Research

Faculty and Staff of the MSU Turfgrass Program have consistently provided pertinent, cutting-edge research to serve constituents and practitioners in Michigan and beyond, for all areas of Turf – golf, sports turf and lawn care.  The vast majority of this work has been conducted at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center, located at the south end of the MSU campus.  Funding sources have been from the University and private industry, with the most consistent source being the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation.

 

  • Long-term nitrogen leaching

    Published on June 10, 2026
    July 2025 marked 27 years of consecutive leachate collection. This is the longest running turfgrass leachate research in the world and we will continue to apply treatments and collect samples.

  • Winter recovery management strategies for cool-season turfgrasses

    Published on June 3, 2026
    Our research uses controlled condition and field conditions to determine the efficacy of novel spring management practices on turfgrass survival of severe winter conditions.

  • WinterTurf Research Projects

    Published on May 20, 2026
    Research benefits turf managers in identifying best practices for reestablishment following winterkill, potential effects of fertilizer rate and timing on snow mold incidence, and leaf mulch effects on snow mold.

  • No-Mow May 2025

    Published on March 22, 2026
    Researchers evaluate the effects of the “No-Mow May” trend. How does allowing a typical home lawn to grow unimpeded for the month of May compare to a lawn mown on a regular schedule?

  • A programmatic approach to growth regulation of Kentucky bluegrass sod maintained of the shallow-profile system

    Published on March 22, 2026
    The objective of this experiment was to identify a trinexapac-ethyl rate that can be applied at fixed intervals to maximize growth suppression while maintaining acceptable turf recovery.