NC State Extension Publications Numbered Publications, Factsheets, Hard Copy Documents, Authoritative Sources & more …

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Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Fred Yelverton, Charles Peacock, Jim Kerns, Rick Brandenburg, Terri Billeisen Lawn Maintenance Calendars

This factsheet provides instructions on how to properly care for tall fescue grass year round. It includes recommendations for mowing, fertilization, watering, pest control, and renovation.

9. Lawns

By: Grady Miller

This lawns chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook reviews installation and care of turfgrass as well as management strategies for turfgrass problems. This chapter also reviews options for turfgrass alternatives.

Zoysiagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Jim Kerns, Terri Billeisen Lawn Maintenance Calendars

This publication for homeowners and landscapers describes how to mow, fertilize, irrigate, and control weeds in a zoysiagrass lawn.

Selecting and Managing Lawn Grasses for Shade

By: Grady Miller, Ray McCauley, Charles Peacock

Turfgrass, trees, and shrubs are desired in most landscapes because they are attractive and useful. Unfortunately, growing turfgrasses in the presence of trees and shrubs can be a formidable task because each plant group competes with the other for the light, water, and nutrients that are essential for survival and growth. Even so, homeowners can take steps to improve the performance of a lawn growing in shade.

2022 Top Performing Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Fine Fescue Cultivars for North Carolina

By: Grady Miller

This factsheet offers information on the top-performing tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, and fine fescue turf cultivars in North Carolina.

Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Fine Fescue Recommendations for North Carolina – 2026 Edition

By: Grady Miller

This publication provides variety recommendations for tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and fine fescue based on recent variety testing results.

Bermudagrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of Bermudagrass and addresses how to control it as a weed.

Bermudagrass Athletic Field Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Ray McCauley, Navdeep Godara

This calendar offers suggestions regarding management practices for all-season care of a bermudagrass athletic field.

St. Augustinegrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Matt Martin, Jim Kerns, Rick Brandenburg, Terri Billeisen, Fred Yelverton Lawn Maintenance Calendars

This calendar contains suggestions designed to help in the care and maintenance of St. Augustinegrass throughout the year. It includes recommendations for mowing, fertilization, watering, pest control, and renovation.

Perennial Ryegrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of perennial ryegrass.

Large Patch in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of large patch.

Bahiagrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of bahiagrass and addresses how to control it as a weed.

Fairy Ring in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of fairy ring.

Zoysiagrass

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of zoysiagrass.

2026 Pest Control for Professional Turfgrass Managers

By: Terri Billeisen, Lee Butler, Navdeep Godara, Travis Gannon, James Kerns, Ramon Leon, Ray McCauley, Grady Miller, Robert Richardson

This annual guide supplies information concerning pesticides that can be used for controlling pests in turfgrasses. Revised for 2026.

Disease Management in Landscape Turf

By: Jim Kerns, Lee Butler, Daniel Freund

This publication discusses common diseases observed in North Carolina turfgrass landscapes. It describes conditions that promote disease and provides recommendations for fungicides and nematicides labeled for use on home lawns. The fungicides are ranked by effectiveness to help homeowners decide whether to apply them and which ones to choose.

Tall Fescue

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of tall fescue.

Dogs and Turfgrass Interactions

By: Grady Miller, Ray McCauley

This publication answers common questions dog owners may have about lawn care. Topics include what kinds of grasses to use in high traffic areas; how to deal with damage to lawns caused by dogs; dogs' exposure to pesticides; and why dogs occasionally eat turfgrass.

Gray Leaf Spot in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of gray leaf spot.

Dallisgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of dallisgrass.

Pythium Blight in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of pythium blight.

St. Augustinegrass

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of St. Augustinegrass.

Pythium Root Rot in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of pythium root rot.

Leaf Spot in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of leaf spot.

Carpetgrass

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of carpetgrass.

Kentucky Bluegrass

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of Kentucky bluegrass.

Guide to Using Turf Colorants

By: Grady Miller, Drew Pinnix

This publication offers strategies for maintaining green turf during the winter using turf colorants. It discusses considerations for using colorants, different product types for specific uses, application rates and methods, and cost to help you plan winter turf maintenance.

2026 Sod Producers' Report for North Carolina

By: Grady Miller

This publication reports the results of an annual survey of sod growers in North Carolina to determine and track relative inventory levels and project price changes for the year.

Moss Control in Turf

By: Grady Miller, Fred Yelverton, Jim Kerns

Infestations of moss in turf are associated with unfavorable conditions for growing healthy, dense turf. This publication offers control options.

Large Crabgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of large crabgrass.

Pythium Root Dysfunction in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of pythium root dysfunction.

