IPM For

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IPM For Public Grounds
David J. Shetlar, Ph.D. The BugDoc Landscape
Entomologist The Ohio State University
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A Definition
IPM is a process where the selection,
integration, and implementation of pest control
(biological, chemical or cultural) is based on
predicted economic, ecological, and sociological
consequences.
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IPM Principles and Concepts
IPM Core Concepts

• No single pest control method will be
  successful.
• Monitoring (sampling) of the pest is constantly
  needed.
• Mere presence of a pest is no reason to justify
  action.

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IPM Principles and Concepts
IPM is NOT

• a biological control program
• an organic program
• a pesticide free program
• the most expensive approach
• the least expensive approach

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IPM Principles and Concepts
IPM is

• a decision making process that
• is based on ecological, economic and
  sociological values/restrictions,
• uses pest monitoring and sampling,
• and considers all of the control options.

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IPM Principles and Concepts
Traditional Approaches (based on crops)

• sample pest populations on a regular basis.
• develop pest economic injury levels.
• determine economic threshold levels (action
  thresholds) for each crop and pest.

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IPM Principles and Concepts
Problems Applying Field Crop Concepts to Public
Grounds

• lawns are aesthetic crops
• general public fear of chemicals
• turf is a perennial that changes over time
• plant stress is caused by turf usage

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IPM Principles and Concepts
Urban Approaches (for landscapes)

• Key Plants - plants prone to damaging pest
  problems.
• Key Pests - pests that can cause serious damage
  or plant loss.

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Do you use IPM and not realize it??

• Use targeted applications?
• Look before you spray?
• Select least toxic pesticides? (soaps, oils,
  Bt)
• Keep records of pest activity?
• Practice turf health care?

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The IPM Process

• Ask, What is the cause of the pest problem?
• Can the cause be eliminated?
• Will Turf Health Care reduce or eliminate the
  pest?
• Are cultural or biological controls available
  and effective?
• What is the least toxic pesticide or pesticide
  usage strategy?

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An Example - Turf

• AVOID Contractors Blend!!!!
• Use blend of CULTIVARS of SAME species, not
  several species!
• Turf-Type (dwarf) tall fescues are well adapted
  to Ohio grounds, especially lower maintenance
  ones!
• Ryegrasses establish fast, but are disease and
  drought prone!
• Kentucky bluegrass establishes slow, requires
  extensive fertilizer water!

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Fertilizing in the IPM Process

• Use fertilizers to increase root depth and
  density and increase stem density.
• Return clippings to turf to recycle nutrients.
• Use slow release, balanced fertilizers and/or
  urban composts.
• Concentrate fertilizer applications for periods
  of root growth - late April to mid-May and again
  in October into November.

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Weed Control Approach (BASIC STRATEGY - dense,
tall turf tends to reduce weed invasion)

• Mow high, 2 inches MINIMUM.
• Promote root growth fertilize in early spring
  and/or fall.
• Reduce wear traffic rotate goals for athletic
  fields, encourage foot traffic away from turf
  core aerify twice per year.
• Overseed or slit-seed when needed.
• Use herbicides only when necessary.

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Turf Weeds
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Are there herbicide alternatives?

• Corn gluten meal has demonstrated preemergent
  herbicide activity.
• Rather expensive and a weak herbicide.
• Most of action is likely nutrient value from
  decomposition of meal - added fertility thickens
  turf and reduces weed invasion!

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Insect Control Approach (BASIC STRATEGY - use
resistant turf species and create deep root
systems)

• Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass w/o endophyte
  fine fescues w/o endophytes are most susceptible
  to surface insects.
• Ryegrasses and fescues with endophytes are
  resistant to surface insects.
• Fertilize in spring fall, reduce irrigation
  in summer to discourage grubs.
• Use insecticides only when necessary.

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Turf Insects
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Are there alternatives to insecticides?

• Insect parasitic nematodes are effective, but
  expensive and inconsistent.
• Milky disease of Japanese beetles does not
  affect other species of grubs. In Ohio, the
  disease is a weak pathogen that will eventually
  occur naturally. Very expensive to apply.
• Endophytes provide long term, consistent
  control (of surface insects).

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Simple slit seeding of endophytic ryegrass into
KBG resulted in a 30 to 50 stand of endophyte -
enough to control surface insects!
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Most common problems with Implementing IPM in
Grounds

• Manager has little or no turf maintenance
  training and insufficient time and personnel to
  maintain the turf.
• Poor turf varieties on native soils.
• Soil compaction, poor drainage, low fertility,
  improper mowing.
• Record Keeping - Who will keep the records?

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An Example - Ornamentals

• AVOID Pest Prone trees shrubs!!!!
• Match tree shrub needs to site
  characteristics soil, water, sun, surrounding
  habitat, traffic, etc.
• Increase diversity of plant material avoid
  large monocultures!
• Establish new plantings using smaller material!
• Obtain stock from nearby sources!

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Resist Wildlife Areas

• Non-maintained areas provide habitat for
  rodents and other animals which increase tick
  problem.
• Weedy areas provide habitat for mosquito
  adults.
• Avoid trees shrubs with fruit or berries that
  attract vermin.
• Avoid using bird feeders.
• Wildlife areas should be in parks, etc.

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Final Recommendations

• Have governing district/agency develop a
  general management plan for grounds (play areas,
  lawns and ornamental plants) and athletic fields
  (general use and varsity sports). Emphasize
  improving turf and ornamentals cultivars, define
  fertilizer rates, and identify what pesticides
  are acceptable and when.
• Provide funding and time for maintenance
  personnel to receive training on turf and
  ornamental plant care.

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