Course CodeBHT342Fee CodeS3Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. A Unique Training Course for Greenkeepers, Technicians and Turf Managers Learn about different turf grass species taxonomy and biology selecting varieties for different applications - from sports to home gardens understand varied management requirements for different turf grasses be more knowledgeable and capable of managing turf for sports grounds, gardens, parks and amenity landscapes. Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: Introduction What is grass Grass structure (Morphology) Description of grasses Grass flowers and florets Grass terminology - botanical terms Cultivar selection criteria Classification of turf grass genera Botanical tribes of turf grasses How turf grasses are developed Turf Grass Physiology and Fescues Seed viability factors Morphology of a typical grass Flowers Tillering, stolons, rhizomes Roots Shoots - inter vaginal and extra vafinal growth Root shoot ratio Recuperative potential Ways to identify grasses Botanical Key for selected common grasses Identifying tips for rye grasses, fescues, bents, bluegrasses and others Tall fescue Hard fescue Meadow fescue Red fescue Chewings fescue Major warm season grasses - couch, carpet grass, etc Bentgrasses Introduction to the genus Species Creeping bent Colonial bent grass Velvet bent grass Red top bent grass Highland bent Idaho bent Bent grass cultivars - seaside, pencross, penn series etc. Ryegrasses Introduction Perennial rye grsss - description, cultivars Italian ryegrass - cultivars, hybrids Annual rye grass Darnel Rye grass cultivars Bluegrasses Kentucky Bluegrass - Poa pratensis Annual Bluegrass or Winter Grass - Poa annua Supina Bluegrass - Poa supina Texas Bluegrass - Poa arachnifera Rough Bluegrass - Poa trivialis Canada Bluegrass - Poa compressa Upland Bentgrass - Poa glaucantha Wood Bluegrass - Poa nemoralis Bulbous Bluegrass - Poa bulbosa Couchgrasses Couchgrass or Bermudagrass - Cynodon dactylon South African Couch - Cynodon transvaalensis Hybrid Couch - cultivars selected from cross breeding Cynodon dactylon with Cynodon transvaalensis Queensland Blue Couch - Digitaria didactyla Salt Water Couch - Paspalum vaginatum Buffalo and Zoysia Grasses Buffalo grasses Zoysia grasses - species, cultivars, culture Stenotaphrum Bouteloua Buchloe Other Warm Condition Grasses Centipede grass - introduction, culture, cultivars Paspalum Seashore paspalum Bahia grass Pennisetum - fountain grass, kikuyu Carpet grass Sweet smoother Comparing drought tolerance Other Cool Condition Grasses Hair grasses Turf grass Mixes Timothy grass Beach grass Wheat grass Crested dog tail Salt marsh grass Brome grass Phalaris Turf Grass Mixes Introduction Seasonal variations Good and bad mixes Research Advantages of blended mixes Problems of blended mixes What mixes with what Working with seasonal growth patterns Aims Recognise characteristics that differentiate turf grass cultivars, in order to make choose what cultivars are appropriate for different applications. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of Fescue grasses as a turf. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of Bent grasses as a turf. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of Rye grasses as a turf. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of Blue grasses as a turf. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of Couch grasses as a turf. Describe the characteristics, culture and use of Buffalo and Zoysia grasses. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of various warm condition grasses as a turf. Describe the characteristics, culture and uses of various cool condition grasses as a turf. Explain the dynamics at play when different varieties of turf grass grow together. EVERY GRASS CULTIVAR IS DIFFERENT You may be surprised how much different grass cultivars vary; even within a species. Every situation you utilise grass to grow a turf, will be a different situation. The microclimate in the soil and above will vary. The susceptibility to pest and disease is different in different locations. The way in which the turf will be used and maintained is equally variable. When you make choices about what turf grass to use, you need to understand all of these variables, and all of the relevant characteristics of the options before you. Explore how variable the following factors can be: Persistence Quality of Turf Rate of Establishment Leaf Texture Shoot density Cold and heat tolerance Drought tolerance Shade tolerance Flooding and waterlogging tolerance Mowing quality Mowing height adaptability Thatching tendency Ball Performance and more Completing this course will greatly improve your awareness and appreciation of the differences between turf grass varieties, and in doing so, build a vastly improved capacity to select and cultivate a better turf. THIS COURSE IS FOR: Green keepers Groundsmen Turf Managers Equipment, seed and fertiliser suppliers Gardeners and others. Anyone who works with Turf Grasses needs to know the things that this course covers. HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side -follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE