Turf Science Flashcards
What is Turf
a covering of mowed vegetation
-usually a turfgrass
Desirable Turf Species Characteristics
vigorous growth mowing quality wear tolerance recovery/ability to self-repair environmental stress tolerance
Cool vs. warm-season turfgrass
cool
- grows best between 65-85
- most are vigorous in spring/fall
- more prone to seasonal diseases
- will require supplemental irrigation during summer months
warm
- grow best when air temp is > 80
- vigorous mid-june through august
- more tolerant of extreme heat and drought
- turn brown during winter dormancy
- suffer winter kill
Traditional cool-season lawn grasses
Kentucky bluegrass
Perennial Ryegrass
“Turf-type” tall fescue
Warm season grass
Bermudagrass
Non-traditional species of turf grass
Rhizomatous “bunch grasses”
Turfgrass uses
utility
ornamental
recreational
Turf provides numerous benefits
aesthetic social/recreational economic environmental artistic recreational opportunities surface stability/reliability player safety
Mature grass stabilize
soil and annual root cycling improves soil health
Turfgrass role in storing carbon
turfgrasses are perennial
undisturbed turf will store 0.44 tons of carbon/acre a year or 1 metric ton
Why dont you use ryegrass for recreation
perennial ryegrass can become clumpy when overused and thins
Why are synthetic fields used
used in areas or climates with poor weather for plant growth
What are lawns
area of grasses
mown or defoliated on a regular basis
maintained for the benefit of people
How did The American Garden Club change society
they convinced home owners that it was their civic duty to maintain a beautiful and healthy lawn
Lawn mower chronological history
goat scythe reel mower rotary push mower riding mower
