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Maintaining a Healthy Lawn the IPM Way This Homeowner’s Guide to Environmentally Sound LawnCare was developed by the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture for use in Massachusetts. It should be noted that much of the information and rec-ommendations contained within are particular to conditions found in Massachusetts. This guide may not be applicable to other states or regions of the country. There is no copyright on this guide or any of the information in it. Duplication and distribution of this manual, and any material contained within, are strongly encouraged with appropriate acknowledgments. First Edition, July, 1997.
WHAT IS THIS GUIDE? This guide will show you how to maintain a healthy lawn in a way that minimizes the need to use pesticides including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. While everyone appreciates a lush lawn, no one wants pesticides to be used unnecessarily. Pesticides may provide benefits, but may also pose risks to people, pets, and the environment. This guide shows you how to maintain a nice lawn while reducing your reliance on pesticides.
WHAT IS IPM? This guide focuses on Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, as an approach to lawn-care. IPM involves the use of ecologically-based, common sense methods to maintain a healthy lawn. Too often pesticides are applied on a routine basis without any thought as to whether they are actually needed, or whether there is a way to prevent the need for these chemical controls. In contrast, IPM focuses on maintaining lawns in a manner that prevents and minimizes pest problems. If pest problems do occur, IPM deals with them in an environmentally responsible manner. With IPM, pest prevention entails maintaining a strong, healthy lawn. This involves proper techniques and approaches to mowing, watering, fertilization, and grass seeding. Just as healthy people are less susceptible to getting sick, healthy lawns are less apt to be overcome by weeds, insects or disease. IPM also involves periodic monitoring of the lawn in order to determine if damaging pests are present. To do this, you first have to be able to identify damaging pests from non-damaging or beneficial species. You must also determine whether the pest is present at a level, or threshold, where it can cause significant damage. The presence of a few pests does not always mean there is a problem. If pests are found at damaging levels, IPM calls for a variety of approaches to be considered when dealing with the problem. These include biological, mechanical, and chemical controls. Biological controls include the use of beneficial insects, diseases and parasites to control pests. Mechanical controls include traps and/or hand removal. Chemical controls refer to the use of chemical pesticides. The controls chosen are the ones which work the best and pose the least risk to people and the environment. While all this may sound somewhat complicated, this guide will explain, in simple terms, how to maintain your lawn the IPM Way.
I. IPM PRACTICES FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LAWN An IPM approach to lawncare begins with practices that will maintain a healthy lawn. A healthy lawn, in turn, will withstand the stress imposed by insects, weeds, diseases, and use. These on-going practices are often quite simple and involve proper mowing and watering, as well as good soil management as described in the sections below. The following are key practices that need to be maintained on an on-going basis to sustain a healthy lawn and to avoid the need for treatment. A. Grass Selection. If you plan to establish new turf,
or need to over-seed existing areas of your lawn, choose grass seeds
that are the most suited to your site conditions. Seed selection should
be based on the suit-ability of the seed to the conditions of your lawn
area(s), including soil characteristics, light, use, and desired level
of maintenance. In the Northeast, a mixture of cool-season grasses is
rec-ommended. Note that seed labeled endophytic tends to be tolerant
of environmental stresses and is resistant to some of the more common
insect pests, including billbugs, chinch bugs, and sod webworms. When
seeding and/or overseeding, it is important to improve underlying soil
conditions by adding compost and other organic matter, as well as appropriate
nutrients. A starter fertilizer with a high phosphorous content may
be used to encourage early growth. Until the grass becomes established,
maintain good contact between the seed and the soil by keeping the area
moist, yet not overwatered. Plan to seed when the weather is cool in
the Spring or, preferably, in the Fall when there is less competition
from weeds. The Grass Variety Chart pullout at the end of this guide,
describes how to choose the right variety of grass species for your
lawn, seed characteristics, and required level of maintenance. B. Soil Preparation and Management. Maintaining proper soil conditions is an essential component to keeping a lawn healthy. Enriched soil will provide the necessary nutrients to the turf so that it may ‘out compete’ weeds and resist other pest problems. Avoid the conventional step pro-grams offered by some lawncare companies and lawn chemical manufacturers. Instead, follow a program that is customized to the needs of your lawn. As described below, this requires that you gather some site-specific information, but the results will be well worth it. 1. Soil Testing: A soil test is key to determining your soil’s nutrient levels, and fertilizer needs. Contact a Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory in your area for details on fees and how to take soil samples. In Massachusetts, the Soil Testing Lab of the University of Massachusetts conducts soil tests for homeowners for a modest fee (refer to the Resources and References section of this guide for contact information). Soil tests report on the level of nutrients present in your soil including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These various type of nutrients are described below, under the Fertilizing section (#3). The results of a soil test will tell you if fertilizer products are needed, and what type. In general, soil testing laboratories will make recommendations on how to amend your soil conditions based on your needs. In addition to reporting on nutrient levels, soil tests report on pH levels. pH is a measure of how basic or acidic your soil is. A high pH, greater than 7, indicates that the soil is basic. A pH less than 7 indicates that the soil is acidic. Grasses grow best in slightly acidic soils with a pH of 6 - 6.5. Soil testing laboratories will provide you with recommendations based on the results of your pH measure. 