Turf Management in the Transition Zone

The essential resource for managing turfgrasses in the Transition Zone In the Transition Zone, where temperature and precipitation vary greatly from season to season, maintaining healthy, high–quality turfgrass requires year–round focus. Turfgrass managers must practice intensive maintenance of cool–season grasses or use warm–season grasses, which become dormant in the cool days of fall and winter. Turf Management in the Transition Zone covers all the fundamental principles of maintaining turfgrass in this complex growing area. It helps turfgrass managers in transition areas develop a deeper understanding of: The growth cycles of cool– and warm–season grasses Turfgrass physiology, nutrition, and soil science Cultural practices, including mowing and irrigation Management of climate–specific diseases and insects Complete with more than 100 illustrations and tables,Turf Management in the Transition Zone offers expert advice for everyday turf–maintenance issues faced by golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, greenkeepers, lawn care specialists, and golf course architects and builders.

Preface. 1. Introduction. Need for Turfgrass Management. Turfgrass Plant Anatomy and Physiology. Selected References. 2. Grass Species. Naming Conventions. Kentucky Bluegrass. Perennial Ryegrass. Tall Fescue. Fine–Leaved Fescues. Bentgrasses. Annual Bluegrass. Rough Bluegrass. Zoysiagrass. Bermudagrass. Buffalograss. Selected References. 3. Growth Cycle Considerations. Cool–Season Grasses. Warm–Season Grasses. Selected References. 4. Nutrient Requirements. Nutrient Absorption. Macroelements. Microelements. Selected References. 5. Fertilizers. Fast–Release Nitrogen Fertilizers. Slow–Release Nitrogen Fertilizers. Synthetic Organic Nitrogen Compounds. Fertilizer Ratio. Salt Index and Osmotic Potential. 6. Fertilization. Ferti lizing Cool–Season Grasses. Fertilizing Warm–Season Grasses. Nitrogen Application. Other Nutrients. Liquid Fertilizers. Calibration. Selected References. 7. Mowing Considerations. Mowing Guidelines. Mower Selection and Operation. Growth–Regulating Chemicals. Clipping Heights and Interspecies Dynamics. Selected References. 8. Soil Management. Chemical Properties of Soils. Soil Organisms. Organic Matter. Soil Acidity. Physical Properties of Soils. Addressing Soil Compaction. Selected References. 9. Moisture Management. The Need for Moisture. How Turfgrasses Absorb Water. Soil Water–Holding Capacity. Movement of Moisture to Roots. Mechanical Irrigation Systems. Determining the Need for Irrigation. Hand Watering. Irrigation Guidelines. Irrigation Technique: Some Final Considerations. Outlook for Moisture Management. Selected References. 10. Thatch Management. Thatch Development. Why Thatch Is Bad. Preventing Excessive Thatch. Selected References. 11. Weed Management. Weed Classifications. Weeds of the Transition Zone. Weed Control. Herbicides. User and Environmental Safety Precautions. Guidelines for Use of Herbicides. Calibration. Alternatives to Chemical Weed Control. Selected References. 12. Disease Management. Disease Classifications. Abiotic Influences. Common Turfgrass Diseases. Disease Control. Fungicides. Selected References. 13. Insect Management. Insect Growth and Morphology. Common Turfgrass Insects. Insect Control. Insecticides. Nuisance Predators. Selected References. 14. Establishing Turf. Dealing with Existing Vegetation. Soil Grading and Drainage. Spreading Topsoil. Amending the Soil. Adding Nutrients. Fumigating. Final Grading and Smoothing. Applying a Starter Fertilizer. Seeding. Alternatives to Seeding. Selected References. Index.

JOHN DUNN, PHD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, where he taught and conducted research in turfgrass management and physiology. His research focus was on temperature stress physiology of turfgrasses. Within this general area, he directed his principal effort toward the study of cold hardiness of zoysiagrass and other warm season grasses. KENNETH DIESBURG, PHD, is a professor in the Department of Plant, Soil, and General Agriculture at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, where he coordinates the Turfgrass Management Breeding and Research program.