Sports Turfgrass Management
According to the most recent Pennsylvania turfgrass survey, 2 million acres of turfgrass are maintained in the Commonwealth and approximately 1.4 billion dollars are spent annually on turfgrass establishment and maintenance. To help meet the demands of this large and growing industry, the turfgrass extension program provides services for individuals who make their living managing lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, parks, and grounds. The Professional Turfgrass Management page provides information and links of interest to lawn care professionals; landscape contractors; golf course superintendents; athletic field managers; grounds maintenance supervisors; and representatives of the turfgrass seed, chemical, and equipment industries.
Publications
Athletic Fields
- Athletic Fields: Specification outline, construction, and maintenance HTML
- Determining the Right Sports Field for Your Athletes (a series of questions that need to be addressed)
- In-House; Architect-Bid-Contractor; Design-Build; Owner’s Representative… What Works Best for Building your Sports Field?
- Late Fall Fertilization of Athletic Fields HTML PDF
- Suggested Equipment List (for maintaining sport turf)
- Turf Management, Athletic-Field Conditions, and Injuries in High School Football HTML PDF
Synthetic Turf
- Evaluation of Playing Surface Characteristics of Various In-Filled Systems. By Andrew S. McNitt and Dianne Petrunak, The Pennsylvania State University.
- Snow Removal from Synthetic In-Filled Systems. By Steve LeGros
- A Guide to Synthetic and Natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields: Selection, Construction, and Maintenance Considerations
- Review of Health Risks Associated with Synthetic Turf
- Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on Synthetic Turf. By Andrew McNitt and Diane Petrunak, The Pennsylvania State University
Sports Turfgrass Soil Management
- Using Composts to Improve Turf Performance HTML PDF By Peter Landschoot, The Pennsylvania State University.
- Effects of Organic Fertiliers on Hydraulic Conductivity of Sand Rootzones. By Andrew McNitt and Diane Petrunak, The Pennsylvania State University