What is a common trait of annual plants in turf management?

Annual plants in turf management are characterized by their life cycle, which is completed within a single growing season. This means they germinate, grow, flower, produce seeds, and die all within one year. This trait is particularly important for turf management because it influences how these plants are managed in terms of seeding, maintenance, and control.

Typically, annual plants may emerge quickly and establish rapidly, making them useful for quick cover in turf areas, but they also require regular management as they do not persist beyond their growing season. Understanding their life cycle is crucial for effective planning in turf management, such as timing of seeding and management of competitors.

The other options, while valid traits in other contexts, do not describe annual plants accurately in the context of turf management. For instance, some plants may certainly require specific nutrients to thrive, but that trait is not exclusive to annuals. Similarly, plants that grow for several years are classified as perennials, not annuals. Pests resistance can apply to any plant type, but it does not define annual plants specifically. Thus, the defining characteristic of annual plants is their completion of the life cycle within one year.