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Lawn and turfgrass

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Latest resources

Weeds, grass clippings and compost concerns

In the spring when lawns and compost piles are kicking into gear, these popular questions crop up. Read on for answers.

Apr 2024 | Collection

Can I use vinegar to kill dandelions in my grass so that the clippings are safe to compost?

I'm composting on site and wondering how concerned I should be about adding the grass clippings. Is there a weed killer that I could use that is safe to compost for a food garden? I’ve been looking into a vinegar/dish soap mix.

Linda Brewer | Apr 2024 | Featured question

Lawns

Collection consisting of informational documents about lawn care in Central Oregon.

Mar 2024 | Collection

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Pocket Guide to Grass Seed Pests and Beneficials: Identification, Monitoring, Management

By Amy J. Dreves Navneet Kaur Joseph DeFrancesco Leanna Van Slambrook Glenn Fisher Silvia I. Rondon and Nicole P. Anderson

Learn to identify common pests and beneficial insects found in grass seed production fields across Oregon. This handy pocket guide covers where pests are found, symptoms of pest damage, pest lookalikes and prevention tactics.

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Lawn and turfgrass video library

bright green electric lawn mower on lawn with fallen leaves

Mulch grass clippings and fallen leaves back into the lawn

Credit: Brooke Edmunds

Expert tips on common turfgrass management techniques and pests. Useful for lawns and other managed turfgrass (like athletic fields and parks).

Mowing

Fertilization

Irrigation

Cultivation

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Managing Moss in Lawns

PNW Turf Insect Pests: Past, Present and Future

Irrigation Rates and Frequencies for Western and Eastern Oregon Turfgrass

By Alyssa Cain Alec Kowalewski Brian McDonald and Clint Mattox

When trying to minimize irrigation inputs, the best turfgrass species for the Oregon climate include perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in Western Oregon, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) in Central/Eastern Oregon and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) in Western, Central or Eastern Oregon.

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Athletic field management

Best Management Practices for Maintaining Sand-based, Natural Grass Athletic Fields

This publication recommends specific ways to manage sand-based fields, which will require more frequent fertilization, irrigation, and cultivation for proper maintenance than native soil fields.

Alec Kowalewski, Gwen K. Stahnke, Tom Cook, Roy Goss | Sep 2015 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Best Management Practices for Construction of Sand-based Athletic Fields for Football and Soccer

Sand-based, natural turfgrass and synthetic surfaces are the best options for athletic fields in the rainy Pacific Northwest. Compare the benefits and learn the construction component requirements to withstand the range of climatic conditions.

Alec Kowalewski, Gwen K. Stahnke, Tom Cook, Roy Goss | Sep 2015 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Pest management resources

Managing Microdochium Patch in Pacific Northwest Turfgrass

Those round, brown rings that appear on your lawn in spring may just be a passing problem. But if you manage a golf course, you may want to take steps to control Michrodochium nivale, the fungus that ...

Clint Mattox, Brian McDonald, Alec Kowalewski | Jun 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Need help with your lawn?

Typical lawn problems such as moss, disease, weeds and pests are addressed in Solve Pest Problems, a partnership between OSU and Oregon stakeholders to provide safe and user-friendly information for homeowners in the PNW.

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Short description

Gain valuable insights for planting, renovating or maintaining a lawn and turfgrass from our OSU Extension resources.

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Alec Kowalewski
Alec Kowalewski
Associate Professor
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Brooke Edmunds
Community Horticulture, Master Gardeners

Contact me about the Master Gardener Program or gardening questions from Marion or Polk counties

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Can I use vinegar to kill dandelions in my grass so that the clippings are safe to compost?

Q: I'm composting on site and wondering how concerned I should be about adding the grass clippings. Is there a weed killer that I could use that is safe to compost for a food garden? I’ve been looking into a vinegar/dish soap mix.

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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