropriate for 9578’, ‘Oracle’, ‘Path?nder’, ‘Shoreline’, ‘Splendor’, ‘TL1’,
northern “cool” and “transitional” climates where annual ‘Zodiac’, ‘Ambassador’, ‘Culumbra 11’, ‘DP 77-9579’,
rainfall is of about 25 inches or more, with at least half ‘Seabreeze’, ‘DP 77-9886’, ‘PST-8000’, ‘Reliant IV’, ‘Trea
arriving during the growing season. Fine fescues are not 25 zure ll’, ‘Audobon’, ‘Berkshire’, ‘Oxford’, ‘Predator’, ‘SR
recommended for wet soils, compacted soils, or poorly 3000’, ‘SRX 3K, ‘Scaldis’, ‘Rescue 911’, ‘Ecostar’,
drained heavy clay soils. Fine fescue grasses usually thrive in ‘Viking’, ‘Stonehenge’, ‘Miser SCR’, ‘Shaker’, ‘Sealink’,
full sun to partial shade on any reasonably well-drained soil, ‘Henry’, ‘Harpoon’, ‘Pennlawn’, ‘Frazer’, ‘Tiffany’, ‘Shad
and are particularly well suited to growing on dry, sandy or owll’, ‘Florentine GT’, ‘Jamestown 4’, ‘Sealink’, ‘Lowgro’.
rocky soils with low nitrogen levels. Fine fescues prefer a 30 According to the method of the invention, a mix with a
non-alkaline soil, or lower soil pH. Because ?ne fescues are larger variety of species can be selected, so that one or more
cool season grasses, they are recommended for planting in will prevail. However, any blend or mix of ?ne fescue variet
northern and transitional climates of the United States and ies is operable within the scope of the invention and any
Canada (above approximately 37 degrees North latitude). species of which can be planted alone or in combination with
They are also adapted to the coastal areas of the Paci?c 35 any other species. The following characteristics used to deter
Northwest, the cooler mountain climates in the east-central mine which ?ne fescue and percentages are appropriate
states, and in the western mountains from the mid-elevation include, but are not limited to: soil test results, site conditions,
aspen woodlands to just below timberline. Chewings fescue is region, seed availability and level of endophytic activity,
particularly tolerant of sandy, acidic, and infertile soils. Hard height of cultivar, and local conservation district or municipal
fescue is very cold hardy and low maintenance. A naturally 40 requirements.
short grass, it requires less frequent mowing. Creeping red The “creeping” fescues include Creeping Red Fescue (Fes
fescue is used most widely, establishes early, and is the most Zuca rubra var. rubra) and Slender Creeping Red Fescue
aggressive creeper. Slender creeping red fescue is salt-toler (Fesluca rubra var. Zrichyoplylla and Fesluca rubra var. lil
ant. Zoralis). The “bunch forming” fescues include Hard Fescue
The various varieties of existing ?ne fescues are often 45 (Fesluca longifolia and Fesluca brevipila) and Chewings Fes
mixed, sold and utilized in blends with Kentucky bluegrass cue (Fesluca rubra var. commulala). The bunch fescues are
and perennial ryegrass in order to add greater shade, drought exceptionally drought resistant, thrive in nitrogen poor soils,
tolerance, and quicker establishment. However, it is preferred and have low to moderate tolerance to heavy foot traf?c. The
according to the invention not to combine the ?ne fescues creeping fescues spread gradually by underground rhizomes
with bluegrass or ryegrass for application on air?elds because 50 to ?ll in areas between the bunch grasses to create a mono
the bluegrass and ryegrass are wildlife attractants. stand of weed-resistant sod.
