Turf Research
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Chuck Denney
At the base of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee - or in the heart of row crop country in the west - Tennessee produces top notch turfgrass.UT’s Institute of Agriculture grows turf plots in both ends of the state to see how different varieties perform in weather conditions unique to each area. It’s information that’s helpful to homeowners as well as Tennessee’s green industry. Dr. Bob Hayes is superintendent of the UT AgResearch Center in Jackson.
Dr. Bob Hayes
“We’re working for the landscaper so they can come here and see which ones do well, the homeowners - the entire turfgrass industry from the standpoint that different turfgrasses fit different needs.”
Greg Breeden
“We’re in the transition zone, and we can grow both the warm season grasses and the cool seasons.”
Chuck Denney
UT Extension Turfgrass specialist Greg Breeden watches plots statewide.In particular, he looks at what it takes to grow a healthy lawn without pesky weeds
Greg Breeden
“One of the bigger ones, particularly in our area with the growing season that we have is crabgrass. You take in crabgrass, the clovers and then have Dallasgrass in the mix, it can be a pretty big problem, particularly for homeowners.”
Chuck Denney
Tennessee turf is a quality product. We’re good at growing sod because of our climate and soils. But sod farms are still relatively rare in Tennessee. The Department of Agriculture says we 27 - mostly in the western end of the state - and some of those grow other crops too. Bob McCurdy runs a strictly sod operation in Gibson County. He says today’s homeowner wants a healthy, pretty lawn and he tries to give them that product.
Bob McCurdy
“Most people are looking for something they can grow in a combination of shade and sun. There seems to be a larger demand for those varieties. People are buying more higher end grasses - grasses that take a lot longer to grow such as Zoisias and Centipedes.”
Chuck Denney
Speaking of centipede, you might see it growing along the Carolina coast more so than in a Tennessee neighborhood. But it’s one variety Ashley Sipes grows at UT’s AgResearch Center in Jackson - where she studies mowing heights and shade conditions for a number of grasses.
Ashley Sipes
“We’ve had great results with it. I love centipede. It’s a low maintenance grass, low fertility. It doesn’t take a lot of nitrogen. You can scalp it pretty much. So if you like to mow short, it’s a great grass.”
Chuck Denney
No matter your preference for turf, chances are you can pick one and it will grow in Tennessee. Research backs that up.
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NOTE: UT has a “turf circle” of 15 different varieties of grasses on display at the AgResearch Center in Jackson.You can get a good look at it during the Summer Celebration Field Day coming up on July 10th.
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