The purpose of this work is to show the evolution of an ornamental turf seeded by the municipality in the Opera’s Plaza in Timişoara (Timiş County). The turf was seeded at the end of March 2006 after the former vegetation carpet was totally removed with the first 10 cm from the topsoil. After the soil preparation and the primary fertilization phase there was seeded a turf seed mixture of Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and Festuca rubra. The analyzed aspects of that turf were the NTEP quality ratings of turf. These are evaluated on a 0-9 scale where 9 is best and 1 poorest. An average rating of 6 or above is characterizing an acceptable turf. The rating value of 9 is characterizing generally a perfect or ideal turf grass, but sometimes this rating can characterize a best managed turf that is in perfect accordance with the ecological conditions of the site where is placed. The quality ratings are important for taking into account in a measurable way the aesthetic and functional aspects of the turf. These determinations are based on the evaluation of color, density, uniformity, texture, and resistance to diseases and pests and environmental stress. Some of the features can be important for one turf type and less important for other. For example, color is an important feature for the ornamental turf while traffic tolerance is important for a sport turf. Even the turf was totally renovated there appear problems concerning the density in some points and the weeds starting from the first year of vegetation. There are present both dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous weeds, and their number is growing from a year to another. The proliferation of weeds in turf is favored by the defective management of the turf, especially by the irregular mowing and fertilization. This type of study is important because there are only few researches on turf in this part of the country, most of them being realized in experimental conditions, that may differ powerfully especially from the point of view of frequency maintenance works.

ornamental turf; maintenance works; weeds; mowing; fertilisation

Presentation: oral