2. Liming: Most soil in New England is acidic. It is common to have to raise the pH of soils on lawns. Lime is a calcium based compound which is added to soils which are too acidic as determined through a soil test. Lime can be purchased at most garden centers. When renovating a lawn, mix lime into the top 4-6 inches of soil before seeding. Lime is generally applied to lawns at a rate of about 50 pounds per 1000 square feet. This should, however, be determined for your lawn by a pH test. It is best to apply lime in the Fall. If soil is very acidic, and large amounts of lime are needed, split the application and apply half in the Fall and half in the Spring. Do not apply lime unless there is a need, and keep lime away from plants which need acidic soil such as azaleas or rhododendrons. If your lawn needs lime, apply when the air is calm to avoid dust, and try to time your applications just before it rains so that the lime may be watered down into the soil. Avoid getting lime in your eyes or on your skin. 3. Fertilizing: All grasses require certain amounts of nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K). Fertilizer products must be added to the soil periodically to make up for low nutrient levels. Fertilizer products can be fast acting, slow acting, or a combination of the two. The Guaranteed Analysis is a description on the product label which provides specific information about the quantities of nutrients in each fertilizer. The three numbers on the Guaranteed Analysis refer to the type of nutrient (N, P, K, respectively), as well as the amount of nutrient in the formulation. For example, if you are about to purchase a fertilizer, the numbers 4-1-2 tell you that the fertilizer product contains 4% of nitrogen, 1% of phosphorous, and 2% of potassium. Of the various nutrients, nitrogen is the most important for maintaining a healthy lawn. However, in excessive amounts it can increase disease problems, reduce a lawn’s tolerance to high and low temperatures, and cause moisture stress due to overstimulation of growth. Do not over apply nitrogen. Before you purchase a fertilizer product that contains nitrogen, make sure you read the Guaranteed Analysis and apply the appropriate type and level of nitrogen to your lawn. There are two basic forms of nitrogen contained in fertilizer products : fast-acting or Water Soluble Nitrogen (WSN), and slow-acting or Water Insoluble Nitrogen (WIN). WSN and WIN nitrogen fertilizers Each have advantages and disadvantages. Many fertilizer products contain a mixture of the two types. The product you choose should be based on the needs of your lawn. The following chart compares some of the characteristics between WSN and WIN nitrogen fertilizer products. Based on the information in this chart, choose a fertilizer product that contains the appropriate proportion of WIN and WSN to meet the needs of your lawn as revealed through a soil test. A H o m NITROGEN FERTILIZERS : WSN & WIN COMPARISONS
The timing and rate of fertilizer applications are important considerations which depend on a number of factors. For example, the nitrogen requirements of the turf species, the proportion of WSN and WIN in the fertilizer, your expectations for turf quality, time limitations, and the use of your lawn are all factors which need to be taken into account when making this decision. The table below guides you through a fertilization program based on the assumption that most grasses require 2-4 lbs. of nitrogen per 1000 square feet each season. Depending on your soil conditions you may require more or less nitrogen. Use the lowest product rate possible that will meet your own expectations and produce a healthy turf. 4. Equipment: It is important to keep your lawn equipment in good working order, especially equipment used to apply fertilizers and pesticides. Poorly functioning application equipment can result in improper amounts of product being applied possibly causing harm to you, your lawn and the environment. Fertilizer bags generally contain information on the correct settings to use with different models of spreaders. Read all directions and precautions on the bag before you apply any product, including fertilizers, lime, and pesticides. Always adjust your spreader to the recommended setting so that it will deliver the appropriate amount of fertilizer. C. Mowing. The following recommendations offer a simple, yet effective, approach to maintaining a healthy lawn based on mowing practices. 1. Height: Mow high to encourage dense, well rooted turf which will tolerate environmental stress, including pests, as well as reduce the need for fertilizer and pesticides. The ideal grass height for most lawns is 2-3 inches. Shorter mowings will prevent the roots from developing. Turf with a poorly developed root system is unable to obtain sufficient water and nutrients from the soil. This will require you to water and fertilize more often. 2. Frequency: Reduce the grass height by 1/3 at a time to avoid stress on the grass. In the Spring and Fall when grass is growing quickly, you may need to mow more than once a week. If the lawn grows very high, try to reduce the length over a few mowings rather than shocking the turf by cutting it all at once. 3. Timing: Mow when the lawn is dry in order to minimize chances of spreading diseases.
