Abstract
Purposefully inflicted wounds were observed on 12 species of trees commonly used in urban landscapes and along city streets. One group was observed in an urban environment in Nashville, Tenn., the other in a rural lawn environment in Wooster, Ohio. Wound closure in both environments was more closely correlated to species than to commonly used growth parameters. In both environments, Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Liquidambar styraciflua closed wounds more quickly than Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’, Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis, and Betula nigra.
An urban educational program titled “Don't Bag It” having as its' goal the reduction of the solid waste flow to landfills, was initiated in Ft. Worth the spring of 1988. The program, using media methods and volunteer demonstrators, teaches homeowners how to manage lawns without bagging grass clippings.
Very favorable program results have encouraged the spread of the program to 25 other Texas cities and the distribution of the program across the country:
Abstract
In recent years there has been a constant increased demand for ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, garden equipment, and related supplies. The demand was generated by large increases in suburban populations, increased disposable incomes, and more leisure time. These factors have helped create an estimated 81 million home gardeners caring for over 5 million acres of home lawns and gardens. These facts have caused some researchers and tradesmen to proclaim gardening as America's number one hobby.
Turfgrass is grown under a wide range of environmental conditions, especially light conditions. In residential and commercial applications, selecting the appropriate turfgrass depends, in part, upon its performance under differing light conditions. This study was conducted to determine the growth habits of four turfgrasses under different shade treatments. `Common Bermuda', `Tif dwarf Bermuda', `Seashore Paspalum', and `Z-3' were grown outdoors in pots. `Z-3' is an attractive new variety of turfgrass for residential lawns. Benches were covered with shade cloth to provide different shade conditions (0%, 30%, and 50% shading). Clippings were taken every 2 weeks and dried to determine growth. Turfgrass growth under the three shade treatments were significantly different. In the 0% and 30% shade treatments, `Common Bermuda' and `Seashore Paspalum' had similar growth with their dry weights being greater than that of `Tif dwarf Bermuda' and `Z-3'. Under 50% shade, `Seashore Paspalum' grew significantly greater than the other turfgrasses. `Common Bermuda' grew significantly less under 50% shade than under 0% and 30% shade. `Common Bermuda' does well on golf courses because of its fast growth and attractiveness. With its vigorous growth and shade tolerance, `Seashore Paspalum' can be used for residential lawns. `Z-3' turfgrass, a relatively new variety for residential lawns, shows slow growth but is desirable because of its tolerance to different shade conditions.
A survey of Georgia homeowners provided insights about their use of fertilizers and pesticides. Knowledge of current homeowner practices is needed to develop a best management practices manual to be used by Master Gardeners to train the general public through the existing outreach programs. The objective of the training program is to reduce nutrient runoff and garden chemicals and improve the quality of surface water in urban water-sheds. Results showed three of four homeowners did their own landscaping and, therefore, fully controlled the amount of applied chemicals and the area of application. Fertilizers were primarily applied to lawns, but a high percentage of homeowners also applied them to trees, shrubs, and flowers. Insecticides were applied by a larger percentage of homeowners than herbicides. Control of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) was likely the reason behind the frequent use of insecticides. The desire for a weed free lawn was the plausible motivation behind the use of herbicides, which were used mostly on lawns. Fungicide use was infrequently reported by Georgia homeowners. The pattern of fertilizer and pesticide use suggests that the developed manual should emphasize techniques and cultural practices, which could lower the dependence on chemicals, while ultimately assuring the desired appearance of turf and ornamental plants.
