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Hernando Today

Protecting Your Turf

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By TONY MARRERO

Published: January 31, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - Laurie Trenholm celebrated the purchase of her first home back in the 1980s.
Trenholm, who bought that first abode in Vero Beach, had a problem, though.
"I had no idea how to take care of my lawn," Trenholm recalled during a telephone interview Wednesday.
She enrolled in horticulture classes at the local community college, eager to find out how to landscape her new domain.
"I realized back then that there are so many lawns in Florida and so many people like myself who didn't know what they were doing," Trenholm said. "If we take care of (lawns) incorrectly, we can have a negative impact on the environment. If we explain it, we can curtail that."
That realization helped germinate a passion - and a career. Trenholm went on to earn her bachelor's and master's degrees in turf science from the University of Florida, and then a doctorate in turfgrass physiology from the University of Georgia.
She's now back at UF working as an associate professor in the Environmental Horticulture Department. She also is an expert at the university's IFAS Extension Office.
Trenholm has taken a lead role in developing so-called best management practices to help ensure the lawncare industry doesn't destroy Mother Nature as it attempts to beautify her.
It's in the spirit of minimizing the effects that too little lawncare knowledge can have on the environment that Trenholm comes to Brooksville this week
She is the featured speaker in the next installment of the county's Water Awareness Series, "Lawn Care For Drought Conditions," slated for Friday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hernando County Utilities Department, 21030 Cortez Blvd.
The series is sponsored by the utilities department and Citizens for W.A.T.E.R.
County Conservation Coordinator Alys Brockway asked those who'd like to attend to call ahead first, as this is one of the more popular installments.
"This is one of the things people are worried about - how to keep their lawn looking nicely when drought's on," Brockway said.
Also during the seminar, Lois Sorenson of the Southwest Florida Water Management District will review the current watering restrictions and conditions.
The once-a-week watering policy shows no sign of lifting, but that's not a death sentence for turf grass, Trenholm said.
On Friday, she'll offer rules of thumb to help answer not just how much water is enough, but how to condition a lawn to need less.
"I try to make it easily understandable," Trenholm said. "Once you lift that veil and people understand what they're doing, it puts a whole new light on things and allows them to better conserve Florida's resources."
Generally, turf needs a half-inch to three-quarters-of-an-inch of water each time. But the frequency of those soakings is the key, she said.
Homeowners need to understand how grass goes dormant in the winter and require less-frequent irrigation, Trenholm said. A little grey, purple or even brown isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Trenholm also will provide tips on how to fertilize property and how to diagnose some common turf grass problems.
While many longtime Floridians have probably heard this advice plenty of times before, Brockway is especially interested in getting more recent transplants to attend.
"It really speaks to people who are new in this community and how to take care of their new landscape," Brockway said.
To reserve a seat at this or any of the remaining 2008 Water Awareness Series seminars, call Brockway at 540-4368, ext. 35121. For more information about the programs, visit http://www.hernandocounty.us/utils/CFW/waterawaren....

If you go
WHAT: "Lawn Care For Drought Conditions," the next seminar in the county's Water Awareness Series.
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon.
WHERE: Hernando County Utilities Department, 21030 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville.
ADMISSION: Free, but RSVP is requested.
CONTACT: Alys Brockway, 540-4368, ext. 35121. For more information about the program, visit http://www.hernandocounty.us/utils/CFW/waterawaren....

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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