Before getting into what turf care is, we first need to be clear about what turf is. You have probably heard the words turf, lawn, and yard used interchangeably throughout most of your life. While each of those words is quite similar in terms of their meaning, some notable differences lie between them. Turf is the soil on the ground surface that contains vegetation, usually grass. So when a landscape professional talks about turf, they refer to the layer of soil where the grass is planted.
Turf is also an artificial substitute for natural grasses, which is what you will likely find in sports fields. Turf grasses fall into 2 main categories: warm-season and cool-season grasses.
- Warm-season grasses like Zoysia and St. Augustine thrive in hotter conditions.
- Cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass and perennial ryegrass can handle colder weather.
Turf care is the process of studying and making corrections to soil and grass. Some components of turf care include
- soil analysis
- fertilization
- weed treatment
The goal of turf care is to make turf and lawn healthier, more resistant to pests and disease, and more beautiful and vibrant.