PSS 145   
Turfgrass Management
      

Next Offered: Fall 2012

PSS 145, Turfgrass Management covers the scientific principles and practical applications of the establishment and maintenance of turfgrasses and alternative groundcovers used in the Northeast.  One focus of the course is to critically review all aspects of turf and groundcover management including high input, low input, and ecological/organic approaches.   The course will involve a combination of lectures, reading assignments, "hands-on" activities, problem solving exercises, quizzes and exams and independent projects.  Guest speakers will include active professionals that represent many aspects of the turf and landscape industry including landscape designers, athletic field managers, irrigation professionals, consultants and government regulators.

Instructor:  Sid Bosworth  656-0478
208 Jeffords Hall  (sid.bosworth@uvm.edu)

Location and Time
Location: TBA
Lecture Times: TBA

Course Outline
The course outline will be posted just prior to the semester.  The following topics will be covered in PSS 145:

• Introduction to turf utility, uses and quality
• Turf and the environment (pros and cons)
• Designing a turf and groundcover landscape
  
• Turfgrass ecology and biology
• Turfgrass species description and adaptation
• Alternative grasses and groundcover plants
  
• Establishment and renovation 
• Soil fertility for turf and groundcover plants
• Turf water relations and landscape irrigation
• Soil quality - compost, compaction and thatch control
• Turf pest management (weeds, insects, diseases)

Website:
All class materials and assignments are located on the class Blackboard website.

Field Activities
The major objectives of the field activities are to provide some "hands on" activities involving turf species identification, turf quality, turf pests and to visit and see various turf systems (golf course, sports fields, roadsides, institutional turf, etc.) and meet with the professionals that manage these systems.   Students should always come prepared for inclement weather (old shoes, work clothes, raincoat).
 

Reading Materials and Text:
Most of the reading material for this course will be in downloadable format (pdf) that will be posted on the course website.  There will also be several books on reserve at the library under PSS 145.  

Class Project
The class will have the opportunity to research and make recommendations for a real-life issue concerning nutrient and pesticide usage in Burlington, VT.  Students will have the opportunity to select specific aspects of the project that most interests them.  More information will be presented during the first week of the course.