History of TurfgrassesHistory of Turfgrasses

Biblical references: grasses used in Persian Biblical references: grasses used in Persian and Arabian gardensand Arabian gardens

13th century literature referred to the use of 13th century literature referred to the use of turn on lawn “bowling” areasturn on lawn “bowling” areas

The word “turf” is derived from the Sanskrit The word “turf” is derived from the Sanskrit “darbhus”, meaning a turf of grass“darbhus”, meaning a turf of grass

16-17th century, golf and turf areas 16-17th century, golf and turf areas developeddeveloped

History continuedHistory continued

First lawn mower invented by Edwin First lawn mower invented by Edwin Budding , England, 1830Budding , England, 1830

Private lawns developed in Victorian Private lawns developed in Victorian England, brought to US by English settlers. England, brought to US by English settlers. Had to wait until the hardwood forests were Had to wait until the hardwood forests were cleared to permit grass establishment. cleared to permit grass establishment. Williamsburg classic example of small turf Williamsburg classic example of small turf areas at areas at each houseeach house. This was the change.. This was the change.

Origin of TurfgrassesOrigin of Turfgrasses

Most species used for turf are not native to Most species used for turf are not native to North America, with the exception of North America, with the exception of buffalograss. All the primary species have buffalograss. All the primary species have been introducedbeen introduced

Most turf species are “forest-fringe” Most turf species are “forest-fringe” species, which distinguishes them from species, which distinguishes them from taller prairie speciestaller prairie species

Origin of TurfgrassesOrigin of Turfgrasses

Turfgrasses developed in close association with Turfgrasses developed in close association with domesticated animals. Man thus unwittingly domesticated animals. Man thus unwittingly imposed natural selection on many of the grasses imposed natural selection on many of the grasses we now use for turfwe now use for turf

Only grasses able to withstand repeated grazing Only grasses able to withstand repeated grazing (close cutting) were able to survive(close cutting) were able to survive

Many grasses introduced to US as feed for Many grasses introduced to US as feed for livestock from the ships, or seed that “hitched a livestock from the ships, or seed that “hitched a ride”ride”

Recent HistoryRecent History Tremendous changes in last 40 yearsTremendous changes in last 40 yearsLinked to rising interest in golf, TVLinked to rising interest in golf, TV

Many new, improved cultivars (cultivated Many new, improved cultivars (cultivated varieties - a named variety)varieties - a named variety)

Pesticide development - 2,4-D one of firstPesticide development - 2,4-D one of first Refined fertilizer programs, inorganic Refined fertilizer programs, inorganic

fertilizersfertilizers New equipment such as aerifier, vertical New equipment such as aerifier, vertical

mower, modern irrigation systemsmower, modern irrigation systems

Size of the Turf Grass IndustrySize of the Turf Grass Industry

UNITED STATES (1983)UNITED STATES (1983)– 25 To 30 million acres (size of new england)25 To 30 million acres (size of new england)– $25 Billion in annual maintenance COSTS$25 Billion in annual maintenance COSTS

STATE SURVEYS = $1 BILLION EACHSTATE SURVEYS = $1 BILLION EACH– New York (1982), California (1983), Virginia, New York (1982), California (1983), Virginia,

North Carolina (1986) Pennsylvania (1992)North Carolina (1986) Pennsylvania (1992)

North Carolina Survey (1994)North Carolina Survey (1994)

Over 2 Million AcresOver 2 Million Acres $1 Billion in Annual Maintenance Costs$1 Billion in Annual Maintenance Costs Over 2 Million HomelawnsOver 2 Million Homelawns 76,000 Miles of Roadsides76,000 Miles of Roadsides 500 Golf Courses (12 Million Rounds of 500 Golf Courses (12 Million Rounds of

Golf)Golf)

What Species are Grown in NC?What Species are Grown in NC?

