If It's Not Certified Turf, Then What Is It?

Let’s face it—from the Upstate to the Lowcountry, our South Carolina lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields are among the most beautiful in the nation.  Ever wonder how all that rich, beautiful turf got there?  It takes a lot more than the lawn and garden store’s fanciest sprinkler or a top-of-the-line lawnmower.

The Department of Plant Industry (DPI) administers the Turfgrass Certification program in South Carolina.  Purchasing certified turfgrass means that contractors and consumers have invested in the best quality product—and it’s backed by DPI.

Certified turfgrass producers must adhere to a very strict set of standards set forth by DPI.  These standards include requirements on planting stock, land history, weed management, sampling, and labeling.

DPI field inspectors conduct three inspections per year to detect diseases, off-types, other crops, and weeds in each field that produces a class of certified turf.  Turfgrass fields are sampled at random and grown out to ensure the identity of the grass is being maintained.  Once the fields have passed one inspection, DPI issues the producer a booklet of S.C. Certified Turfgrass certificates.

Producers may sell the turfgrass as sod or sprigs, but a Turfgrass Certificate must be issued with each shipment.  This is the buyer's assurance that the turfgrass is the quality that is expected from certified turf.

There are currently 17 Certified Turfgrass growers in our state, accounting for about 5300 South Carolina acres.

For more information about the Turfgrass Certification program, please contact the Department of Plant Industry.  For information about growing and maintaining turfgrass, please contact your local Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service office.

If you’re considering purchasing Certified Turfgrass sod or sprigs for your lawn, start with a soil test! 
Soil test kits are available through Clemson University’s Public Service Activities Publishing.
Visit Soil Kit Info for more information!

Page maintained by: LeAnn Carver, leannc@clemson.edu