Extension launches interactive turf-management Web page

Interested in getting a greener, healthier lawn and having fun learning how?

UNH Cooperative Extension educator Sadie Puglisi and Web specialist Faye Cragin have teamed up to produce Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass, an interactive Web site about caring for grass in home lawns, as well as in municipal and commercial landscapes such as athletic fields, cemeteries, golf courses and office parks.

"I wanted to create an alternative to flat fact sheets for teaching people about managing pests in lawns," says Puglisi. "I wanted them to go beyond simply buying and applying lawn-care products--to understand why they need a product and how the product is going to work. Armed with that understanding, they can move on to ask another question: Do I really need this or that product?"

The pages offer information on the basics of integrated pest management, how grass grows, identifying and managing turf diseases, scouting for grubs, an herbicide glossary, and interactive decision tools about herbicide use. Quizzes at the end of each section will test your knowledge.

"The information on the site is easy to follow and helpful to anyone who wants to know how to have healthy grass," says Puglisi. "Come have a look for yourself."