Our primary focus is on turfgrass management, disseminating knowledge about sustainable practices, and the importance of native plants for pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Community Outreach
We collaborate with the USDA National Arboretum, the Landscape Plant Development Center, and J.F. Schmidt & Sons Nursery,. the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, New England Nursery Association, and the Horticulture Research Institute.
A long history
The Skogley Memorial Turfgrass Research Facility contains some of the oldest agricultural research plots in continual use within the United States.
Our work focusses on sustainable landscape management through the maintenance of habitat for pollinators, and contributing to horticultural knowledge in the community. We share research on wild plants ecology, plant propagation, arboriculture, landscape plants, and field botany and taxonomy with the local community through the URI Cooperative extension as well as through collaborative programs with local nurseries and landscape associations.
Turfgrasses
Our turfgrass pest management focuses on pests of both golf courses and sod farms, in response to local and national problems. We work to develop biological methods for managing major turfgrass insect pests economically, with minimal impact on the environment. Assistance with lawn care questions is available through our gardening and environmental hotline, a service provided through the URI Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Program.
Native plants
We work with agencies, businesses and researchers throughout New England to increase use of native plants in landscaping, particularly in low maintenance locations such as roadsides.
Community outreach and labs
Faculty
Professor and Chair
401.874.2755
brownreb@uri.edu
Professor
401.874.5998
stevealm@uri.edu
Professor
401.874.5372
bmaynard@uri.edu
Professor
401.874.5996
mitkowski@uri.edu
Professor
401.874.7874
bridgetr@uri.edu