The key to a lush, green lawn—now available in paperback
"The sight of a turf restores my soul," claimed Southwestern
folklorist J. Frank Dobie. Indeed, a manicured lawn or a lush
playing field can significantly contribute to the aesthetic and
environmental aspects of people's lives.
In this well-organized and easy-to-read volume, turfgrass specialist
Richard L. Duble combines thirty years of observation, experience,
and research to unravel the complexities of turfgrass management
for both amateurs and professionals. Turfgrasses is both a refer-
ence text and a user's guide to the production of fine turfgrasses
on lawns, sports fields, golf courses, parks, and other turf sites.
The book presents a thorough discussion of more than one hundred
varieties and twelve species of warm-season turfgrasses.
Chapters include the basic biology of the growth and development
of turfgrass plants from seed to maturity, followed by a review of
each type of turfgrass, including its origin, area of adaptation,
use, management, and unique characteristics. Duble also explains
specifications for turfgrass establishment, from site selection
and seedbed preparation to maintenance practices, and presents
special turfgrass cultural practices for both shaded and overseed-
ed sites. Other chapter topics include symptoms and control methods
for common diseases, including a helpful key to their identification;
management practices for turfgrass insects such as white grubs, chinch
bugs, sod webworms, and armyworms; and turfgrass maintenance
programs for golf greens and athletic fields.
Color photographs, illustrations, and extensive tables focus on a
variety of subjects ranging from water budgeting, turfgrass select-
ion criteria, and mowing height and frequency to seeding rates, fer-
tilizer calculations, and chemical controls.
Homeowners, golf course superintendents, grounds supervisors, and
park managers will appreciate the technical advice and practical
suggestions available in this must-have reference book.
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RICHARD L. DUBLE is an Extension turfgrass specialist at Texas A&M
University, College Station. He is the editor of Texas Turfgrass and
Southern Turfgrass magazines and has published numerous articles on
turfgrass development in professional and popular journals. His pre-
vious book publications include Southern Lawns and Ground Covers.
Number Twenty: W. L. Moody, Jr., Natural History Series
