Native and Alternative Lawns in an Urban Utah

Diversity is good and that includes plants in our urban landscapes, including the lawn areas. This class will introduce some native and well-adapted turf grasses that can offer a unique and sustainable landscape. We will discuss how to plant and care for them, plus the unique challenges and opportunities of those lawns in urban landscapes. My goal is for you to consider some new ideas for lawns and hopefully see them in a new way.

About your instructor:

Paul G. Johnson, Professor and Department Head

Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University

Paul has been working and playing the amazing little plants we call turfgrass for most of his life after being transplanted from an Iowa farm. His mentors at Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, and turf managers around the world have helped him shape teaching and research towards understanding the urban landscapes. His work focuses on sustainability using native and adapted plants and wise management. Paul has taught and conducted research at Utah State since 1998 and has served as a department head since 2014.