Tall fescueTall fescue 52% of total 52% of total Bluegrass/fescueBluegrass/fescue 8% 8% BermudagrassBermudagrass 7% 7% CentipedegrassCentipedegrass 4% 4% others: zoysiagrass, ryegrass, bahiagrass, others: zoysiagrass, ryegrass, bahiagrass,

carpetgrass, St. Augustinegrasscarpetgrass, St. Augustinegrass

Where’s the Money?Where’s the Money?How Golf Courses Allocate $How Golf Courses Allocate $

Labor, MowingLabor, Mowing 28.3% of total28.3% of total Mowing Equipment etc.Mowing Equipment etc. 15.1%15.1% Labor, PesticidesLabor, Pesticides 8.4% 8.4% FertilizerFertilizer 7.9% 7.9% Labor, IrrigationLabor, Irrigation 3.6% 3.6%

Segments of the Turf Grass Segments of the Turf Grass IndustryIndustry

HomelawnsHomelawns RoadsidesRoadsides Golf Course Golf Course Lawn CareLawn Care ParksParks Athletic FieldsAthletic Fields Sod ProductionSod Production SchoolsSchools

Commercial GroundsCommercial Grounds CemeteriesCemeteries ChurchesChurches InstitutionsInstitutions Turf SalesTurf Sales AirportsAirports

Selected Turf and Turf-related Selected Turf and Turf-related Occupations Occupations

Cemeteries Cemeteries ManagementManagement

ConsultantsConsultants Education/ ExtensionEducation/ Extension Equipment Equipment

Manufacturers / SalesManufacturers / Sales

Fertilizer Fertilizer Manufacturers / SalesManufacturers / Sales

Garden Garden Stores/NurseriesStores/Nurseries

Golf Course Golf Course OperationsOperations

More ...More ...

Selected Turf and Turf-related Selected Turf and Turf-related OccupationsOccupations

Irrigation Installation Irrigation Installation and Designand Design

Journalism, Journalism, Newsletters, Etc.Newsletters, Etc.

Landscaping / Landscaping / ConstructionConstruction

Lawn CareLawn Care Lawn Service FirmsLawn Service Firms Lime Production/SalesLime Production/Sales

Parks ManagementParks Management Pesticide Pesticide

Manufactures/SalesManufactures/Sales ResearchResearch Seed Firms/SalesSeed Firms/Sales Sod ProductionSod Production Turf Management, Turf Management,

Parks, Etc.Parks, Etc.

DefinitionsDefinitions

TurfTurf– A covering of mowed vegetation A covering of mowed vegetation plusplus the the

medium (soil) in which the grasses are growingmedium (soil) in which the grasses are growing TurfgrassTurfgrass

– the the plant community plant community consisting of certain consisting of certain species in the species in the PoaceaePoaceae forming a continuous forming a continuous ground cover with persists under regular ground cover with persists under regular mowing and trafficmowing and traffic

DefinitionsDefinitions

GrassGrass– Any Plant of the Poacea Family Any Plant of the Poacea Family

(Cereals, Forages, Bamboo)(Cereals, Forages, Bamboo)– Parallel VenationParallel Venation– Monocot Having One Cotyledon (Seedling Monocot Having One Cotyledon (Seedling

Leaf) in the SeedLeaf) in the Seed

DefinitionsDefinitions

Turfgrass cultureTurfgrass culture– Science and practice of establishing and Science and practice of establishing and

maintaining turfgrassmaintaining turfgrass Turfgrass managementTurfgrass management

– Encompasses labor supervision, recordkeeping, Encompasses labor supervision, recordkeeping, budgeting, and cost accounting as well as culturebudgeting, and cost accounting as well as culture

SodSod– Harvested turfHarvested turf

DefinitionsDefinitions GreenGreen

– A closely mowed, highly manicured turfgrass A closely mowed, highly manicured turfgrass maintained for a specific purposemaintained for a specific purpose

– Types: golf, bowling, tennisTypes: golf, bowling, tennis Native GrassNative Grass

– Originate and persist in a regionOriginate and persist in a region Naturalized GrassNaturalized Grass

– Adapt and persist but not originate from the Adapt and persist but not originate from the regionregion

CLASSIFICATION OF MERION CLASSIFICATION OF MERION KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSKENTUCKY BLUEGRASS

Kingdom Kingdom PlantaePlantae Division Division EmbryophytaEmbryophyta Subdivision Subdivision PhanaerogamaPhanaerogama Branch Branch AngiospermaeAngiospermae Class Class MonocotyledoneaeMonocotyledoneae Subclass Subclass GlumiforaeGlumiforae Order Order PoalesPoales Family Family PoaceaePoaceae Subfamily Subfamily PooideaePooideae Tribe Tribe PoeaePoeae Genus Genus PoaPoa Species Species pratensispratensis Cultivar Cultivar MerionMerion

