Best Management Practices for Application of Turf Pesticides & Fertilizers and YardScaping

1. Best Management Practices for Application of Turf Pesticides & Fertilizers and YardScaping Gary Fish Board of Pesticides Control 287-2731 gary.fish@maine.gov

2. Why BMPs • Inappropriate application practices discovered after heavy spring rains of 2005 • Water sampling results from USGS and FOCB • The Board wanted to start with BMPs instead of jumping into new regulations

3. Friends of Casco Bay Sampling • 2001 Sampling • Found Diazinon in 1 of 3 samples (2.6 ppb)** • Found 2,4-D in all 3 samples (36.4 ppb) • Found Dicamba in 1 of 3 samples (3.8 ppb) • Found MCPP in 2 of 3 samples (26 ppb) • Found Excess Nitrogen & Phosphorous in all samples • 2002 Sampling • Found Diazinon in 4 of 11 samples (.71 ppb) • Found Excess Nitrogen & Phosphorous in all samples • 2003 Sampling • Found Dicamba in 3 of 10 samples (4.1 ppb) • Found Clopyralid in 1 of 10 samples (0.91 ppb) • Found Propiconazole in 2 of 10 samples (0.075 ppb) • 2005 Sampling • Found 2,4-D in 2 of 5 samples (4.62 ppb) • Found MCPA in 2 of 5 samples (0.45 ppb) **Values in red exceed ALC

4. Aquatic Life Criteria • EPA criteria for nuisance algae growth • Nitrogen - 250 ppb Phosphorous – 20 ppb • EPA criteria for diazinon is 0.17 ppb for fresh water & 0.82 ppb for salt water • Other criteria proposed by various sources for fresh water (from USGS Fact Sheet 097-99) • 2,4-D – 4 ppb Dicamba – 10 ppb • MCPA – 2.6 ppb Triclopyr – 560 ppb • Carbaryl – 0.02 ppb Chlorpyrifos – 0.001 ppb

5. USGS National Water Quality Assessment – 2006 Report • Sampled urban streams • Insecticides occurred more frequently in urban streams than they did in agricultural area streams • Herbicides detected in 99% of Urban stream samples • Phosphorous found at same levels as in agricultural streams • 70% of those samples exceeded the EPA level for causing excessive algal growth

6. The BMPs • Site Assessment • Initial site visit • Turf assessment prior to treatment • Thorough periodic assessments • Informed Product Choice • Pesticides • Fertilizers • Operating Standards • Prior to application • Application • Customer/Neighbor Relations • Notification • Customer education www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/turf_bmps/

7. Site Assessment • Initial site visit • Customer expectations • Pest problems • Site plan and measure • Soil characteristics • Slope and runoff • Soil test • Sensitive areas • Grass species • Intensity of use • Sun exposure • Record assessment

8. Site Assessment • Turf assessment prior to treatment • Soil conditions • Compacted, eroded, frozen, shallow, saturated, exposed bedrock or ledge? • Pest problems • Turf health • Watering • Frequency • Intensity

9. Site Assessment • Thorough periodic assessment • Annually • Reassess the initial site visit criteria • Customer expectations and desire for service (This is now required) • Review management records • Every 3 – 5 years • Soil test • Consider monitoring ground water for nitrates at golf courses or sod farms or other intensively managed areas

10. Weed & Feed Informed Product Choice • Pesticides • Read labels & MSDSs • Choose least toxic, least persistent, lowest exposure • Use the WIN-PST criteria • Check bee warnings • Choose selective products • Do spot treatments • Choose low drift and low volatility products

11. WIN-PST • http://www.thinkfirstspraylast.org/turf_bmps/index.htm

12. Select slow release fertilizers • GUARANTEED ANALYSIS • Total Nitrogen (N)...…..................….8.00%      1.0 % Water Soluble Nitrogen      7.5 % Water Insoluble NitrogenAvailable Phosphate (P205)..........….1.0 %Soluble Potash (K20)....................…1.0 % Derived from corn gluten, steamed bone meal & sulfate of potash • NON PLANT FOOD INGREDIENTS Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumulis, Bacillus megaterium, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Paenibacillus durum each @ 275,000 CFU per gram of finished product Look for Water Insoluble Nitrogen (WIN)

13. Informed Product Choice • Fertilizers • Choose slow- or timed-release N (WIN – Water insoluble nitrogen) • Apply at 1 pound/1000 square feet or less • Avoid ammonium nitrate or sulfate and calcium nitrate • Do not apply quick release N above ½ pound/1000 sq. ft. • Use P-Free fertilizer unless soil test indicates need or when establishing seed