All ?ne fescue varieties are contemplated and included Hard Fescue (Fesluca longifolia and Fesluca brevipila):
within the scope of the invention herein, including, but not bunch grass; deep-rooted; most resistant to heat and drought
limited to the following named varieties: ‘Aurora’, ‘ Bighorn’, of all the ?ne fescues; most tolerant of foot traf?c of all the
‘Claudia’, ‘Flyer’, ‘Ensylva’, ‘Longfellow’, ‘Longfellow ll’, 55 ?ne fescues; longer to establish; attractive; does not adapt to
‘Marker’, ‘Medallion’, ‘Reliant’, ‘Salem’, ‘Scaldis’, ‘Shade close mowing. Chewings Fescue (Fesluca rubra var. commu
master’, ‘Spartan’, and ‘Victory’, ‘Treasure H’, ‘Boreal’, Zala): bunch grass; deepest green of all ?ne fescues; most
‘Spartan ll’, ‘lntrigue 2’, ‘Zodiac’, ‘Navigator 11’, ‘Beacon’, competitive, helping to crowd out weeds; thrives in acidic
‘Radar’, ‘Fairmont’, ‘PSG 50c3’, ‘Sword’, ‘Epic’, ‘Gotham’, soils; more tolerant of close mowing than other ?ne fescues;
‘Lacrosse’, ‘lS-FRR-51’, ‘lS-FRR-62’, ‘lS-FRC-35’, ‘Cas 60 does not stand up well to heavy foot traf?c; prone to devel
cade’, ‘Aberdeen’, ‘PST-4CSD’, ‘PST-4HES’, ‘Bighorn oping a thatch layer; spreads slowly by basal tillering; higher
GT’, ‘Shademaster lll’, ‘PSG-5RM’, ‘Pick FRC A-93’, winter hardiness; is adapted to well-drained, coarse textured,
‘Treazure’, ‘PST-4HM’, ‘ACF 092’, ‘Shadow 11’, ‘Tiffany’, acidic, infertile soils. Creeping Red Fescue (Fesluca rubra
‘Jamestown 11’, ‘Magic’, ‘ABT-CHW-l’, ‘Pick FRC4-92’, var. rubra): creeping grass; helps to ?ll in areas that experi
‘Brittany’, ‘Ambassador’, ‘ABT-CHW-2’, ‘SR 5100’, ‘Ban 65 ence damage; drought resistant; requires little nitrogen; does
ner ll’, ‘ACF 083’, ‘Bridgeport’, ‘BAR CHF 8 FUS2’, ‘MB not form dense thatch layer; has low tolerance to close mow
63’, ‘Culombra’, ‘Sandpiper’, ‘lSl FRR7’, ‘lSl FRR5’, ‘ASC ing; and tends to be aggressive and quicker to establish.
US 8,789,310 B2
9 10
Slender Creeping Red Fescue (Fesluca rubra var. lrichy site is ?rst prepared according to standard industry practice or
oplylla and Fesluca rubra var. liltoralis): creeping grass; high directions provided by the county extension service providing
salt tolerance. the soil test.
The especially noteworthy object of the invention is the New installations on disturbed soil, including sloped sites,
minimization of the presence of wildlife, and wildlife grazing are hydro-seeded according to standard practice, except for
and predation at airports. When maintained as monocultures the practices described herein. Any method of seeding is
operable within the scope of the invention. For existing turf
through the invention’ s concurrent weed control methods, the
installations, all existing vegetation is eliminated prior to
?ne fescue blends and mixes useful in the invention are
seeding with an appropriate herbicide approved by the Envi
almost completely avoided by geese and other ?ocking and
ronmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as glyphosate,
non-?ocking birds, which greatly minimizes or prevents the
according to directions on the label. The process may need to
highly dangerous commonplace occurrence of bird strikes by
be repeated a second time. After waiting two weeks, the
airplanes in the air regions around airports which sometimes
growth is mowed as low as possible, exercising care to limit
lead to plane crashes or other complications to the airplanes.
patches of thatch. It is preferred that crisscross back and forth
Problematic foraging wildlife like deer also do not prefer the
mowing is performed by a ?ail-type mower to grind up the
grass blends and mixes of the invention. The invention con thatch, if necessary. The seed mixture of the invention is
fers a tremendous bene?t of increased safety for animals and seeded at the recommended rate using a no-till or slit seeder.
birds at airports. Thereby, the invention also increases pro Typically this is the best method to limit exposure of the seed
tection both to the wildlife and to people in situations where to wildlife and to ensure seed-to-soil contact.
