2025 Field Research Day
Date: TBD
Location: 364 College Ave E, Guelph, ON
Our annual Research Field days are hosted in August, and include opportunities for suppliers/vendors to demo some new equipment and tools on the field. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form.
Please note that we may not be able to accommodate all requests, but we will do our best!
2024 Field Research Day
Date: Wednesday August 21, 2024
Time:11:00 am- 3:00 pm (you may choose to stay longer for more discussions!)
Location: 364 College Ave E, Guelph, ON
Join us for an exciting and informative day at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute! This event is your opportunity to learn about the latest research and innovations in turfgrass management and network with industry professionals.
Event Highlights:
- Research Presentations: Learn about current studies and advancements in turfgrass science from our researchers.
- Field Tour: Explore our research plots and see firsthand the practical applications of our latest projects.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with colleagues, share insights, and build valuable relationships within the turfgrass community.
- Equipment Demonstrations: Live demos of turf management equipment on site.
- Lunch: Enjoy lunch and casual conversations with fellow attendees.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, this event is designed to provide valuable insights and foster connections. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance your knowledge and expand your network.
Free event, and free parking is available on site. Registration is required. Registration closes at 3:00 pm EST on Wed. Aug 14th.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 Research Field Day!
If you are an industry rep and are interesting in becoming a sponsor, with an opportunity to demo equipment at the event, please contact us at GTI@uoguelph.ca
Demonstrations provided by:
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2024 Trial Garden Open House
Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
The Guelph Trial Garden open house at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute will be hosted by Rodger Tschanz as part of Arboretum Expo. For more information, please visit the event website.
Free parking available on site. Registration is not required.
Our trial garden is managed by Rodger Tschanz from the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. He also manages the trial gardens at the Landscape Ontario headquarters in Milton and at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. Various breeders, such as Proven Winners, send seeds or cuttings of plants they want trialed before taking them to market. As the trend for small-space balcony gardens increases, this project also assesses how plants perform in containers as opposed to in the landscape. Homeowners, landscape designers, and garden enthusiasts can read the report of the 2023 trial garden results in the fall in Greenhouse Canada magazine.
PAST EVENTS
2022 Green Municipalities Field Day
Friday, August 12, 2022
Hosted by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance, the Green Municipalities Field Day showcased the latest developments in management, technology, and cultivars to help turf managers and communities anticipate and adapt to a changing world. This event featured a hybrid format discussion panel, an onsite poker run, BBQ lunch, and a networking Social Hour.
The projects featured at this Research Field Day were:
TWCA Tall Fescue Drought Evaluation
This singles species trial includes
3 replications of 44 entries and 6 standards. Data collection runs for three years so a trial established in 2020 will collect data in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Data is collected using Digital Image Analysis (DIA) technology developed and refined by Dr D Karcher (U of AR) and K Hignight (NexGen). TWCA conducts trials in Rainout Shelters (ROSs) and in field conditions. In areas with a reasonable expectation of little to no rainfall during the summer months, TWCA uses field trials. In areas where there is a moderate to high likelihood of rainfall during the summer (such as Ontario), the TWCA uses ROSs to control environmental factors more tightly. When using ROSs for trialling, TWCA cooperators change the plastic covering on the shelter every year to ensure high light penetration into the trial.
This 3-year trial is replicated in 10 locations
TWCA Kentucky Bluegrass Drought Evaluation (concluded):
This singles species trial includes 3 replications of 24 entries and 6 standards. This 2-year trial is replicated 10 times in 9 locations
Fiesta formulation trial:
This trial compares two formulations of a low-risk herbicide, Fiesta, for controlling broadleaf weed populations on lawn-height turfgrass. Specifically, this trial will seed dandelions into the established turf stand to evaluate early-emergent suppression of this pesky weed.
Turf Canopy Scanner:
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR), also known as "3D laser scanning", is a new technology that uses laser beams to create a 3-dimensional topographical map of a surface. The Turf Canopy Scanner is a device developed at the University of Guelph that uses LiDAR sensors mounted onto a rover to scan the turf as it drives. Engineering graduate
student Arthur Rosenfield will be using machine learning to create predictions for the rate of growth, fill-in, and harvestability of sod.
Beneficial Bacteria:
Beneficial bacteria which were isolated in the lab will be applied in the field to a creeping bentgrass fairway. Endophytic (endo=inside, phyte=plant) bacteria can be found in nearly every plant on this planet, where they colonize the internal tissues of their host plant and form a beneficial relationship with their host. Previous research on corn and wheat have demonstrated increased yield and improved disease resistance. Now, this project is applying the same principals to turfgrass. Graduate student Ben McFayden is working with Dr. Manish Raizada on a project sponsored by the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation (OTRF) to boot nitrogen use efficiency and stimulate root growth for better water uptake.
Please be sure to keep an eye on our newsletter and communication channels (website, Twitter etc...) for updates on next year's Research Field Day.
Proud supporting partners of 2022 GTI Research Field Day:
2019 Field Day
2022 Trial Garden Open House
September 10, 2022
New plants and more! The Guelph Trial Garden open house was hosted by Rodger Tschanz and Landscape Ontario. Visitors viewed new perennials and annuals that plant breeders from around the world have sent us to evaluate for growth performance in southern Ontario.
In addition to new plant evaluations, this event included:
- Houseplant sale and swap: Two of our student employees with a specific interest in indoor plants hosted a houseplant sale and swap.
- Monarch butterfly rearing: A monarch butterfly rearing specialist was on hand at the trial garden site to demonstrate her techniques and answer questions.
2021 Trial Garden Open House
August 13 10, 2021
