Today marks the 3rd annual Turf Grass Field Day at the Texas Tech Quaker Research Farm. 

“Turf grass is any grass that can be grown as a lawn,” says Vikram Baliga, with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.

Many of that grass was on display today for the entire community. 

“We’re just trying to educate the public about different management techniques, different products, and really just trying to show off some of the research that takes place out here,” says Baliga.

Their research involves testing 9 different species of grass. 

“When we tell the public or tell a homeowner, ‘hey plant this type of grass,’ it’s kind of cool to get them to come out and see exactly what that looks like, what the texture is like, what the color is like, and what it may look like in their landscape,” Baliga says. “A lot of people manage lawn, and it’s not something we necessarily think about, but it’s a major crop in the United States. There’s millions and millions of acres of grass.”

The free event is open to anyone, so whether you are a homeowner or a professional turf manager, this hands-on event is for you.

“You can walk around on it, you can touch it, you can feel it, you can use all your senses to learn more about the grasses and also how much water we are and are not putting on those different grasses and how they might look a little different,” says Dr. Joey Young, with Texas Tech Plant and Soil Science Department. 
 
The main focus of the event this year is on water conservation. 
 
“They grass probably need less than what people probably give them,” Young says. “We want to try to educate homeowners, we want to try to educate professionals, and all gamuts of people about the benefits of turf grass and the ability for us to conserve resources especially with water, while managing something that still can be respectable and look nice.”
 
Baliga says the event has always been well received and people have really enjoyed it.
 
“If you’re not learning and growing in this industry whether it’s professional or landscape or residential, you’re not moving anywhere. It’s just an education day for us and we’re always wanting to learn and grow,” says James Stow, with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
 
Baliga says they will continue the event in the future and it will take place every 2nd Monday in July.