Bluegrass Lane Turf & Landscape Research Center

About

Bluegrass Lane serves as a center for turf, flower and woody landscape plant research, extension and teaching activities for the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science, and other academic units at Cornell. The 28-acre site is conveniently located near the Cornell campus, and managed by the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station.

Facility Features

  • Computer controlled irrigation system
  • Containerized plant nursery
  • 12 acres protected by an 8-foot-tall deer fence
  • Small scale lysimeter plots

Research project highlights

Bright flowers grow outside under netting

Cornell Turfgrass Program

Turfgrass, such as lawns, golf courses and athletic fields, are traditionally high maintenance and require large amounts of fertilizer and pesticides. The goal of the research of the Cornell Turfgrass Program is to improve the environmental compatibility and economic feasibility of turfgrass management systems. Researcher: Frank Rossi

Urban Horticulture Institute

The Urban Horticulture Institute focuses on the propagation and evaluation of hybrid oaks, specifically for stressful urban environments. The institute is also developing protocols for evaluating other trees and shrubs for drought tolerance, and is investigating transplant difficulties in urban trees to help them thrive and green our cities. Researcher: Nina Bassuk

Annual Flower Trials

The Annual Flower Trials group conducts garden performance trials of annual and perennial plants, in conjunction with external stakeholders such as breeding and seed companies and the New York greenhouse industry. Cultivars are evaluated throughout the summer, receiving an overall performance score at the end of the season. Researcher: Bill Miller

Flower Bulb Research Program

The Flower Bulb Research Program identifies best performing bulb cultivars of tulips, daffodils, lilies and more, and best practices for managing and planting flower bulbs in the landscape. This program has been conducting flower bulb research in North America for over half a century. Researcher: Bill Miller

Contact

Bluegrass Lane Research Center Staff

Gene Sczepanski

Farm Supervisor, Campus Area Farms

Cornell AES

Gene Sczepanski
Lucas Thomas

Mechanic, Campus Area Farms

Cornell AES

Lucas Thomas
Tom Edwards

Field Assistant, Campus Area Farms

Cornell AES

Tom Edwards
Luke Huizinga

Field Assistant, Campus Area Farms

Cornell AES

Luke Huizinga