Introduction - Early Years - 1940's - 1950's - 1960's - 1970's - 1980's - Conclusion - Literature Cited

'Seville' St. Augustinegrass was released in 1980. This was a joint venture between O. M. Scott and Sons, Marysville, Ohio, which had developed, registered, and patented this particular variety (24) and Pursley Turf Farms, Palmetto, Florida, which had obtained the exclusive right to release and market it. Pursley Turf sold the grass as pre-rooted plugs in plastic flats through franchised dealers. According to Sauer (25), St. Augustinegrass had been marketed in California in flats. Nevertheless, the Pursley Turf marketing method provided improved keeping quality, plus an ability for the homeowner to "grow-in" a turf on-site, much as the golf course superintendent would do it, and thereby attain a smoother surface. Unlike the taller growing 'Floratam', dwarf varieties of St. Augustinegrass, including 'Seville', generally show brown edges of the cut sod pieces for several weeks after transplanting.

'Raleigh', NCSA-21, a variety of St. Augustinegrass developed in North Carolina, was released to growers in 1981. This grass had shown good shade tolerance and was more cold hardy than Florida varieties. Floratam had been severely damaged in such places as Dallas, Texas, in the cold winters of 1983 and 1984, and had previously been lost in portions of some Florida sod farms, such as those located in the Florida panhandle. In 1986 the University of Florida released another of Dr. Horn's selections. This was FA-108, which was a sibling of Floratam. The new release was named 'Floralawn'.

Sadly, the Turfgrass Certification Program begun nearly 30 years before was abandoned, because the Division of Plant Industry felt that the program had lost a great deal of effectiveness. The original hope for this program was expressed by Jim Ousley (21), "The Florida Turf-Grass Certification Program extends from the test plots at experiment stations to the doorway of the purchasers home which should be considered adequate protection for anyone. . . . I also felt that with years of research and thousands of dollars going into the development of new varieties of turfgrasses, that without a Certification Program to regulate the propagation of these new varieties, that their identity, like Bitter Blue, would be lost within a short time." According to Chapter 5B-27 of the Rules of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, certification was implemented, "In order to protect the ultimate consumer of turfgrass." In finally closing the chapter on certification, Dr. S. A. Alfieri pointed out the decline in participation in this voluntary program and, "Although the Division of Plant Industry is concerned with upholding standards of quality for Florida turfgrass, it is obvious that this responsibility ultimately lies with the grower" (14 June 1983 letter to Michael C. Swanson, President of the Florida Turf-Grass Association).

Virtually from the ashes of the loss of certification, the Turfgrass Producers Association of Florida (TPAF) was formed in 1985 for the purposes of exchanging ideas, information, and incidents of practical experience, and to support research. Following their Charter Meeting at the Orange County Cooperative Extension Service, on 19 Feb. 1985, the TPAF went on to adopt their own "Standards of Sod Quality", to educate the public about the installation of turfgrass, and to work with governmental agencies in order to improve the industry. Turfgrass Production and Equipment Field Days were held each year, 1984 (South Bay Growers, Palm Beach County), 1985 (Floriturf, Inc., Osceola County), 1986 (Jones Turfgrass Farm, Marion County), and 1987 (Big B Sod Farm, Palm Beach County). The 1988 Production and Equipment Field Day will be held at Kirkland Sod Farm.

Introduction - Early Years - 1940's - 1950's - 1960's - 1970's - 1980's - Conclusion - Literature Cited