14. Operating Standards • Prior to application • Check site for people & pets • Sensitive individuals nearby • Toys, sandboxes, pet dishes present? • Open windows? • 24-hour weather forecast • Record current conditions • Calibrate equipment frequently

15. Operating Standards • Application • Base applications on soil characteristics • Never apply when there is standing water • Never apply to saturated soils • Never apply to frozen ground • Never apply when temperature exceeds 85°F • Follow label temperature requirements

16. Operating Standards • Application – continued • Never apply until soil warms to 50 - 55°F at 3” soil depth • Never apply between December 1 and April 1 (unless fungicide for snow mold) • Consider forecasted rains • Avoid application when wind is below 3 mph or above 10 mph • Do not apply pesticides if rain or irrigation is imminent, unless specified by label • Do not apply if moderate or heavy rain is imminent regardless of label statements • Never apply to impervious surfaces

17. Operating Standards • Application – continued • Never apply near areas prone to runoff, i.e., culverts, drains, drainageways or wells • Never apply to bare ground unless establishing seed • Cover seed to prevent erosion • Clean up spills immediately • Never leave materials on impervious surfaces • Lightly water-in fertilizers • When the label directs, assure that pesticides are watered in as directed

18. Operating Standards • Application – continued • Fill spreader on hard surface • Use a drop spreader near sensitive areas • Leave an 25-foot buffer of untreated vegetation near water bodies • Manage pests with spot applications

19. Customer/Neighbor Relations • Notification • Remind customer annually about right to request labels and MSDSs • When requested, always provide labels and/or MSDSs • When requested always notify customers and/or neighbors at least 24 hours prior to applications • After application inform customers/neighbors about treatments • Need for watering • Re-entry period

20. Customer/Neighbor Relations • Customer Education • Customers must know when their expectations are too high and should know the limitations like: • Soil depth & texture • Soil pH and nutrient imbalances • Grass species limitations • Proper mowing & watering • Soil compaction & thatch depth • Need for buffers around wells, water, etc. • Low risk control options • Slow-release & P-Free fertilizer options

21. 25-foot buffer zone to be required next to waters and wetlands • Applies to all terrestrial “Broadcast” applications • Except stinging insect and arthropod vector control, and • Man-made Ag wetlands, e.g., Cranberry bog areas • Variances may be granted if the Board approves and protections are reasonably equivalent

22. New Regional Lawn Nutrient Recommendations–U-Conn/Cornell • Nitrogen Standards • If the existing lawn is acceptable, no need for fertilizer • Do not apply before spring green-up and no later than September 15th (NNE) or October 15th (SNE) • Apply no more than 1/2 to 1/3 of a pound of nitrogen in any 1 application • Slow release formulations are preferable • When a soil test indicates adequate P or K, use N only • On lawns that are 10 years or older apply a maximum of 2 lbs N/1000 per season • Newer lawns may require 3 lbs N/1000 per season

23. New Regional Lawn Nutrient Recommendations - continued • When seeding a new lawn amend the soil to get organic matter up to 3% to 5% • Mow high (3 inches) and return clippings • Choose tall or fine fescues because they require less nutrients and water – Avoid KBG • Maintain soil pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5 • Consider introduction of white clover or other low growing legumes to provide natural nitrogen • Start testing soil for nitrates and base application rates on need (this is experimental right now) • Avoid using combination fertilizer and pesticide products

24. New Regional Lawn Nutrient Recommendations - continued • Phosphorus Standards • If the existing lawn is acceptable, no need for fertilizer • Soil test for P – do not guess • Frank Rossi at Cornell says P is only needed on the poorest of soils • Avoid P fertilizers on bare ground or low density lawns, unless seeding • Use P-free next to water unless soil test shows very low phosphorus

25. New Regional Lawn Nutrient Recommendations - continued • Avoid application of P prior to heavy or moderate rains • Maintain pH between 5.5 and 6.5 • Never apply to saturated or frozen ground • Soil test annually for P if using organic fertilizer or composts • Avoid combination fertilizer and pesticide products

26. YardScaping…for a healthy Maine Gary Fish, CoordinatorMaine YardScaping Partnership (207) 287-2731gary.fish@maine.gov