NITROGEN FERTILIZER GUIDE
4. Equipment: Keep mower blades sharp! Dull mower blades tear the turf and put stress on it. This can result in a brownish appearance of the lawn, and may make it more susceptible to pests and diseases. 5. Clippings: Keep your clippings! Unless there is an excessive amount of clippings, clippings should not be removed. Leftover clippings are a good source of food or nutrients for your soil. D. Watering. Efficient use of water is important in order to encourage deep rooted turf. In the Northeast, there is generally sufficient rainfall so that watering of lawns is not necessary. If you wish to maintain your lawn’s green appearance, you may need to water the lawn during a hot, dry summer to avoid the onset of dormancy (i.e., an inactive stage of growth and reversible dying back of grasses). 1. Timing: Water your lawn just before it begins to wilt. Learn to recognize the signs that mean a lawn needs watering. These include a bluish-green color to the grass, rolling or folding blades of grass, footprints which remain on the lawn for several minutes when walked on, or soil which appears dry at approximately 6 inches below the surface (use a garden spade or other probe to test). Watering at this time will prevent permanent injury to the lawn. Water early in the morning in an effort to minimize the spread of disease, and evaporation of water into the air. At this time the grass is already wet from dew and the sun is still low. Lawns can also be watered at night except during long periods of hot, humid weather. Excessive watering under humid conditions is likely to promote diseases, such as the growth of certain fungi. 2. Frequency: How frequently you water may depend on such factors as type of soil, weather conditions, type of grass and the extent of their root system. The drought tolerance of the main types of grasses range from high drought tolerance for fine leaf fescues, to the low drought tolerance of perennial ryegrass. Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass fall somewhere in between a high and low level of tolerance (refer to the Grass Variety Chart pullout at the end of this manual for more information about grass species).3. Amount: Water deeply in order to encourage deep roots which can take up water on their own. approximately 1 inch of water should be used to wet the soil to a depth of 4- 6 inches. Do not overwater! Overwatering is often a problem associated with automatic irrigation systems, as well as in small, tightly planted backyards that offer little air circulation. Overwatering may cause restricted rooting, and result in lawns that are too lush and cannot withstand traffic. E. Pest Control Basics. Even healthy lawns sometimes develop pest infestations. The following measures are all part of an IPM approach to dealing with pest problems. 1. Pest Identification: The decision of whether and how to control a pest depends on your ability to know what the pest is. Learn to identify the main pests that appear in your yard and become familiar with their life cycles. Control measures for dandelions will be very different from grub controls. Similarly, grubs at the early stages of life (grub larvae) may require different controls from those of adults. Proper pest identification is essential to implementing an effective IPM program.2. Monitoring: Monitoring your lawn entails keeping an eye out for, and on, any pests that may be present. You should look for the presence of pests, note any changes in pest population, and be aware of problem areas. You may want to keep a logbook. (Refer to the IPM Seasonal Checklist pullout in this guide for more information on when and how to monitor for pests). The simple presence of a pest does not mean a treatment has to be made. There may be a certain level of damage that is tolerable, and not worth using a pesticide to control. The level at which pests should be controlled is referred to as a threshold, or the level of pest tolerance. For more information on threshold levels for the various lawn pests, refer to the tables under sections II and III of this manual which describe Insect Management and Weed Management control measures. 