ABSTRACT
What is a turfgrass? A common defi nition is a grass that forms a dense canopy of leaves that can be mowed frequently and creates a root system that forms a sod [1-3]. In horticultural circles, turfgrass seems to have a variety of defi nitions but usually refers to a highly managed, uniform, short-mowed area of grasses. Likewise, in horticultural and botanical circles, turfgrasses are seen with a variety of viewpoints ranging from very important and useful to unnecessary and wasteful. With respect to water, turfgrass is often synonymous with the wasting of water and therefore is not considered sustainable [4]. But in reality, turfgrass does not require inordinate amounts of water. Instead, it often requires less water than some agricultural crops, even in arid regions. Irrigation needs are often related to how an area is managed rather than the grasses themselves, but there are many opportunities to reduce irrigation (and other management inputs) on turfgrasses by using native or well-adapted species.