the wildlife poses a threat to humans. 20 According to the method of the invention, fertilizer is not
Though the mechanism of action is not necessary to prac recommended and should be applied sparingly, if at all. Fer
tice the invention, it is thought that this bene?t is conferred tilizers can be applied only in early spring or late summer as
presumably by naturally occurring substances (defense a slow-release and balanced fertilizer depending upon the soil
mechanisms) in the plant material. Some such defense test results. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied to stimulate leafy
mechanisms include endophytes contained in the grass spe 25 growth, which only increases the need for mowing. High
cies. Endophytes are symbiotic fungi that live in certain nitrogen fertilizers that stimulate top growth, which requires
mowing, should be avoided. The application of excessive
grasses. About 20-30% of all grass species contain some
endophytes. Grasses provide substrates necessary for endo nitrogen fertilizer can actually damage ?ne fescue grasses, so
phyte growth. Many endophytes produce alkaloids, some of minimal or no fertilization is recommended for the method of
the invention. The ?ne fescues of the invention will grow well
which are toxic to invertebrates and vertebrates. Also, endo
in soils within a pH range of between 5.0 and 8.0. The opti
phyte infection has been shown to provide resistance to many
mum range is between 5.5 and 6.4, however within the
foliar-feeding insects. Fine fescue typically contains Epich
method of the invention, once the grass is established, the pH
loefeslucae. In turf grasses, transmission of endophytes is by
is preferably kept below 6.2 to keep growth to a minimum.
seed and its entire life cycle takes place inside the plant tissue.
35 Fine fescue grass forms dense sod that naturally reduces
A plant does not become infected from its neighbors, there
weed growth, minimizing the need for herbicides. If herbi
fore a strand of uninfected variety will remain uninfected.
cides are needed, weeds can be treated with an EPA approved
According to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the product carefully following the directions on the label. EPA
seed mixtures utilized in the application to the desired air?eld approved herbicides will be necessary on an as needed basis
contain ?ne fescue grasses. In selecting the seed mixture 40 in air?elds or other installations where height is a concern to
according to the invention, ?ne fescues containing known control tall fescues and other turf grasses and weedy growth
higher levels of endophytic activity available at the time are that exceed the height of the ?ne fescue, which typically will
preferably selected. The seeds should be fresh, preferably, but be approximately 6 inches. This can be done by wicking the
not necessarily, not more than 9 months old, and stored appro undesirable growth above the ?ne fescue, exercising care to
priately according to industry best practices. 45 avoid contact with the ?ne fescue, using standard wicking
Factors considered in designing the blends and mixes for equipment and practices.
use at air?elds and surrounding areas according to the inven Geographical location and weather conditions will deter
tion include the following. The seeds of the invention are mine the best seeding time. Typically, between late August
preferably planted in fall at temperatures ranging between and late September or early October is preferred for the
45° F. to 80° F. Cool evening temperatures and gentle rains 50 method of the invention. Further south, seeding can be
present ideal conditions. Fine fescue grasses are appropriate extended into late October. Fewer weeds germinate in fall
for northern “cool” and “transitional” climates where annual seeding. Seeding in March to mid-May is a second choice.
rainfall is of about 25 inches or more, with at least half Weeds will be more prevalent and may need to be treated.
arriving during the growing season. The plantings of the According to the invention, the need for mowing will be
invention can be planted and grown in direct sunlight, since 55 signi?cantly minimized or eliminated. If desired, the grass
air?elds are generally greatly exposed to the sun as well as the seedheads can be mowed to approximately 6 inches, as mea
elements. The grasses of the invention can be planted on areas sured from the base of the grass blades at soil level to the top
of any size at the airports. The conditions of the soil should be of the grass blades, when seed heads of the grass appear,
generally sandy, loamy, or well-drained clay soils with at least usually in early June. (Seedheads can shoot up quickly to as
four inches of good, loose topsoil. 60 tall as 21 inches but are not problematic because of their
In creating an air?eld according to the invention, the air wispy appearance.) Mowing of the seedheads is recom
?eld site is prepared pursuant to the methods herein utilizing mended for airports to keep the runway signs and lights fully
the seed blends and mixes of the invention that will result in visible. It is most preferable not to mow closer than 4 to 6
minimal grazing by wildlife and low maintenance for the inches, more preferably to approximately 5 inches from the
airport. As the ?rst step of the operation of the invention, a soil 65 base of the grass blades at soil level as this might damage the
test is performed. This will be typically performed by a uni turf. A desirable procedure is to mow to the height of the
versity-af?liated agricultural extension service. The air?eld existing grass blades, cutting only the seedheads themselves