3. Mechanical Controls: Manual or mechanical controls offer a non-chemical approach to correct pest problems. For example, mechanical interventions may include the use of a weedwhacker to manage weeds, or the use of insect traps. The effectiveness of manual and/or mechanical methods and techniques depends on the type and number of pests occurring in your yard. 4. Biological Controls: Biological treatments offer a non-chemical approach to managing pests. Biological controls may involve the use of the following : a) Beneficial Insects: Many insects that occur naturally in your yard have the potential to keep low-to-mid size populations of a pest in check. Learn to recognize these beneficials since their presence may mean that the pest will be controlled without your intervention. For example, the big-eyed bug is a natural predator of the chinch bug. Other examples of beneficial insects are ladybugs, tiny non-stinging wasps, spiders, and ants. Beneficials insects are very susceptible to pesticides. Use of broad-spectrum insecticides (pesticides used against insect pests) affect more than just the pest; they are often just as detrimental to beneficial insects. If you are considering a chemical treatment, be aware that using a pesticide may eliminate natural controls along with the pest. b) Biological Control Products: An increasing number of pest control products are being marketed which contain living organisms that act against pests. Biological products include beneficial insects, pest diseases, and parasites of pests which are released or applied in order to attack and control target pests. These biological products often work only during certain life stages of the pest, or under certain environmental conditions. While many biological controls pose fewer risks to the environment than chemical pesticides, their use may require more planning on your part. Bacteria: Certain bacteria cause disease in insects. Strains of a type of bacteria named Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are effective against caterpillars such as the sod web-worm. These bacteria produce a chemical that causes the insect to stop feeding. This biological control product may be bought and sprayed onto the lawn. Similarly, milky spore or Bacillus popilliae, causes Japanese beetle grubs to appear "milky" and then, eventually, to stop feeding and die. The effective-ness of milky spore varies depending on soil temperatures, as well as on its availability to the pest. Fungi: A type of fungus, Beauvaria bassiana, occurs naturally in the soil and infects chinch bugs and billbugs. It is especially prevalent in cool, wet springs. Infected insects may be seen with "cottony-looking" strands of fungus on them. This fungus may also be obtained commercially. Nematodes: Nematodes are tiny, worm-like organisms found in the soil. Nematodes penetrate into the insect causing death. Applied correctly, certain nematode products may be useful in treating sod webworm, and bill-bugs. Research is also underway to develop nematode products for use against grubs. 5. Chemical Controls: Pesticide is the generic name given to any substance designed to repel, mitigate, or kill a given pest. Pesticides are toxic by design; they should be used carefully and applied strictly according to label directions. The use of chemical pesticides may be considered in order to manage the most stubborn of pests. The most common types of pesticides for use in lawn-care include insecticides which are specially formulated to control insects, herbicides designed to control weeds, and fungicides which control fungi. If you choose to use a pesticide, select a chemical which poses the lowest risk to public health and the environment. Learn about the different types and uses of chemical pesticides so that you can make a wise selection. For more information about pesticides, refer to The Resources and References for Homeowner Lawncare section at the end of this guide. Several of the references listed offer information on pesticide use and safety. For starters, here is some basic information about pesticides and their use as it relates to lawncare : Pesticide Labels If you choose to use a pesticide, remember that they are toxic substances. Pesticides should be used with great caution. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS carefully. Selective vs. Non-Selective Selective pesticides are formulated in such a way that they only impact the target pest. Non-selective pesticides affect something other than the target pest, for example, chemicals which kill all surrounding vegetation besides a target weed. Read the pesticide product label for information on whether the chemical product is either a selective or non-selective pesticide. Pre-Emergent vs. Post-Emergent Herbicides are classified into pre-emergent and post-emergent products. Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the soil prior to germination of the weed; they are used mainly for controlling annual weeds. Pre-emergent herbicides may act as contact controls, affecting only those areas that they cover, or as a systemic control, applied to the soil and absorbed into the entire plant. Post-emergent herbicides are used to control weeds that are already present.
