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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation - Lake Elmo Turfgrass MixturesLake Elmo -Lawn water conservation solutions Identify optimum mixtures for Twin Cities lawns Gary Deters Lawn Water Conservation Educator Introduction ●We know there are lawn seed mixtures better for lawn water conservation, but residents struggle to find and use them ●Too much use of Kentucky bluegrass sod, which requires long- term high watering needs to be functional and aesthetically pleasing ●There are significant barriers to using the most well-adapted turfgrasses on Twin Cities lawns Low-input mixture Why are there barriers? ●Expectations -Homeowners often prefer the lush, green look of Kentucky bluegrass, but it requires a lot of water and fertilizer to look “good” ●Resistant to change -General resistance to changing lawn care practices ●Availability -Easy access to Kentucky bluegrass sod and a limited retail presence for drought-tolerant grass seed mixtures ●Lack of public awareness -Homeowners might not be fully aware of the benefits of drought-tolerant turfgrasses, such as reduced water needs Project overview ●We are going to establish multi-species mixture studies at 4 metro sites in the summer of 2025 ●Cultivars for each species will be selected based on relevant performance data ●We will work with the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) and turfgrass seed vendors to develop a process to recommend best lawn water conservation species mixtures for Twin Cities lawns ●Seed vendors will be able to use approved cultivars (from other related trials) to fulfill mixture requirements Benefits to the Lake Elmo and the Twin Cities ●Homeowners will be more easily able to access better turfgrass seed mixtures for their lawns ●Cities could recommend new lawns only use these mixtures, which will save water ●Similar to UMN research for MnDOT that led to new roadside turfgrass seed mixture recommendations Research plots on UMN campus Establishing the site ●We will pay for water and hookups needed for fire hydrant conversion ●Use a seeding blanket to help hold moisture and increase establishment rate and prevent washouts ●Mowing and maintenance - City take over after year 1? Seeding blanket How will the site get watered? ●We will use modular irrigation system ○Complete with rain sensor ○MP rotator nozzles which are EPA WaterSense approved ○Lower water-use nozzle ●Water several times a day during initial establishment for optimal seed germination ●Irrigation will not be used once established during years 2026-27 Irrigation set-up Research area size and irrigation layout ●4 rows●Approximately 30 plots/row ●Irrigation dimension is close to same as the turf area 27.5’ 87.5’ Water use for the research area •We will use of a 50 PSI pressure regulator o 0.95 per minute for 90°–4 nozzles = 3.8 GPM o 2.04 gallons per minute for 180°–4 nozzles = 8.16 GPM •Total of 12 gallons a minute x 10 minutes = 120 gallons per watering event •We propose 10 minutes @ 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm = 600 gallons a day o We will evaluate and adjust –maybe 5 minutes and 300 gallons a day?? o With rain and/or moisture present, we will not irrigate, which will reduce the amount of water, too Establishing a Research Site for Drought-Tolerant Turfgrass Mixtures ●Next to the Lake Elmo water tower ●There is access to the site for public viewing, if needed ●Access to water for the establishment of the plots ●Lake Elmo is a city with water concerns, so it would be good to demonstrate the most well-adapted grasses Research site Timeline -With access agreement approved ●2025 -Year 1 -Summer/Fall -Establish the turfgrass mixture plots ○Seed around August 15th ●2026 -Year 2 -Maintenance and data collection ●2027 -Year 3 -Maintenance and data collection ●2028 and beyond -either return the site to original or keep plots for continuous research (in consultation with the city) Challenges: Watering restrictions and need for an extension ●We are requesting a waiver to water new seed and beyond the initial 15 days ○Establishing a lawn from seed often requires more than 15 days because not all seed germinates and establishes at the same pace ○Could lead to a failure due to lack of water on a hot, windy day with immature seedlings ○We will monitor the site and reduce water use as needed past the initial 15 days ○Once this site is established no irrigation will be used to determine the best performing mixtures Seeding failure Signage -if desired ●We can post signage explaining the project to the public and create a landing page for homeowners to learn about drought tolerant grasses and water conservation. Signage example Expected outcomes because of the mixture research ●Water conservation -Overall less water used with new mixtures ●Cost savings -for residents and city infrastructure ●Environmental impact -less watering, less runoff and pollution ●Aesthetic appeal -Attractive lawns with less water ●Educational value -Opportunities for community education on using lower input grasses Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass mixture study Thank you!