Discipline 06 · Turfgrass
Turfgrass & Sports Turf
Managed grass surfaces for lawns, sports pitches, golf and amenity: species choice, construction, mowing, nutrition, wear and disease management.
Scope4 work areas
Measured by4 metrics
Standards3 references
Regions16
Palette32 regional entries
What practitioners deliver
- Species and cultivar choice for climate, shade and wear.
- Construction: profile, drainage and irrigation.
- Mowing, nutrition and aeration programmes.
- Sports-specific management: pitch, green and wicket standards.
What is measured
- Sward density (shoots per dm²) and ground cover.
- Mowing height and frequency.
- Infiltration rate (mm/hour) and surface hardness.
- Organic matter in the rootzone.
Standards and bodies
USGA Green Section · STRI · World Rugby
Across 16 regions
| Region | Climate | Taxa | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Europe Cfb · 7–9 | Temperate oceanic | 2 | Region |
| Continental Europe Dfb / Dfa · 4–7 | Humid continental | 2 | Region |
| Nordic & Boreal Dfc / ET · 1–5 | Subarctic and alpine | 2 | Region |
| Mediterranean Csa / CSb · 8–11 | Mediterranean | 2 | Region |
| US Northeast Dfb / Dfa · 3–7 | Humid continental | 2 | Region |
| Pacific Northwest Csb · 7–9 | Warm-summer Mediterranean | 2 | Region |
| California & Southwest Csa / BWh / BSh · 5–11 | Mediterranean and arid | 1 | Region |
| US Southeast Cfa · 7–11 | Humid subtropical | 4 | Field guide |
| Tropical Latin America Af / Am / Aw · 11–13 | Tropical | 2 | Region |
| Andes & South America Cfb / Csb / ETH · 6–10 | Temperate and highland | 2 | Region |
| Africa Aw / BSh / Csa · 9–12 | Tropical savanna, highland and Mediterranean Cape | 2 | Region |
| Middle East BWh / BSh / Csa · 7–11 | Arid and semi-arid | 2 | Region |
| South Asia Am / Aw / Cwa · 8–13 | Monsoon tropical and subtropical | 2 | Region |
| Southeast Asia Af / Am · 11–13 | Equatorial | 2 | Region |
| East Asia Cfa / Dwa / Dfb · 4–10 | Temperate monsoon | 1 | Region |
| Australasia Cfb / Cfa / BWh · 7–11 | Temperate and arid | 2 | Region |
FAQ
What grass grows in shade?
Fine fescues (Festuca rubra, F. ovina) and some Poa supina cultivars tolerate shade better than ryegrass; deep shade is still a losing battle without thinning the canopy.
How often should I mow?
Follow the one-third rule: never remove more than a third of the leaf blade at once. In peak growth that means twice a week for a fine lawn, weekly for a utility lawn.
Why is my lawn patchy?
Usually uneven irrigation, compacted soil, shade or disease. Check the irrigation coverage and aerate before buying more seed.