A H o m e II. IPM PRACTICES FOR INSECT MANAGEMENT
This section provides some important information by which to manage pest problems specific to insects. Table # 1: Insect Pest Description. This table provides an illustration and description of the most common insect pests found in turf and lawns throughout the Northeast.
Table # 2: Insect Pest Management. This table describes management methods used to control specific insect pests.
TABLE # 1: Insect Pest Description
White grub size: 1/8" 1
Whitegrubs are the immature stages of a number of beetles such as the Japanese beetle, European chafer, Asiatic Garden beetle, Oriental beetle, and June beetle. All are cream-white colored with a hard brown head capsule and 3 pairs of legs. All curl into a characteristic "C-shape." Depending upon the type, they may be 1/8-1 inch long. Sod webworm size: 1/8" 1"
Adults are tan-colored moths, sometimes having a small dark line on the top of each wing. They have a long "snout" and are cigar-shaped when at rest. They are often seen flying upward as you walk on the lawn, especially on a Spring evening. The caterpillars range from 1/8 - 1 inch long, are greenish-grey and have dark spots along the body. In larger caterpillars, the head capsule is light brown with some dark ma\rkings. Bluegrass Billbug Nymph size: 1/4" 1" 0"0"
Adults are grayish-black, approximately 1/4 - 1 inch in length with a long, narrow snout. Larvae are white-cream colored with a hard, brown head capsule and have no legs. They are approximately 1/16-1/4 inch long.
Chinch bug adult size: 1/5" 1" Adults have black and white markings on their wings and are about 1/5 inch long. The nymph (immatures) appear similar but do not have wings and often have red or orange markings. DO NOT confuse this pest with the "big-eyed" bug which is a natural predator of the chinch bug. The two look similar but the big-eyed bug has large, bulging eyes. If at least 50% of the "bugs" are big-eyed then the population may be reduced naturally.
TABLE # 2 : INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT
III. IPM PRACTICES FOR WEED MANAGEMENT
Table # 1: Weed Description. This table provides a description of the most common weeds found in turf and lawns throughout the Northeast.
Table # 2 : Weed Management. This table describes management methods by which to control specific weeds.
TABLE # 1 : WEED DESCRIPTIONS (For pictures of the annual and perennial weeds described here, refer to the previous page)
TABLE # 2 : WEED MANAGEMENT
o w n e r ’ s r o n m e n t a S o u n d L a w n c a r e
IV. IPM PRACTICES FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT A variety of diseases can effect your lawn throughout the season. Often, turf diseases appear as circular patches on your lawn. It is difficult to determine the specific cause and type of lawn disease without extensive training or laboratory tests. For this reason, it is beyond most homeowners’ abilities to properly treat diseased lawns. In general, IPM programs for controlling diseases in turf involve maintaining a healthy lawn. For more information on how to maintain a healthy lawn, refer to Section I of this guide. The following recommendations describe key decisions and practices available to homeowners for managing lawn diseases :
V. RESOURCES AND REFERENCES FOR HOMEOWNER LAWNCARE Contacts
Master
Gardener Association of Western Mass.
Massachusetts
Department of Food and Agriculture/ Pesticide Bureau Mass.
Association of Lawn Care Professionals (MALCP) National
Pesticide Telecommunications Network Soil
Testing Lab. Consult your local garden center for information about products and application.
A. GRASS VARIETY CHART: CHOOSING THE RIGHT GRASS SPECIES FOR YOUR LAWN
B. IPM SEASONAL CHECKLIST This checklist provides some general guidelines for managing your lawn throughout the season under an IPM approach. As the homeowner, you can judge better the need and timing of a given practice. This checklist is to be used within the context of this guide.
A IPM Problem Solver: What’s Wrong With My Lawn? PROBLEM WHAT YOU SEE CORRECTIVE PRACTICES
PROBLEM WHAT YOU SEE CORRECTIVE PRACTICES ’
Pesticide Bureau Publications Pesticide Bureau
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H o m e
White
Grub Larva 
Sod
Webworm Larva
Adult
Bluegrass Billbug
