Gary Deters
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?
Seeding your lawn in June or July? You might want to wait
By Gary Deters
Establishing lawns from seed can sometimes be difficult even under ideal growing conditions, and there are many considerations when putting seed on the ground for small repairs as well. Spring is a time when successful lawn seeding is possible, but soil temperatures in early spring are cold which can prohibit rapid germination and establishment. We have now entered the beginning of summer when growing turfgrass from seed becomes even more difficult and we do not normally recommend seeding your lawn this time of the year.
UMN Turfgrass Team at Eagan Market Fest!
The UMN Turfgrass Science team will be at Eagan Market Fest, located at the Eagan Festival Grounds (1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, MN), on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
UMN Turfgrass Team at Coon Rapids Summer in the City Meetings!
The UMN Turfgrass Science team will be at three Summer in the City Neighborhood Meetings in Coon Rapids parks this summer. The events will be:
UMN Turfgrass Team at two events this week!
The UMN Turfgrass Science team will be at two events this week!
UMN Turfgrass Team at two events this weekend!
The UMN Turfgrass Science team will be at both of the following events this Saturday!