What is the best way to get some bona fide "Turf Knowledge"?

[Vibe Ray]

What is the best way to get some bona fide "Turf Knowledge"? I am talking strictly about turf(grass) whether it be books you reccomend, classes, websites, tutors or whatever else. I am not talking about the stuff you learn from experience. I realize that can only be learned through experience. I just wanna better myself at this and believe I should start learning about it, but am not sure how to go about it. I will eventually learn about everything else, but for now my main concern is "Turf Knowledge".
All help is already appreciated!!!!

[joshua]

vibe i am taking a class at home from georgia university to be certified in turf. the book is 450 pages, i should be getting it any day now. it costs $315 for the book the test and shipping and handling. they say it will take most people a year, but they say alot of people complete it in 6 months. when you finish reading everything they will assign you to a college in your area where you can take your certifaction test. your certifacation is for 5 years. this sounds like a great investment, i know it is for me. i'll try and find the addrese and post it up here.

[kutnkru]

If you are serious about learning the ins and out of Turfgrass Science, I would start surfing the major colleges who deal with Turfgrass Management. All of their websites will have valuable knowledge pertaining to species, cultural practices, and so on.

Another place you could invest in if you so desire would be the On-Line programs available thru the Univ. of GA, and Penn State. There are others out there as well.

Drop a dime at the local Co-Operative Extension. They have all kinds of copied materials and brochures for sale that are informative and will help you out.

Talk a walk to support your local library. There are numerous resources there for you to delve into as well.

Good Luck this season and Happy Hunting!!
Kris

[joshua]

plcaa.com is the site where i found out about the corse at home. go to the site and click on certfied turfgrass professional certification. it has details on what you will learn and every detail of the coarse. hope this helps.

[gr8 1]

I took the U of Ga course a couple years ago It teaches the basics and a little more. It is tough to make yourself study. I did mine during the fall and winter. I would have never got it done in the spring. It is good if you cant go to school full time.

[bilchak]

Josh,

That site does not come up. Are you sure that is
right??

I wonder if Ohio State offers a week or two class
one could take in the winter??

John

[eggy]

Well kids Purdue offers a four year degree in turf science!!!!! Check out http://www.agry.purdue.edu and get to studing!!!!

[tomoaktree]

Just about to complete the Landscape Technicians Program At Cornnell Corp. Ext. I found it has been very usefull .
Tom

[joshua]

eggy, i will be attending a 2 year program at kent state salem campus the professor used to teach at wisconsin and he says his student are the best in the country when they come out, because of more hands on with what we deal with. at ohio state i have a buddy going down there for the 4 year thing and he says there is around a 100 students in his hort. class, how do you exspect someone to learn sitting in the back? just not worth it.

[joshua]

hey my bad just type in plcaa and it will take you to a page with lawnsite.com and then Professional Lawn Care Association of America click on it and it will take you there. sorry about that.

[bilchak]

Eggy,

I've already got a 4 year undergrad and a master's. I don't think I need any more degrees.

Jb

[LScom Addict]

Join any or all of these organiztions Local,State,National. You could also check into a Master gardners program thru the local Ag extension.

[Island Lawn]

I'm also taking the Certified Turfgrass Professional correspondence course from the PLCAA and the University of GA (Continuing Ed Dept)
I just got it a few weeks ago.
I am finding it very informative.
After picking at it on and off for a few days, I have put myself on a fast track. I am aiming to finish up w/in 8 - 10 weeks.
1 chapter every 2 days. Very intensive, but not yet overwhelming.
The "self tests" are challenging enough to make me read thoroughly AND take extensive notes!
I am very pleased with the level of difficulty of the course. It's FAR from simple, but it is not "over the top" like some university courses can be.

Although the actual certification only lasts 5 yrs, they can never take the education (or book) away.

[Lobster]

I initially had hands on OTJ training working for a golf course for several years, at the time I was majoring in Biology, and did finally get my four year degree. I stumbled across the CTP program offered by the University of GA, and realized I missed my calling the first day I opened the book and pretty much couldn't put it down! Folks who are just starting out, consider going for a four year or a two year "turf grass" major if this is what you really want to do. I do not have the time nor the money at this point in my life to go back to school for an extended period of time and I highly recommend the CTP course to anyone who is in the same position as myself.

[BRL]

Here you go, the poor man's doorway to turf education (not saying any of us are poor, just saying there is a ton of free education to be had on the WWW). University links are toward the bottom. Tons of info in this list of links. You could spend months tracking down all of the free info posted there. Good luck!
http://www.turfgrasssod.org/links.html

[kutnkru]

Thanks BRL for the informative site. Something to read on my days off here at LS now that there are some serious posters -LOL

Kris:)