Turfgrasses require routine maintenance. Mowing, fertilization and irrigation are primary maintenance practices most often needed to keep turfs healthy. Mowing maintains uniform plant height, suppresses weeds and stripes the turf. Turfs are fertilized to provide nutrients that would otherwise limit plant growth. An application of lime may be necessary to neutralize soil acids and supply plants with calcium and magnesium. Actively growing turfgrasses often contain more than 70 percent water and use from 1/10 to 3/10 inch of water each day. Turfs are irrigated to prevent severe drought stress and activate fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides.

Sometimes, turfs benefit from supplementary maintenance practices such as dethatching, mechanical aeration, topdressing and rolling. Turfs are dethatched to lift and remove excess organic matter from the soil surface. Core aerification loosens soil and speeds the flow of water into the turfgrass root zone. Broadcasting a shallow layer of soil or compost over a turf after core aerifying may smooth the surface and improve the soil's biological activity. Turfgrass plants can be lifted from soil as it freezes and thaws during winter. A roller is used to press plants back into contact with soil.

The following publications provide information on topics related to turfgrass maintenance:

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• Basic Turfgrass Requirements (W161-A)
• Cultivation (W161-B)
• Developing a Turf Fertilization Plan (W161-C)
• Essential Elements (W161-D)
• Fertilizers (W161-E)
• Irrigation (W161-F)
• Liming (W161-G)
• Mowers (W161-H)
• Mowing (W161-I)
• Overseeding Bermudagrass with Perennial Ryegrass (W161-J)
• Predicting the Probability of a Freeze (W161-K)
• Rolling (W161-L)
• Thatch (W161-M)
• Topdressing (W161-N)