Virginia Cooperative Extension's (VCE) Master Gardener–Water Steward program (MGWS) provides advanced training in leadership development and water quality management to Master Gardener (MG) volunteer educators so that they may expand the influence of Extension through leadership in community water quality management. Typically, agents cite limited staff and volunteer resources as the primary factor in restricting program expansion. The MGWS program simultaneously answers the desire of MGs to expand their role in the community landscape and the need of VCE to expand its outreach with increasingly limited resources. MGWS training, guided by a 10-unit resource book, integrates technical and program management expertise to foster volunteer pride and self-sufficiency. This allows MGWS to coordinate much of their own training and recruit and manage large numbers of non-MG volunteers to whom they can provide limited training for specific projects, thus allowing program expansion without additional staff. The Advanced Master Gardener–Water Steward Handbook allows for appropriate training of Master Gardeners so that Extension education is able to reach a larger audience than just that reachable by an agent alone. Eight slide sets on water-quality related topics are available as part of this program. They come complete with legible, easy-to-read scripts. Updated slide sets include Calibrating Your Lawn Spreader (40 slides), Minimum Chemical Vegetable Gardening (62 slides), Backyard Composting (56 slides), Reading and Understanding the Pesticide Label for Lawn and Garden (41 slides), Landscape Tree and Shrub Fertilization (43 slides), Applying Pesticides Safely for the Environment (47 slides), Water Quality and Landscaping Slide Set (48 slides), and Proper Management of Fertilizers on Home Lawns (40 slides).
Environmental concerns associated with traditional methods of sludge disposal have spurred research exploring alternate avenues of disposal. A potentially significant alternative is the beneficial use of sludge as a turfgrass fertilizer. Studies were initiated during 1991 to compare a commercially available pelletized sludge to urea; 12-4-6; Ringer Lawn Restore; and Milorganite. Fertilizers were evaluated for their effect on turfgrass quality, color, and growth rate. Treatments were applied to a stand composed of 65% Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. `Baron') and 35% Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. `Manhattan II') in South Deerfield, MA. Urea and 12-4-6 were applied at 49 kg N ha-1. Ringer Lawn Restore and Milorganite were applied at 98 kg N ha-1. Pelletized sludge was applied at 98, 196, 294, and 392 kg N ha-1 with all rates providing acceptable to good turfgrass color throughout the season. Rates of 294 or 392 kg seldom provided quality better than the 196 kg rate. While urea initially produced quality superior to pelletized sludge, all rates of sludge resulted in quality equal to or better than urea beginning one month after application and lasting approximately 11 weeks. Turf receiving similar rates of either pelletized sludge or Milorganite performed similarly. No sludge application rate produced burning or foliar discoloration. Clipping production was directly related to sludge application rate. Pelletized sludge applied at 98 kg N ha-1 resulted in growth comparable to similar applications of Ringer Lawn Restore and Milorganite. In summary, using pelletized sewage sludge as a turfgrass fertilizer promotes healthy turfgrass while creating an alternate avenue of sludge disposal.
Abstract
Three genetically diverse Kentucky bluegrasses (Poa pratensis L. cvs. Kenblue, Vantage, and Adelphi) and 6 other turfgrasses were evaluated for susceptibility to the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani. Nine common lawn weed species were also tested as potential alternative hosts. Heavy greenbug populations and feeding damage occurred on all 3 bluegrasses and on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. cv. Kentucky 31) and chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. cummutata Guad. cv. Jamestown). Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. cv. Penncross), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. cv. Midiron), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Derby), and zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica Steud. cv. Meyer) were not suitable hosts. No greenbugs survived on the 9 weed species tested.
Abstract
The practice of applying fertilizer in liquid form to turfgrass has become popular in the commercial lawn care industry, but foliar bum may become a problem following such applications. Fertilizer bum, ranging from leaf tip browning to bleaching of the entire leaf blade may result when a plant suffers physiological drought caused by an excess of soluble salts, either on the foliage or in the soil solution (2, 9). Researchers have reported that increasing levels of soil moisture stress may cause more severe fertilizer burn than nonstress conditions (4, 5, 6).
Abstract
Lawnscape horticulture involves a research and education effort that runs a close parallel with landscape horticulture and fits well the research specialties identified by ASHS. Lawns separate from flowers, shrubs, and trees have limited appeal, reserved mostly for sports stadiums. The true value of the lawnscape is measured in terms of how well it fits the landscape. Turf grass science has come of age. It is well recognized through its employment of fundamental research disciplines and areas of specialization. The result is the lawnscape of the 1980s, one fit for the best of residential living wherever settlements exist.