The latest research and information related to the state’s turfgrass industry will be showcased during the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture’s annual Turf Field Day July 13 at UK’s Spindletop Farm on Ironworks Pike.

The free event, which begins at 8:30 a.m., will be at the farm’s Turfgrass Research Center. While it is open to the public, topics covered will be aimed at turfgrass professionals, including golf course and sports turf managers and home and commercial lawn care employees, said A.J. Powell, Extension turfgrass specialist at UK.

 “From a practical standpoint, they will get information on proper maintenance, turfgrass establishment, pesticide selection and … the sensible use of pesticides, which we will cover over and over again,” Powell said.

Participants can choose from five hour-long wagon tours covering turf entomology and pathology, golf courses, warm- and cool-season grasses and weed control, and general plant selection and pest controls. Specific topics of interest include aquatic weed control, seeded Bermuda grass for golf courses and sports fields, quackgrass and nimblewill control, and native grasses for unmowed areas, Powell said.

 “We may have 10 to15 subjects we’re going to cover on each wagon tour,” he said. “This field day is very unusual for that reason. We decided from day one to try to show them almost everything we are doing in turfgrass research.” 

As always, turfgrass professionals who apply pesticides and fertilizers can obtain credits toward recertification. By law, they must have 12 such recertification credits within a three-year period, Powell said. This year, three credits are available.

“That’s one of the main things that this field day does,” he said.

Field day events include a free lunch. For more information, call 859-257-5606.