The Cornell Turfgrass Program has launched a new podcast ahead of the lawn, sports field, and golf turf-growing season.
The Cornell Clippings Podcast delivers timely insights, expert advice, and research-backed strategies to help transform turfgrass into a valuable, environmental asset.
Weekly episodes will cover topics like preparing turf for winter, tracking growing degree days (GDD) for timely management decisions, building relationships with park and athletic staff, managing urban microclimates, and improving putting green quality.
Whether you're tuning in from the cab of a tractor, at the office, or on your commute, the new podcast is designed for year-round learning. It joins a suite of educational resources, including the weekly Cornell Turf Show and Frankly Speaking on TurfNet, all aimed at supporting homeowners, golf course superintendents, and field managers.
Hosted by Dr. Frank Rossi, associate professor in the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science, and Carl Schimenti, the urban environmental scientist with the Cornell Turfgrass Program, the podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the program website.
Extension media is one of many missions of the turfgrass extension team, composed of urban environmental specialists, researchers, and integrated pest management (IPM) experts who provide research and extension services for one of the most widespread cultivated crops in the world—grass.
Turf is essential to New York's ecosystem, offering spaces for recreation and leisure within nature. "It is natural to want to 'get out and go' after we have been cooped up inside all winter," said Carl Schimenti.
As spring approaches, Cornell’s experts are ready to discuss how weather conditions are impacting managed lawns and early-season tee times across the state.
“This winter in New York State has been slightly cooler than normal, with below-average snowfall, except in the Adirondacks and parts of western New York,” said Schimenti.
Given the lack of snow cover, he said that “a string of warm days could allow golf courses in Central New York to open as early as mid- to late March.” However, the typical start date for most courses across the state remains April 1.
On-demand online resources are essential tools for those tracking turfgrass data. For golf course managers using Cornell’s ForeCast: Weather for the Turf Industry database, there are key data points to monitor as spring approaches.
“The main data points to watch as we move toward spring are the high and low temperatures,” said Schimenti. As temperatures rise, plants begin acclimating in preparation for the growing season. A few warm days with light rain can trigger growth, but a sudden drop below freezing can shock plants and cause winter damage.
Schimenti also advises patience during this seasonal transition. “Spring lawn management done too early, such as mowing when the ground is still soft and wet, can do more harm than good,” he observed.
For those eager to be proactive with early spring lawn care, grass seeding is a great first step. “In home lawns, spring is an excellent time to broadcast some seed, even early in the season," said Schimenti. "Plentiful rain, or even some snow or freezing and thawing, helps push the seed into the soil, creating the seed-to-soil contact needed to spur germination.”
Find Cornell Turfgrass on their updated website and active social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and various podcasting platforms.
