Cornell Clippings Podcast

Spring weather is often unpredictable, with rainfall and temperatures varying significantly each week. Through all this uncertainty, how can you set your lawn up for success in the coming months? This episode of the Cornell Clippings Podcast highlights what to expect from your lawn in early spring. Frank Rossi and Carl Schimenti explore why different areas may be greener than others, as well as how to approach management and prepare for the season.   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.

To build a sustainable and carbon neutral campus by 2030, Cornell is starting from the grounds up. In this episode of the Cornell Clippings Podcast, Frank Rossi and Carl Schimenti dive into a series of best management practices that reduce carbon emissions and promote a healthier planet. From mowing higher and less frequently, to implementing meadow fication and reducing nitrogen use, the team is seeing sizable reductions in their annual carbon output.   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.

How much ice can a pound of salt really melt? In this episode, Frank Rossi and Dan Schied, director of Cornell University Grounds Department, break down the "pounds of ice melted per pound of salt" chart and explain how temperature dramatically changes performance. Sodium chloride loses nearly two-thirds of its effectiveness at 5°F and fluctuates sharply around the freezing point. Find the chart on our website!   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.

Salt may be just another input for grounds crews — but it's often one of the biggest winter expenses. In this episode, we explore how snow and deicing materials impact turf along sidewalks and managed landscapes. We break down soil compaction, salt injury, rising soil electrical conductivity (EC), and what it means for spring recovery. The team also discusses treated salts, including molasses and magnesium chloride blends, that reduce bounce, work at lower temperatures, and can cut sodium chloride use by up to 30%, potentially saving turf and budget alike.   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.  

The Cornell Turfgrass Team dives into the New York Golf Economic and Environmental Impact Report, sharing the latest data on Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the state. Carl Schimenti and Jake Zajkowski break down what tracking changes in turf management really looks like. They discuss why a 4–5 year horizon is ideal for measuring adoption rates, what's working — like using evapotranspiration (ET) data to guide irrigation, installing wash stations, and collecting clipping volumes on putting greens to reduce fertilizer use. And what still needs work: documenting fertilizer use, implementing IPM plans, and preparing drought emergency strategies. Tune in to hear which BMPs are making a real impact and where New York golf courses still have room to grow.   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.

What does it really mean when we talk about the "impact" of pesticides? In this episode, we explore the origin and purpose of the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)—a tool designed to translate pesticide use into measurable environmental impact. Frank Rossi reflects on his early work with the EIQ, stemming from the apple industry and later extending into turfgrass, where it became a way to demonstrate the thoughtful, environmentally aware decisions turf managers make every day. He also revisits his original collaboration with Jennifer Grant, former New York State IPM director, and Bob Portmess, former extension associate, who helped shape the EIQ into a tool in pest management.   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.  

Smarter care for the course. Smarter care for yourself. This episode looks at golf from two perspectives—the superintendent and the golfer. For superintendents, Carl Schimenti shares why site-specific care is the next frontier in course management. For golfers, he reminds us that the game isn't just about scorecards—it's also about appreciating the natural, urban green spaces that surround us. Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.    

Think your turf field is game-ready? The real test goes beneath the surface. In this episode, we explore what athletic programs should be testing annually to ensure the longevity of synthetic turf fields and protect athlete safety. From infill depth to traction and concussion risks, routine testing matters. Our guest is Dr. John Sorochan, Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He shares best practices for synthetic turf maintenance, how infill migration affects performance, and the role of rotational testing in reducing injury risks. Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.  

What do elite soccer coaches and players want from natural turfgrass? In this "Christmas in July" episode, we explore how turf performance affects player movement, even in the snow. Carl Schimenti breaks down a winter match at Cornell to reveal how coaches assess playability, from trueness of roll and vertical bounce to moisture and ball control. Learn how real-time turf conditions shape game strategy, and how researchers are measuring what matters to players on the field.   Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.  

Retired golf course superintendent Rick Slattery, formerly of Locust Hill, discusses his spring approach to promoting creeping bentgrass growth over Poa annua. He explains how holding off on spring irrigation helps weaken Poa, and how targeted inputs can manage high-Poa areas like shaded or poorly draining greens. Rick shares how cultural practices and selective spot treatments can reduce Poa pressure, especially as changing climate conditions make maintaining Poa more difficult. Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu. Stay connected and join the conversation—follow Cornell Turfgrass on YouTube, Facebook, and X for expert advice, live discussions, and educational content throughout the growing season.