Chapter 4 The Horticulture Industry 103
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Athletic Fields
Like the home lawn, athletic fi elds may be considered beautiful and are
often painstakingly maintained. Many grasses have been bred to withstand
heavy traffi c and to recover quickly after an afternoon of intense practice or
play on the fi eld. Baseball, football, and soccer are just a few of the sports that
require green grass for play.
Golf Courses
Golf courses are athletic fi elds that range from a few acres to 200 or
more acres of turf, Figure 4-11. Specialists in the turfgrass industry have
been experimenting and cultivating
different turfgrass species for golf
courses for years. Golf course
turfgrasses must have adequate
insect and disease resistance as well
as tolerance to salinity, heat, foot and
cart traffi c, and drought conditions.
Additionally, golf course grasses must
meet standards that include everything
from their color and texture to the
way a golf ball rolls when it lands on
the green. Golf course turfgrass needs
intensive maintenance. Some parts of
the golf course get mowed on a daily
basis, regularly removing much of
the leaf area used for photosynthesis.
Often-mowed grasses need extra
fertilizer to make up for the removal of
their leaf area.
Sod Growers
Sod growers are responsible for planting and growing turfgrass that
will be harvested and sold. Sod growers work outdoors with a team of
individuals. Sod cultivation requires the use of heavy machinery. A sod
Thinking Green
Xeriscapes
Bruce C. Murray/Shutterstock.com
Landscaping designs that use
plants requiring very little water are
called xeriscapes. These designs often
include succulents, cacti, ornamental
grasses, and other drought-tolerant
plants. In what areas of the United
States would this type of landscaping
be most appropriate?
cappi thompson/Shutterstock.com
Figure 4-11. Golf courses are maintained by turfgrass workers
in the nursery and landscape industry. How many types of
turfgrass are used in a single golf course? How and why are
different types used?
Safety Note
Walk-Behind Mower
You should mow side-to-
side on a hill when using a
walk-behind mower. Make
sure that the grass is dry
before mowing. Wet grass
can cause operators to
slip and fall into the path of
the mower blade, causing
serious injury.
Corner Question
What is a mole cricket?