The Importance of TurfThe Importance of Turf

In 1971 life magazine conducted a survey In 1971 life magazine conducted a survey and found that 95% of respondents said and found that 95% of respondents said "green grass and trees around me" is the "green grass and trees around me" is the most important environmental factormost important environmental factor

In 1980 Better Homes and Gardens chose In 1980 Better Homes and Gardens chose lawns as most important landscaping lawns as most important landscaping element (61%)element (61%)

Reasons for TurfReasons for Turf

AestheticsAesthetics

– Ornamental Grasses Ornamental Grasses

– Mental RelaxationMental Relaxation RecreationRecreation

– ExerciseExercise

– Sporting EventsSporting Events

Reasons for TurfReasons for Turf

SafetySafety

– Reduce GlareReduce Glare

– Roadside Stopping Roadside Stopping

– Reduce FireReduce Fire

– Reduce Rodents, Snakes Reduce Rodents, Snakes

– Reduce InjuriesReduce Injuries

Reasons for TurfReasons for Turf

Environmental QualityEnvironmental Quality

– Moderate TemperaturesModerate Temperatures

»15 Degrees Cooler Than Bare Ground15 Degrees Cooler Than Bare Ground

»30 Degrees Cooler Than Concrete30 Degrees Cooler Than Concrete

Reasons for TurfReasons for Turf

Environmental Quality (continued)Environmental Quality (continued)

– Reduce Erosion Reduce Erosion

– Reduce dust, lengthen life of equipmentReduce dust, lengthen life of equipment

– Reduce noise 30-40%Reduce noise 30-40%

– Convert unusable land - land fills for Convert unusable land - land fills for exampleexample

Reasons for TurfReasons for Turf

Environmental Quality (continued)Environmental Quality (continued)

– Recycle effluentRecycle effluent

– Release oxygen Release oxygen

– Absorb toxic emissionsAbsorb toxic emissions

– Reduce allergies (but can also cause Reduce allergies (but can also cause allergies)allergies)

Reasons for TurfReasons for Turf

EconomicsEconomics

– Realtors say landscaping adds 6% to valueRealtors say landscaping adds 6% to value

– Homeowners say landscaping adds 15% to Homeowners say landscaping adds 15% to selling priceselling price

– Sell fasterSell faster

– Recovery value 100-200% but only 40-Recovery value 100-200% but only 40-70% for patio and deck70% for patio and deck

Sporting Events that Utilize Turf Sporting Events that Utilize Turf as a Playing Surfaceas a Playing Surface

ArcheryArchery BadmintonBadminton BaseballBaseball CricketCricket CroquetCroquet FootballFootball FrisbeeFrisbee GolfGolf Horseracing Horseracing HorseshoesHorseshoes Lawn BowlingLawn Bowling

Lawn DartsLawn Darts PlaygroundsPlaygrounds RugbyRugby Skiing, lawnSkiing, lawn Skiing, snowSkiing, snow SoccerSoccer SoftballSoftball Steeple ChaseSteeple Chase TetherballTetherball Track & FieldTrack & Field VolleyballVolleyball

Turf QualityTurf Quality

Turf quality is a function of use, appearance Turf quality is a function of use, appearance and playabilityand playability

There are two categories: There are two categories: – VisualVisual– FunctionalFunctional

Visual QualityVisual Quality

Density Density - - number of shoots per areanumber of shoots per area Texture - leaf widthTexture - leaf width Uniformity - even appearanceUniformity - even appearance ColorColor Growth habit - type of shoot growthGrowth habit - type of shoot growth Smoothness - surface feature that affects quality Smoothness - surface feature that affects quality

and playabilityand playability

Density

Texture

Uniformity

Smoothness

Functional QualityFunctional Quality

RigidityRigidity Resistence of leaves to compressionResistence of leaves to compression

ElasticityElasticity Tendency of leaves to spring back Tendency of leaves to spring back

ResiliencyResiliency Capacity to absorb shock without changing Capacity to absorb shock without changing

surfacesurface YieldYield

Clippings removed with mowingClippings removed with mowing

Rigidity

Elasticity

Ball Roll

Clippings

Verdure

Functional Quality (continued)Functional Quality (continued)

