Turf and amenity grasslands in their multifarious form, including sport pitches, playing fields, golf courses, lawns, motorway embankments, roadside verges, urban parks and open spaces, have a significant impact on our everyday lives. Each year central government, local authorities, sports clubs and other organizations spend large sums of money establishing, maintaining and managing such grasslands. It is essential that all these bodies meet proper standards of provision and manage their grassland efficiently and in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way. This book will help them to achieve these objectives. Topics covered: grasses and their uses; all aspects of mowing, including the effects on the grass plant and the machines that are available; irrigation; nutrition and fertilizer application; aeration, thatch control and top-dressing; pests, diseases and weeds; turf establishment and renovation; species-rich swards.