27. The Partnership is very diverse!

28. YardScaping • A new paradigm? • Some call it “Sustainable Landscaping” or “Ecological Landscaping” • We want to keep it simple

29. YardScaping Mission • To inspire Maine people to • create and maintain healthy landscapes • through ecologically based practices that • minimize reliance on water, fertilizer and pesticides

30. Dramatic 7x increase in pesticide use in 12 years!

31. Maine yard care pesticide use more common than perceived

32. The Ten-ets of YardScaping • Use site appropriate, non-invasive plants • Right plant, right place, right purpose • Use diversity of plants & grasses • Create wildlife habitats • Reduce lawn area • Use low input lawns & landscapes • Use vegetative buffers to protect surface waters • Reduce runoff • Reduce reliance on pesticides, fertilizers and water • Promote sensible pest management (IPM)

33. Use site appropriate, non-invasive plants • Native plants are often well adapted – but not always • Fewer problems, less work, more rewards • Invasive plants are easy to grow but crowd out native vegetation • Our local forest habitats are changing rapidly

34. Right plant, right place, right purpose • Choose plants based on the area to be planted not just for their color • Select plants that thrive under existing conditions rather than trying to alter the conditions to meet the needs of a plant • Minimize disturbance of the existing landscape

35. Right plant, right place Beach plum – dry sunny site Partridgeberry – wet shady site Staghorn Sumac – large open dry bank

36. Use a diversity of plants & grasses • Less noticeable damage from pests and disease • Incorporate many layers of plant types • Trees • Shrubs • Ground covers • Perennials, and • Lawns

37. Create wildlife habitats • Diversity and plant layers go hand in hand with habitat creation • Add nectar and fruit producing plants • Strive for continuous blooms • Add water, walls, feeders, woody debris

38. Mower exhaust = 40 small cars’ exhaust Reduce lawn area • Reduces • Water & air pollution • Water usage • Maintenance • Costs • Gives • More free time

39. Use low input plant varieties • No-mow fescue vs Kentucky bluegrass • Pagoda dogwood vs flowering cherry • River birch vs paper birch

40. Protect lakes & streams with buffers • Preserve existing landscape • Winding paths • Don’t mow to lake’s edge • Pitch the rake

41. Reduce runoff • Reduce amount of pervious (hard) surfaces • Create rain gardens or install rain barrels • Direct water into vegetated areas • Irrigate properly and only when needed

42. Reduce reliance on pesticides, fertilizers and water • Grow plants that are resistant to insects & diseases • Use plants that tolerate low fertility • Use drought resistant plants White Fir Sweet Fern

43. Use common sense pest management • Integrated pest management • Know your pest • Pick it, trap it or exclude it • Know the good bugs • Mow, prune or water • Use pesticides as last resort

44. Weed Control Approach (BASIC STRATEGY - dense, tall turf tends to reduce weed invasion) • Seed is the best weed control! • Mow high, 3 inches MINIMUM • Promote root growth – fertilize in early fall • Reduce wear and compaction - encourage foot traffic away from turf; core aerify twice per year and overseed at same time • Overseed or slit-seed open areas ASAP! • Spot treatment with herbicides only when necessary.

45. Are there alternatives? • Corn gluten meal has demonstrated pre-emergent herbicide activity • Rather expensive and a weak herbicide • Most action - nutrient value from meal breakdown - added fertility thickens turf and reduces weed germination • Weed flamers and spikes “Punto” • Hot water foam and steamers • Mostly used in cities where herbicides have been banned Punto

47. Choose the right grass varieties for Maine

48. Insect tolerance Some Some Excellent Good Disease tolerance Some Some Good Good

49. Plant or over-seed with low maintenance grass types YardScaping Mix 40% Endophyte Enhanced Creeping Red Fescue 10% Southport Chewings Fescue 30% Endophyte Enhanced Perennial Ryegrass 20% Kenblue KBG • Fine Fescues 40 - 50% • Creeping Red • Hard • Chewings • Tall Fescue • Common Kentucky Bluegrass • Endophyte enhanced perennial rye or fescues • Plant grass seed in late summer/early fall • Avoid sod

50. Low Maintenance Lawn Benefits – 2000 CMHC study of 30 residences • Residents with low-maintenance lawns spent • 50 per cent less time, • 85 per cent less money, and • used • 50 per cent less fuel, • 85 per cent less fertilizer, • 100 per cent less water and • 100 per cent less pesticides per year http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/abhose/abhose_076.cfm