Are fine fescues really lower input compared to other cool season turfgrasses? Find out in our new blog by Eric Watkins turf.umn.edu/are-low-input-… Also see "Assessing the fertilizer and pesticide input needs of cool-season turfgrass species" in Crop Science 🌱 doi.org/10.1002/csc2.2…

What drives satisfaction with rain gardens years after they've been installed? It depends on a persons original motivation for installing one! Learn more in a new open-access publication here -> bit.ly/3sp7KTx

'Real Problems with Fake Grass' - want a concise (2-page), plain language summary of some of the issues with artificial turf take a look at my recent article in MPSFMA News here (pgs. 8-9) -> bit.ly/463w1MI

We've been getting a lot of questions recently about the brown-vs-white Christmas history in the Twin Cities. So, here's that infographic in all it's glory! #mnwx

❄️ Winter is a neglected season, especially in the area of human-nature-interactions. Come read a brief review of the state of winter-human-nature interactions here -> bit.ly/48F3kqR

🏙️ Why aren't more students interested in careers involving urban landscapes? Our review reveals a mere 1% inclusion of Managed Urban Landscape Curricula (MULC) among 50,000+ undergraduate courses in Minnesota. Check out the review -> bit.ly/4bU29GK

🌿⚽ What do sports field users in Minnesota want? Weed-free playing surfaces and support herbicide use to achieve that goal. Check out my latest piece with Eric Watkins here -> bit.ly/3xdcOMG

If you need to cool down, check out my latest publication which answers the question, what's nice about winter? The answer: being active outside with others in the snow! ❄️ You can read more here -> bit.ly/4b9ighO

Check out our latest blog post "A fake grass future? Not so fast!" by M.R. Barnes! Learn how people perceive artificial and natural grass surfaces. turf.umn.edu/fake-grass-fut… UMN Horticulture

Turfgrass systems are often thought of as involving people, policy, and plants. However, they are also some of the most technologically integrated landscapes. Come read about turfgrass as social-ecological-technological systems here -> bit.ly/3zNunop

Wie erleben Sie städtische Grünflächen und Gewässer im Winter? In unserer kurzen Umfrage (10min) sind wir sehr an Ihren Erfahrungen und Eindrücken interessiert: tinyurl.com/bdhazk4v ❄️🌊

ICYMI: Our team recently presented at the 2024 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings in San Antonio, TX. Check out the blog below to read more about the trip and learn more about the research presentations. turf.umn.edu/turfgrass-scie…

A once-in-a-lifetime vote to fund natural grass research & promotion. Please share & ask your local sod producer to vote: sodcheckoff.org/faq/

A roundup of my 2024 pubs (all open-access!)👇🏻 Turfgrass systems - bit.ly/3zNunop Sports field users herbicides - bit.ly/3xdcOMG Urban landscape curricula - bit.ly/4bU29GK Winter nature interactions - bit.ly/48F3kqR

To US sod growers out there: the sod checkoff voting period opens today and runs through Feb. 11th. Please utilize your position as a sod producer to vote! The program, if passed, can fund a national promotion program for natural turf, important research needs, etc.

New blog alert! Lawns as living systems: Connecting people, nature, and technology by M.R. Barnes. How can we balance environmental concerns, technology & social expectations to make better lawn management decisions? turf.umn.edu/lawns-living-s… 📸 Miki Yoshihito (CC BY 2.0)

How might we engage students with nature in winter? Allow them to creatively capture nature’s transition from autumn hues to winter's subtle chill. Read about a learning activity my colleagues and I created here -> bit.ly/3XvozZs

Bidding is open for the Chris Aumock Rounds Fore Research Auction! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to play some of MN's best golf courses! Proceeds support our turfgrass research program, which ultimately benefits golf courses across the state. 32auctions.com/MGCSAR4R2025

Whats the largest source of GHG emissions from turfgrass maintenance in Los Angeles county? Irrigation happening on residential lawns. Come read more about our findings here: bit.ly/4m5Q31z

Check out our team’s latest efforts in educating the public about our work! Read the The Minnesota Star Tribune article "A school and its neighborhood couldn’t agree on an artificial turf field. The solution produced a rarity." featuring M.R. Barnes. varsity.startribune.com/minnehaha-acad…