Master Gardener Turfgrass Field Day 2018

By Wendy Wilber, Master Gardener Statewide Program Coordinator

Every other year, Florida Master Gardener volunteers who want to find out the latest information about turf grass attend the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Turfgrass Field Day at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra Florida.

It is a unique opportunity to hear from the UF/IFAS Extension and Research specialists that work with turf in their research plots. More than 70 Master Gardener volunteers got the latest information on turf diseases, scouted chinch bugs, and were introduced to the new St. Augustine cultivar CitraBlue developed by UF/IFAS turf breeder Kevin Kenworthy. They also learned about nematodes, advanced fertilization as well as soil compaction impacts on turf health. We have posted handouts and fact sheets from this year's event.

The turfgrass field day in Citra is held on even years in October.

Man speaking to group about turfgrass under a shaded plot in a turf field

Man speaking to group out in a turfgrass field with squares of turf under foot and a bright blue sky overhead

One man and two women kneeling on turfgrass as the man demonstrates something with the grass