VerdureVerdure Aerial shoots remaining after mowingAerial shoots remaining after mowing

RootingRooting Amount, depth of root growthAmount, depth of root growth

Recuperative capacityRecuperative capacity Recovery potentialRecovery potential

TEN GOOD REASONS TO TEN GOOD REASONS TO GROW A LAWNGROW A LAWN

Home Lawns Help the EnvironmentHome Lawns Help the Environment

The next time you're mowing on a hot day, The next time you're mowing on a hot day, thinking that green concrete may really be thinking that green concrete may really be the answer, consider all of the ways your the answer, consider all of the ways your lawn returns your favor of good care:lawn returns your favor of good care:

10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn

1. The front lawns of a block of eight 1. The front lawns of a block of eight average houses have the cooling effect of average houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning. The about 70 tons of air conditioning. The average home central air conditioning unit average home central air conditioning unit has about 3-4 ton capacity. Consider how has about 3-4 ton capacity. Consider how much energy is saved by those lawns!much energy is saved by those lawns!

10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn

2. On a hot summer day, grass can be 10 2. On a hot summer day, grass can be 10 to 14 degrees cooler than exposed soil and to 14 degrees cooler than exposed soil and as much as 30 degrees cooler than concrete as much as 30 degrees cooler than concrete or asphalt.or asphalt.

3. A 50 by 100 foot well-maintained grass 3. A 50 by 100 foot well-maintained grass area will create enough oxygen to meet the area will create enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four every day.needs of a family of four every day.

10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn

4. Acting like a gigantic sponge, lawns absorb all 4. Acting like a gigantic sponge, lawns absorb all types of airborne pollutants such as soot, dust and types of airborne pollutants such as soot, dust and carbon monoxide, as well as noise.carbon monoxide, as well as noise.

5. Recent studies show healthy lawns absorb 5. Recent studies show healthy lawns absorb rainfall six times more effectively than a wheat rainfall six times more effectively than a wheat field and four times better than a hay field, being field and four times better than a hay field, being exceeded only by virgin forest. Lawns filter the exceeded only by virgin forest. Lawns filter the moisture to the water table where it can again be moisture to the water table where it can again be used by everyone.used by everyone.

10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn

6. A Penn State University study showed 6. A Penn State University study showed "thick lawns slow the velocity of runoff and "thick lawns slow the velocity of runoff and allow the water to infiltrate." A healthy, allow the water to infiltrate." A healthy, high quality lawn was at least 10 times high quality lawn was at least 10 times more effective than a patchy lawn with a lot more effective than a patchy lawn with a lot of weeds.of weeds.

10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn

7. While a quality turfgrass reduces runoff 7. While a quality turfgrass reduces runoff water, it also prevents erosion by water or water, it also prevents erosion by water or wind and the loss of valuable topsoil.wind and the loss of valuable topsoil.

8. Homes, sports fields and parks with 8. Homes, sports fields and parks with healthy lawns provide safer recreational healthy lawns provide safer recreational areas when grass acts as a cushion to reduce areas when grass acts as a cushion to reduce shock and potential injury.shock and potential injury.

10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn10 Good Reasons to grow a lawn 9. Aesthetically, there can be no argument 9. Aesthetically, there can be no argument

that a beautiful lawn is immediately that a beautiful lawn is immediately pleasing to the eye and relaxing in its pleasing to the eye and relaxing in its appearance.appearance.

l0. While some may scorn the work, others l0. While some may scorn the work, others find lawn maintenance requirements an find lawn maintenance requirements an excellent opportunity to enjoy reasonable excellent opportunity to enjoy reasonable exercise and as a diversion from the hustle exercise and as a diversion from the hustle and bustle of life. and bustle of life.

QuizQuiz

What is the difference between the What is the difference between the following terms:following terms:– A. Turfgrass culture vs turf management?A. Turfgrass culture vs turf management?– B. Native vs naturalized grass? B. Native vs naturalized grass? – C. Turf vs turfgrass? C. Turf vs turfgrass? – D. Density vs texture? D. Density vs texture? – E. Resiliency vs rigidity? E. Resiliency vs rigidity?