Programs in turf and turfgrass management prepare people to work with commercial grasses. Students learn how to develop, grow, produce, and transplant grasses. They learn to install and maintain turfgrass in commercial, public, and residential areas. They also study principles of plant science and business management.

If you've ever moaned about having to mow the lawn at your house, imagine the work involved in taking care of the "lawn" at a golf course, on a football field, or at a park. The time and effort that turfgrass management professionals put into their work ensures that we have vibrant green landscapes where we can play sports, relax, or even bury our loved ones.

But turfgrass isn't just for visual appeal. In places where wind, water, or other natural elements may cause erosion, turfgrass can help prevent it.

Commercial grass seed is a major agricultural product with large farm operations. Turf and turfgrass professionals develop and plant special types of grasses in order to harvest and sell seeds. They also cultivate sod and grass plugs for instant lawns.

As a student in this program, you learn the principles of plant and soil science and of irrigation management. You use these principles as background for learning about the science of turfgrass. You study diseases and pests that affect grass and learn how to prevent weeds. You also study different forms of technology and equipment in order to improve the quality and production of turfgrass.

In addition, this program teaches you to manage a turfgrass business. For this reason, you study business principles, including accounting, marketing, and personnel management.

A background in turf and turfgrass management prepares you for a wide range of careers in the turf industry, including groundskeeper or greenskeeper, landscape technician, and golf course manager. You could work at a country club, a park, a cemetery, or a turf management supplies company.

About 60 colleges and universities offer programs in turf and turfgrass management where you can typically earn a certificate, an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree. In general, a certificate takes about a year of full-time study after high school and an associate's degree about two. A bachelor's degree typically takes four years - less if you're able to transfer credits from an associate's degree program.

Graduate study is possible through programs in soil science or agronomy.

Turfgrass management is often a concentration within programs of plant and soil science or horticulture.