Water Requirements of North Carolina Turfgrasses

By: Grady Miller, Drew Pinnix, Garry Grabow, Charles Peacock

Water is an essential component for plant growth. In turfgrasses it comprises 75 to 90 percent of the fresh weight of the plant, and irrigation is a key cultural practice in turfgrass management. Only 1 percent of the water absorbed is utilized for metabolic activity. By considering the factors that contribute to water loss, turfgrass managers can devise effective irrigation plans for specific sites.

Annual Ryegrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of annual ryegrass.

Sandbur

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of sandbur.

Diseases of Cool-Season Turfgrasses

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns

This guide is designed to help identify the most troublesome diseases associated with cool-season turfgrasses. This includes such grasses as tall fescue, fine fescue (chewings, creeping red), Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. A description of the disease symptoms, a list of specific management practices that can be used to prevent or reduce turfgrass injury by disease and a chart to indicate when the disease is most likely to occur are presented.

Globe Sedge

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of globe sedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.

Green Foxtail

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of green foxtail.

Goosegrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of goosegrass.

Fine Fescue

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of fine fescue.

Summer Patch in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of summer patch.

Orchardgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of orchardgrass.

Landscape Irrigation Auditing Made Simple

By: Garry Grabow, Grady Miller, Drew Pinnix

This publication discusses how to ensure efficient supplemental water management to maintain turfgrass growth by evaluating irrigation system performance. Completing an audit of an irrigation system provides the information needed to set irrigation controllers to deliver the proper amount of water.

Annual Bluegrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of annual bluegrass.

Damping Off in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of damping off.

Creeping Bentgrass

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of creeping bentgrass.

Johnsongrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of johnsongrass.

Yellow Foxtail

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of yellow foxtail.

Yellow Patch in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of yellow patch.

Green Kyllinga

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of green kyllinga and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.

Broomsedge

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of broomsedge.

Carpetgrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By: Grady Miller, Jim Kerns, Terri Billeisen, Fred Yelverton, Charles Peacock, Rick Brandenburg, Matt Martin Lawn Maintenance Calendars

This factsheet provides instructions on how to properly care for carpetgrass year round. It also includes information on fertilization and integrated pest management.

Rough Bluegrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of rough bluegrass.

Purple Nutsedge

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of purple nutsedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.

White Patch in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of white patch.

Centipedegrass

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of centipedegrass.

Yellow Nutsedge

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of yellow nutsedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.

Smooth Crabgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of smooth crabgrass.

Slime Mold in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of slime mold.

Rust in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of rust.

Guide to Fraise Mowing Bermudagrass

By: Ray McCauley, Grady Miller

This publication discusses the practice of fraise mowing to remove thatch from Bermudagrass. It covers considerations for turfgrass managers, such as costs and debris, and explores specific uses, effects on aesthetics and soil physical properties, and recovery rate.

Crowfootgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of crowfootgrass.

Annual Sedge

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of annual sedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.

Velvetgrass

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of velvetgrass.

Yellow Tuft in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of yellow tuft.

Nematodes in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns, Glenn Galle TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of nematodes in turfgrasses.

Cylindric Sedge

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of cylindric sedge and addresses how to control it as a weed in turf.

Powdery Mildew in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of powdery mildew.

Copper Spot in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of copper spot.

Water Quality and Commercial Lawn Care

By: Grady Miller, Matt Martin, Raymond McCauley Water Quality & Turfgrass Area Development

This publication describes the best management practices (BMP) to reduce sediment and keep nutrients and pesticides applied to turf from contaminating North Carolina's water resources.

Nimblewill

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of nimblewill.

Microdochium Patch in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of microdochium patch (pink snow mold).

Buffalograss

By: Grady Miller TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of buffalograss.

Water Quality and Home Lawn Care

By: Arthur Bruneau, S. C. Hodges, L. T. Lucas Water Quality & Turfgrass Area Development

This publication will help you care for your lawn in ways that prevent and reduce contamination of our water resources by sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Gray Snow Mold in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of gray snow mold.

Bosc’s Mille Graines: An Emerging Challenge in Sod Production of Warm-Season Turfgrasses

By: Venkateswar Yelkur Reddy, Navdeep Godara, Ray McCauley

This publication provides information about the emerging issue of Bosc's mille graines weed infestations in turfgrasses. It discusses research trials and best practices for management.

Thin (bull) paspalum

By: Fred Yelverton TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of thin paspalum.

Water Quality and Professional Turfgrass Managers

By: Grady Miller, Ray McCauley Water Quality & Turfgrass Area Development

Although groundwater and surface waters are rarely polluted by turfgrass pesticides, turf managers should consider the potential for environmental contamination when choosing a pesticide.

Red Leaf Spot in Turf

By: Lee Butler, Jim Kerns TurfFiles

This factsheet summarizes the characteristics of red leaf spot.

Selecting a Lawn Maintenance Service

By: Charles Peacock, Matt Martin

This publication will help you choose the correct type of lawn maintenance service for your home or business.