A new grass on the market - Is it a GMO?

I saw an ad on tv for a new grass that has 2" top growth and a 48" deep root system. Is that even possible?

They say not to plant it where children or pets play so does that sound safe?

The thing is- it took years to get regulations for them to label GMO FOODs - how long would it take for them to label a GMO grass? Its not (yet) illegal, but its my understanding that adding genes to a plant makes the new gene a "wildcard" in that it can move from one organism to another.

What's more about this new grass on the market - its a blue grass that contains endophytes, which are common in fescue grasses but unheard of in blue grass, which adds to how dangerous it could be to pets who eat grass occationally.

And why would anyone buy that stuff when there have been low maintenance grasses all along like no mow grasses, ecolawn, enviro lawn and zoysia grass?

Anyone know the scoop on these that new grass?

Wow, that sounds like something I would never plant. Who wants a grass with 48" roots? I'd rather have grass that the good Lord created and have to mow it. I enjoy mowing the grass anyway....

48" roots??!!! That sounds crazy. All this gmo garbage is driving me nuts!!! Why they have to mess with stuff? I hadn't heard about it but I'll have to do some research on that

I cant imagin ANY grass that has 48" roots that's 4 feet for goodness sake, IF it's a joke then I would imagine your now looking quite silly but IF it's true, then give it a miss and be glad you didn't get any to grow in your garden and think, you saved yourself a fortune on hiring heavy plant machinery to remove it several years down the line.

I would imagine it would be classed as very irresponsible to start growing this type of plant without being given the FULL INFORMATION /GUILD-LINES for such man made plants that maybe spreading all over the neighbourhood within a few years of root runners or seeds though I cant imagine seeds being productive from these plants that were formed in a lab way back.

Cant help you any further bt wish you best Regards, WeeNel.

Some of your prairie grasses have very long roots. However, I doubt that they do with 2" tops.

here is the site:

http://www.buycuttingedge.com/

and a youtube link to the TV ad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWqJqVyFn94

Essentially the ad is the waste product from a male bovine.

Doug9345, thanks for that site, while watching the Add I think it covered most of the points I was trying to make, who wants grass that grows roots 4ft deep, and how much water would it require to keep it growing.
Actually if it was not quite a serious subject I would have found it to be quite amusing that companies like this can actually get away with this kind of stuff, no info what this grass is other than green long roots, No info how to lay it as turf, seed, what????, no info on how to get rid of these roots after the grass dies off as like all LAWN grass, different types needed for different soil /situations / temp/ light, so as someone else has said, give it a miss till you know it has been tried, tested and approved. I always say, err on the right side.

IF you don't have time, ability, tools, money to hire help, then I think what your saying is, I DON'T NEED A LAWN, save up for paving, gravel, plants or an apartment. Problem solved LOL.
Best Regards. WeeNel.

You do have to wonder what this plant actually is. Who has developed it? If it's one of the big GMO names there's your answer. It sounds scary, though, and if you're not supposed to plant it where kids and pets play, what happens if it migrates to those areas, pray tell?

There are many deep rooted grasses. Many of your prairie grasses are that deep and deeper. Bermuda grass is in the 4' class.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/bermuda_grass.htm The whole point of deep rooted grasses is that they don't need to be watered.


Approved by who?

There is nothing to stop me from making a mix seed, calling it Doug's Dandy Miracle lawn mix and selling it. I can promote it as hard as my conscience will allow and if there is even a tiny silver of truth to it the claims it will be hard to attack me. If I'm selling across state lines the Federal Trade Commission is the one to go after me. They don't have the budget to go after everyone that they should and the most you are going to get out of it is a cease and desist order out of it. If I'm smart and have done it from an incorporated company. I disband the company, form a new one and off I go again.

If I'm only selling in one state then that state has to go after me. To get convicted of a criminal charge would be almost impossible. All you have to do is have one juror that is gullible to believe some of what you say and you are going to end up with at least a hung jury.


I'm going to give a guess as to what's in the mix. Primarily Kentucky blue grass with some fescue, burmuda and zoysia mixed in. It may have some Buffalo grass in it also, no exotic grasses at all, and nothing special either.

Other companies sell no mow mixes. http://www.prairienursery.com/store/no-mow-lawn-seed-mix-c-11.html#.UgUdUz-Z3zJ



WeeNel: I take it that in your part of the world your aren't bombarded by over hyped ads and infomercials 24/7. The minute I see the as seen on TV logo I KNOW it's an over hyped over expensive, under performing produce.









This message was edited Aug 9, 2013 11:52 AM

Doug9345, here in UK we THINK we are bombarded by advertising on TV BUT, having visited USA many, many times, we really are NOT bombarded at all, YES when your watching an interesting program ON TV the adverts do spoil the program, and yes we do have some companies who advertise "as seen on TV" but these are more likely to be seen in the Press /News Papers than on TV, AND as far as I know we also have a much stricter set of regulations as regards the the jargon used in these adverts, like we cant say some product will do such and such knowing it cant meet these promises BUT, there are always some smart so and so who thinks they are above the law.

What our biggest complaint NOW re the TV adverts is: for some unknown reason the advertising bodies have managed to win the RIGHT to have the sound increased while all adverts are on TV, parent of young kids are constantly complaining the noise wakens up their kids at night, other people are covering their ears till the sound is manually turned down then when the program your watching returns, you have to then reset the sound to hear what is being said, life is no longer easy EH.!!!!, or within our control jeeeeez.
Best Regards, WeeNel.

What I found interesting about this thread was the number that were concerned with this grass being a GMO while totally missing the fact that it was snake oil.

With the volume thing I think it has to do with the switch to digital TV. With analog TV there was a limit of how loud you could go without generating emissions out side your allotted band. That limitation doesn't apply to compressed digital.

Doug, Complaints made to the TV or Entertainers watchdog or who ever they are got replies that there was nothing could be done re the rise in volume when the adverts are showing, the reason given for lack of action is because the advertising companies know that most viewers go put the kettle on or use bathroom while the adverts are being shown therefore they have to turn the volume up to allow the products advertised to be heard when the viewers are out of the room. I find nothing in reply to that kind of reasoning but to say, too bad, I dont ask for TV adverts just the program.
WeeNel.