Turfgrass Management Terms G
Gang mower - machine for cutting turfgrass, usually fairways, in which a tractor propels a cluster of reel mowers usually in groups of three, five, seven, or nine
Geniculate - bent abruptly, like a knee
Germination - beginning of growth in a seed, plant bud or joint
Glabrous - having a smooth, hairless surface. The term is often used in classifying grasses. Kentucky Bluegrass blades, for example, have a glabrous surface, which accentuates its rich green color
Glaucous - covered with powdery or waxy bloom as a plum or cabbage leaf
Glumes -pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet
Grade – the desired slope or elevations of an athletic field achieved by using earthmoving equipment. A proper grade will remove excess water
Grainy - applies to putting greens, the tendency for grass leaves to lie down in one direction and interfere with the natural roll of the ball
Grass - there are about 10,000 species of grasses, of which 1,400 can be found in the United States. Grass plants are members of the Poaceae family of plants and vary greatly in size and growth habit. Some creeping bentgrass varieties naturally stay less than 3 inches tall, even without mowing. Some types of Giant Bamboo, also a grass, can grow as high as 150 feet tall
Grasscycling - leaving the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing instead of bagging and disposing of the clippings. The “recycled” clippings return nutrients to the soil, reducing the need for fertilization
Grass pollen - male agent released by grass flowers as part of the fertilization process that leads to seed production. Grass pollen is borne by wind rather than insects. Because grass pollens are generally half the width of a human hair, the wind scatters grass pollen widely
Grass pollen allergy - common affliction that affects about 400 million people worldwide with symptoms that include runny noses, itchy throats and red, irritated eyes
Green roofs - roofs planted with living material are green roofs, which are praised as a way to decrease utility costs while also trimming a building’s carbon footprint
Grooming – the dragging of a mat, broom, turf comb, or spring-toothed rake on the playing surface to stand up the turfgrass, synthetic fibers, or infield material after traffic has occurred
Grooving - form of cultivation using rotating knives that cut slits into the turf and soil
Ground covers - plants used to provide a low-maintenance, vegetative cover that is not necessarily turf
Growing degree days - concept of phenology that uses threshold temperatures to predict when plants and pests will reach maturity. It is based on the idea that plants and pests develop only above a certain threshold temperature. By tracking the high and low of each day, we can assign each day a specific number of units, and, knowing the maturity rate of specific plants and pests, translate that into an accurate prediction of when they should mature. The method is more accurate than simply relying on a calendar
Gypsum – a mineral composed of calcium sulfate. Gypsum loosens compacted soil and promote root growth. Gypsum also adds necessary calcium to the turf's soil