Gary Deters
New study aims to improve drought resilience in lawn grass mixtures
By Gary Deters
Through years of research and observation we know that some grasses are better than others for drought, shade, disease resistance, spring greenup, and many other desirable qualities (Figure 1). For instance, choosing a drought tolerant grass can save a lot of water while the aesthetics and the function of the lawn remain good, especially during drier conditions.
New research publication from our team - 6/2/25
Learn more about our research! A new, open access article by Eric Watkins, Dominic P. Petrella, Trygve Aamlid, Dominic C. Christensen, Sigridur Dalmannsdottir, Andrew P. Hollman, and Gary Deters has been published in Crop Science. The authors tested five different turfgrasses for their ability to survive under ice.
Rebates available in the Twin Cities for upgrading smart irrigation products
By Gary Deters
Updated technology products for saving water in home lawn irrigation systems have been available for many years. These products include Wi-Fi-enabled irrigation controllers, rain sensors, soil sensors, smart sprinkler heads, and smart hose timers. The benefit of the Wi-Fi-enabled controllers or weather-based products is they automatically adjust watering schedules based on current or future weather conditions. This helps homeowners avoid over-watering or under-watering, and conserves water. It also helps provide peace of mind, as homeowners don’t have to worry about adjusting sprinklers when weather changes or when they are not home to monitor conditions.
New research publication from our team - 12/16/24
Learn more about our research! A new, open access article by Florence Sessoms, Dominic Petrella, Gary Deters, Jillian Turberville and Eric Watkins has been published in Crop Science. Their study examined turfgrass mixtures and how the mixtures performed after short drought and recovery periods.
Breuillin-Sessoms, F., Petrella, D., Deters, G., Turberville, J., & Watkins, E. (2025). Response of cool-season turfgrass monocultures and two-way mixtures to sequential acute drought periods. Crop Science, 65, e21385. doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21385
Irrigation prevention at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
By Gary Deters
The summers of 2021-2023 presented significant challenges for those managing lawns or turfgrass with drought conditions, extreme temperatures, and a lack of rainfall. Many homeowners likely relied heavily on underground irrigation systems to maintain healthy grass or to follow municipal odd/even watering restrictions. Even smart irrigation systems with rain sensors, soil sensors, or weather-based controllers allowed irrigation based on weather and soil conditions due to the lack of rain.
State Fair preparations have begun
By Gary Deters
In 2023, with help from the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, we redesigned our Minnesota State Fair exhibit space in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. This redesign required a lot of thought and planning to update the display’s function to better educate fairgoers on lawn care and water use (Figure 1). Although the State Fair is months away, we have already begun planning for our annual exhibit in late August.
EPA award for water conservation collaboration
For the past several years, we have partnered with the Metropolitan Council on the Twin Cities Lawn Irrigation Efficiency Study.
An overseeding success story
By Gary Deters
Overseeding into an existing yard can be very difficult because there are many different scenarios, challenges, and questions that go into the decision. What to do? What kind of seed? Where to buy seed? How much seed do I use? Do I need to prep the area? How much water is required to get the seed to germinate? What do I do after the seeds germinate?