What are the causal agents of summer patch disease of fine fescues?
By Jing Luo and Ning Zhang, Rutgers University
Summer patch is a damaging disease of turfgrasses that is most common in warm weather. It is caused by fungal pathogens that attack and colonize plant roots. Besides fine fescues, many types of turfgrasses, including bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and annual bluegrass, are susceptible to this disease (Smiley et al. 2005).
Fine fescue seed production: An Oregon overview
By Nicole Anderson and Brian Donovan, Oregon State University
Previous blog posts provided by Purdue University (Braun and Patton) and Oregon State University (Kowalewski et. al.) turf personnel have done an excellent job of describing fine fescue taxonomy and providing an overview of the characteristics associated with the five kinds of fine fescues, respectively. Discussions about fine fescues are often associated with their uses as low-input turfgrasses in homeowner lawns, public green spaces, and golf course fairways. As fine fescues draw more attention because of their low-input turf attributes, it is critical that a reliable and consistent supply of seed is available in the consumer marketplace.
What are the opportunities and barriers to adopting fine fescues for public land managers?
By Michael Barnes and Kristen C. Nelson, University of Minnesota
As spring activities begin, many of us are looking out our windows at last year’s turfgrass and taking much-needed walks throughout our urban green spaces. Public land managers are on the front lines of vegetation management and decision making as essential players in urban sustainability efforts. Managers can be found working at the city level, county level, or working for other organizations such as watershed districts that cut across municipal and county boundaries.
The many faces of fine fescue
By Alec Kowalewski, Emily Braithwaite and Brian McDonald, Oregon State University
Generally, fine fescues are described as low input turfgrasses because as a group these plants tolerate shade and low fertility, and can persist with minimal irrigation. However, each of these fine fescues has a unique set of functional components. This blog post will provide an overview of the characteristics associated with each of the five fine fescues.
Are consumers willing to adopt low-input turfgrasses for their home lawns?
By Chengyan Yue, Yufeng Lai and Eric Watkins; University of Minnesota
In the past decades, plant breeders have developed turfgrasses that exhibit low-input characteristics such as drought tolerance and reduced nitrogen requirements. Although previous studies document the relative strengths and comparable advantages of low-input turfgrass species, little is known about consumers’ preferences for turfgrass attributes. Our team has been working to fill this knowledge gap.
