Simple Sprinkler Performance Testing for Monticello, Utah

This fact sheet describes how to perform a site inspection and a sprinkler test so you can irrigate your landscape more efficiently, and provides an irrigation schedule for Monticello, Utah

Turfgrass Cultivars for Utah

For many purposes, the turfgrass seed that may be purchased from a reputable garden center or nursery will usually fit the needs for most Utah lawns

Utah State University Evaluation of Ring to GREEN Final Research Report

Necrotic ring spot (Ophiosphaerella korrae) is the most commonly diagnosed fungal turfgrass disease by the Utah State University Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. The disease effects coolseason grasses in the state and region, particularly Kentucky bluegrass. The necrotic ring spot (NRS) disease pathogen infects and kills turfgrass roots and crowns, resulting in the blighted appearance of turf amidst an otherwise healthy area of turf In the late summer/fall of 2015, Utah State University (USU) began a research study of the Ring to GREEN product by GreenMaster Distributing, LLC for the control of necrotic ring spot in turfgrass. Prior to USU’s involvement, product development had begun in 2010 and the product was patented in 2011. The patent included not only the Ring to Green product, but specific irrigation practices in conjunction with its us

Lawn Fertilizers for Cool Season Turf

Lawns provide a durable and functional surface for many outdoor activities while adding beauty to the landscape. For these reasons, a healthy, green lawn is the goal of many homeowners and landscape managers. Keeping a lawn healthy and green may require many management practices such as mowing, irrigation and aerification. Often, these practices will include fertilizing with supplemental nutrients at various times during the growing season. This promotes optimum turf color, improves re-growth, and increases tolerance to wear, drought, insects and disease. The broad number of fertilizer options available from retailers can make choosing a fertilizer difficult. However, choosing an appropriate fertilizer and fertilization schedule can be simplified by determining turf nutrient needs through soil testing and determining how the turf will be used

Common Crane Fly in Turf

Crane flies belong to one of the most specious families of flies. The adult flies, also known as “mosquito hawks”, are not giant mosquitoes and do not bite, and though the name suggests it, they do not feed on mosquitoes. In general, the larvae are associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. The majority of crane flies are not pests

Identifying high-risk areas of N leaching in the Salt Lake Valley

Nitrogen (N) fertilization of urban turf areas, and potential nitrate (NO3-N) leaching, may pose a hazard to groundwater quality. This research utilized a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to estimate NO3-N leaching mass from urban turf areas based on a one-dimensional N leaching model and to classify the NO3-N leaching risk in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA, based on soil texture. The methodology integrated a calibrated and verified Hydrus-1D N model, soil textures and urban turf areas to predict NO3-N leaching to groundwater. Thirty United States Geological Survey (USGS) residential wells were installed and sampled in 1999 for NO3-N concentration. A relationship between estimated NO3-N leaching from urban landscapes and groundwater NO3-N concentration was developed to determine the effect of soil texture and landscaped area on NO3-N leaching from urban landscapes. The GIS approach was used to estimate the NO3-N leaching risk to groundwater under efficient irrigation and fertilization scenarios and over-irrigation and over-fertilization scenarios. The results showed that soil texture played a role in NO3-N leaching from urban landscapes to groundwater, and shallow groundwater was more susceptible to surface contamination compared to deep groundwater. The GIS technique identified areas where improved irrigation and fertilization management could reduce landscape NO3-N leaching significantly, resulting in fewer NO3-N leaching risk areas in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA

Utah Growing Water Smart: The Water-Land Use Integration Guidebook

The Utah Growing Water Smart workshops bring together teams of key community staff and water and land use planning decision makers to help build a more resilient and sustainable water future. The workshops use a range of public engagement, planning, communication, and policy implementation tools to help community teams realize their water efficiency, smart growth, watershed health, and water resiliency goals. This 2nd edition of the Utah Growing Water Smart curriculum guidebook was prepared for the workshop focused on Northern Utah and held at Utah State University on June 6-8, 2023. This guidebook has four main sections: Planning and Goal Setting; Water Smart Land Use and Development Policies; Watershed Resilience and Water Smart Infrastructure; and, Water Conservation and Efficiency Tools. Each section includes more detailed information on particular water smart tools in “Toolbox” subsections, along with case studies highlighting implementation examples. An Additional Resources section at the end guides readers to many other sources of information

Utah Growing Water Smart: The Water-Land Use Integration Guidebook for Southwestern Utah

The Utah Growing Water Smart workshops bring together teams of key community staff and water and land use planning decision makers to help build a more resilient and sustainable water future. The workshops use a range of public engagement, planning, communication, and policy implementation tools to help community teams realize their water efficiency, smart growth, watershed health, and water resiliency goals. This 3rd edition of the Utah Growing Water Smart curriculum guidebook was prepared for the workshop focused on the Washington County Water Conservancy District service area and held on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah on January 8-10, 2024. This guidebook has four main sections: Planning and Goal Setting; Water Smart Land Use and Development Policies; Watershed Resilience and Water Smart Infrastructure; and, Water Conservation and Efficiency Tools. Each section includes more detailed information on particular water smart tools in “Toolbox” subsections, along with case studies from Southwestern Utah highlighting implementation examples. An expanded, sixteen-page Additional Resources section at the end guides readers to many other sources of information

Utah Growing Water Smart: The Water-Land Use Integration Guidebook

The Utah Growing Water Smart workshops bring together teams of key community staff and water and land use planning decision makers to help build a more resilient and sustainable water future. The workshops use a range of public engagement, planning, communication, and policy implementation tools to help community teams realize their water efficiency, smart growth, watershed health, and water resiliency goals. This 1st edition of the Utah Growing Water Smart curriculum guidebook was prepared for the inaugural Utah workshop focused on Wasatch Front communities and held at the Wheeler Historical Farm in Murray, Utah on November 15-17, 2022. This guidebook has four main sections: Planning and Goal Setting; Water Smart Land Use and Development Policies; Watershed Resilience and Water Smart Infrastructure; and, Water Conservation and Efficiency Tools. Each section includes more detailed information on particular water smart tools in “Toolbox” subsections, along with case studies highlighting implementation examples. An Additional Resources section at the end guides readers to many other sources of information