Turfgrass Diagnostic Training Serve to Reduce Negative Environmental Impacts

Abstract

Urban turfgrass management can be challenging, especially under pest and rainy season pressures and client expectations of perfect monocultures. As a result, many landscape maintenance professionals struggle to manage declining turfgrass in urban settings. A lack of knowledge of general turfgrass culture, biotic vs. abiotic causes of decline, as well as not utilizing a systematic approach to problem identification can result in unnecessary or incorrect applications of fertilizers, pesticides, and supplemental irrigation. The consequences of misdiagnosis, unneeded chemical applications, and poor turfgrass quality can have adverse effects on water quality—including nutrient loading in aquatic systems. By completing the Turfgrass Diagnostics Training Program, attendees gain a broader understanding of the impact of management strategies on Florida’s water supply, how to assess turfgrass health, determine causes of decline, and implement appropriate corrective actions that have a lower impact on water quality. Pre- and post-training program evaluation reveals that attendees have an overall gain in knowledge, an improved level of confidence regarding recognizing and diagnosing turfgrass problems, and have a greater understanding of how management practices can impact the environment. Six month post training surveys reveal that attendees employ the systematic approach to diagnostics taught in the training, recommend alternative courses of action to clients, and have reduced reliance on chemical applications to improve turfgrass quality. Attendees also report improved professional client interactions when discussing turfgrass problems and making recommendations.