Fraise mowing is a maintenance practice that may serve as a non-chemical means of controlling the problematic weed annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) in bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) given reports of efficacy on other turfgrass species. However, an understanding of practitioner decision-making in implementing fraise mowing as a weed-control measure remains unknown. A field study was conducted in Knoxville, TN and repeated in space in Jay, FL during summer 2019 to assess bermudagrass regrowth and subsequent annual bluegrass control, following fraise mowing at depths of 1.5 and 3.0 cm compared to a non-treated check (0 cm). Bermudagrass recovered more quickly at the 1.5 cm depth than the 3.0 cm depth and was the swiftest in Florida. Fraise mowing at either depth resulted in a 41–97% reduction in annual bluegrass populations. A qualitative study was conducted in spring 2021, which engaged eight turfgrass managers from Tennessee and Florida via individual interviews in order to understand barriers and challenges to fraise mowing application. Turfgrass managers had positive views of fraise mowing but described challenges in implementation for weed control including cost, labor, area closure, and debris removal.

As awareness of environmental impacts of anthropogenic ecosystems increases, low input turfgrass species like bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) may become more prominent in urban landscapes and on golf courses. A study was conducted at the West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, FL, USA, to evaluate the performance of novel turf-type bahiagrass genotypes under drought conditions.The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized block design. Three Wilmington-mutants, three Argentine-mutants, two experimental lines, and two industry standards ['Argentine' and 'Empire' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.)] were selected for this trial. Aboveground and belowground characteristics were evaluated by growing the grasses in clear acrylic tubes under greenhouse conditions. A progressive dry-down and well-watered control comprised the treatments. The tubes were weighed daily to determine their transpiration break and midpoints. The rate of root depth development (RRDD) was recorded by measuring the single visible deepest root. At the end of the dry down, plant roots were harvested and analyzed using WinRhizo. Although total root growth was reduced under drought conditions, plants tended to have faster vertical root growth and prioritized root development in the lower soil depths. Root length density (RLD) and the distribution of RLD in the lower soil depths, fast RRDD, and high transpiration midpoints were the most important drought responsive traits. These attributes were consistently observed on genotypes WilM10 and ArgM27. INTRODUCTIONAnthropogenic ecosystems have a substantial influence on water resources. In 2005, Milesi et al. (2005 estimated a turfgrass area of ∼160,000 km 2 .

The bermudagrass mite, Eriophyes cynodoniensis (Sayed) (Arthropoda: Arachnida: Eriophyidae), also known as the couch grass mite, can be a serious pest of bermudagrass in multiple high-maintenance turf systems such as sod production, athletic fields, and golf courses. Mites cause leaf and bud galls, which can lead to severe aesthetic damage and plant decline or death in high-maintenance areas with low tolerance for plant damage. In this 7-page fact sheet written by Pablo Agustin Boeri, Nicole D. Benda, J. Bryan Unruh, and Adam Dale and published by the UF/IFAs Entomology and Nematology Department, review the biology, identification, and management of the bermudagrass mite, and get specific management recommendations based on evidence from UF/IFAS research. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1217

Several new bermudagrass cultivars are available and commonly used on golf course fairways. However, little is known about their cultural requirements or how these cultivars perform under lower inputs regimes. A 2‐year study was conducted at University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, to assess performance of four hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. X Cynodon transvaalensis (Burtt‐Davy)] cultivars (‘Latitude 36’, ‘Tifway 419’, ‘TifGrand’ and ‘TifTuf’), and 2 common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) cultivars (‘Bimini’ and ‘Celebration’) irrigated at either 50% or 80% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and fertilised at either 0, 146, 244, or 342 kg N ha−1 year−1. Plots were evaluated monthly for turfgrass quality, dark green colour index (DGCI), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), and Chlorophyll Index, and seasonally for N tissue content. Plots watered at 80% ETo enhanced bermudagrass quality compared to 50% ETo, DGCI and NDVI only in two months out of 24. Latitude 36 and Celebration were the top‐rated cultivars, and their quality was not affected by no N fertilisation. Conversely, TifGrand, TifTuf and Tifway that received no N fertilisation resulted in insufficient quality during the second year of the study. Insufficient quality may be linked to reduced N metabolization compared to the highest rated cultivars. Results show that new cultivars such as Latitude 36 and Bimini could be maintained at sufficient quality levels with reduced water and N inputs in South Florida.