I ntegrated P est M anagement

1. Integrated Pest Management IS A PHILOSOPHY!

2. IPM It is a preventative approach incorporating a number of objectives including the following: • development of a healthy turf that can withstand pest pressure • judicious and efficient use of chemicals • enhancement of populations of natural, beneficial organisms • effective timing of handling pest problems at the most vulnerable stage, often resulting in reduced pesticide usage.

3. IPM • It is an ecologically based system that uses biological and chemical approaches to control. As with BMPs, IPM strategies should be incorporated into every aspect of turf management especially as they relate to environmental impact.

4. IPM programs rely on six basic approaches for plant and environmental protection • Genetic - selecting improved grasses which perform well in specific areas and show a resistance to environmental stress and pest problems

5. IPM programs rely on six basic approaches for plant and environmental protection • Regulatory - using certified seed and sod to prevent unwanted weed contamination and guaranteeing true-to-type seed, sod and sprigs of the best adapted turfgrass species and cultivars

6. IPM • Cultural - following recommendations made for proper cultural practices which will maintain the turf in the most healthy condition and influence its susceptibility and recovery from pest problems. Proper application of practices such as proper mowing techniques, good nutrient management, sound irrigation management, aerification, vertical mowing, and topdressing should produce a high quality turf

7. IPM • Physical - mechanical removal of pests (i.e. hand weeding in selected areas) and cleaning equipment to prevent spreading of diseases and weeds from infected areas

8. IPM • Biological - for a limited number of pest problems biological control can be used whereby natural enemies are favored or introduced to effectively compete with the pest; biological control can also include developing habitat to favor natural predation such as installing bird and bat houses thus favoring an increase in populations which feed on insects

9. IPM • Chemical - pesticides are a necessary and beneficial approach to turf pest problems, but use can be restricted in many cases to curative rather then preventive applications, thus reducing environmental exposure.

10. IPM Pesticide selection is based on an ecological risk assessment approach that strives to use only pesticides that are based on effectiveness, are not toxic to non-target species, that act quickly and degrade quickly, are not soluble and not persistent.

11. IPM Few pesticide applications should be made on a regularly scheduled basis. Exceptions may include pre-emergent herbicides and fungicides used to control specific diseases which are predictable based on site history and prevailing environmental conditions.

12. IPM Additionally, materials must be applied strictly in accordance with label instructions, at labeled rates, under appropriate environmental conditions (i.e., no spraying on windy days or when rain is forecast), with a low-volume sprayer to reduce the possibility of drift or using a shrouded sprayer

13. IPM Materials will be rotated for specific uses. This will deter the development of resistant strains of pests which may require more frequent and/or higher rates of pesticide applications.

14. IPM approach • monitoring of potential pest populations and their environment; • determining pest injury levels and establishing treatment thresholds; • decision making, developing and integrating all biological, cultural, and chemical control strategies;

15. IPM approach • educating personnel on all biological and chemical control strategies; • timing and spot treatment utilizing either the chemical, biological or cultural methods; • evaluating the results of treatment.

16. Figure 3 is a flow chart for pest management decision making based on IPM strategies. It starts with preparation of a well planned IPM program

17. Problem solving flowchart Does the damn thing work? Yes No Don’t mess with it! Yes Did you mess with it? No No You’re an idiot! Does anyone know? Will you catch hell? Yes Yes Hide it! YOU POOR BASTARD! No No Trash it! Can you blame someone else? Yes No Problem!

19. IPM approach This approach establishes the following: • identifies potential pest problems to determine scouting procedures • structured scouting or monitoring • sets pest damage thresholds • determines the preventative and curative techniques to be used

20. STRATEGIES OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT • Knowledge of turf and pests • Monitoring or scouting - intensity determined by value of area and knowledge of pest life cycles • Recordkeeping - measure the effectiveness of the program and record information on which to make future decisions

21. Nature never breaks her own laws. Leonardo DaVinci Artist and Scientist

22. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases PATHOGEN HOST DISEASE ENVIRONMENT

23. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS RESISTANT SPECIES AND CULTIVARS DISEASE MANAGEMENT CULTURAL CONTROLS

24. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases • Brown Patch - most prevalent in hot weather (>85 F) - need this type of information transcribed to scouting logs - • controlling thatch, avoid excess N and prolonged wet foliage

25. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases • Brown Patch • use of several natural organic fertilizer/composts in the fertilization/topdressing programs have been shown to reduce incidence • daily scouting during warm weather is highly recommended, this allows a curative approach

26. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases • Dollar Spot - Warm-moist weather in the spring and fall favors this disease as well as low N levels. • use of several natural organic fertilizer/composts have been shown to reduce the incidence

27. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases • Dollar Spot • daily scouting during warm weather should preclude treatment except on a curative basis

28. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Diseases • Pythium Blight - rapidly developing and devastating disease, favored by excess N, very wet and hot weather and low light levels. • Avoid prolonged leaf wetness • Preventative approach is taken when temperatures are 85 F (day) and 68 F (night) or higher

29. INFECTION AND SYMPTOM RELATIONSHIPS INFECTION SYMPTOMS Leaf diseases - Leaf spot, red thread SPRING Root diseases - Pythium, Necrotic ring spot Leaf diseases - Dollar spot, brown patch, Pythium SUMMER Root diseases - Pythium, Summer patch M A M J J A S O N D J F

30. TEMPERATURE RANGES FOR TURF DISEASE DEVELOPMENT DISEASE PATHOGEN OPTIMUM (F) Necrotic ring spot Leptosphaeria korrae 59 - 82 Summer patch Magnaporthae poae 83 - 87 Brown patch Rhizoctonia spp. 70 - 90 Yellow patch Rhizoctonia cerealis Not determined Pythium root rot Pythium spp. 52 - 70 Pythium blight Pythium spp. 74 - 93 Bipolaris leaf spot Bipolaris sorokiniana > 80 Dreschlera leaf spot Dreschlera spp. 59 - 65

31. TEMPERATURE RANGES FOR TURF DISEASE DEVELOPMENT DISEASE PATHOGEN OPTIMUM (F) Gray snow mold Typhula spp. 48 Pink snow mold Microdochium nivale 68 - 77 Dollar spot Sclerotinia homeocarpa Not determined Stripped smut Ustilago spp. Not determined Red thread Laetisaria fuciformis Not determined Powdery mildew Erysiphe graminis 59 - 72 Rusts Puccinia spp. Not determined

32. PATHOGEN GROWTH AND TEMPERATURE RANGES Necrotic ring spot Summer patch Brown patch Yellow patch Pythium root rot Pythium blight Bipolaris leaf spot Dreschlera leaf spot Gray snow mold Pink snow mold Dollar spot Striped smut Red thread 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 Temp. (F)

33. PYTHIUM BLIGHT FORECAST MODEL - Hall et al. For the past 24 h Hours that temperature is equal or greater than 70 F >= 18 h Minimum temperature during last 24 h < 18 h < 68 F > 68 F Index = 0 No risk Index = 1, Moderate risk Index = 2, High risk

34. PYTHIUM BLIGHT FORECAST MODEL - Nutter et al. For the past 24 h Max. daily temperature greater than 86 F followed by at least 14 h of relative humidity > 90% with minimum temperatures ?> 68 F. Yes Index = 1, High risk No Index = 0, No risk

35. CULTURAL DISEASE CONTROL Bermudagrass Decline - Preventative • Raise mowing heights • Aerify greens • Topdress • Balance N with K • Do not lime if pH may approach 7.0

36. CULTURAL DISEASE CONTROL Bermudagrass Decline - Curative • Raise mowing heights • Topdress • Balance N with K • Do not lime if pH may approach 7.0

37. EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDES ON A BERMUDAGRASS PUTTING GREEN INFESTED WITH Gaeumannomycesgraminis var. graminisDr. Monica Elliott • fenarimol, myclobutanil, propiconazole, terbuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, triadimefon • None increased turf quality over the untreated turf, whether used curatively or preventatively

38. EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDES ON A BERMUDAGRASS PUTTING GREEN INFESTED WITH Gaeumannomycesgraminis var. graminisDr. Monica Elliott • A significant decline in TQ, when compare to the untreated turf was often associated with repeated use of the DMI fungicides fenarimol, myclobutanil, propiconazole and triadimefon, but not with the use of tebuconazole or thiophanate-methyl

39. DISEASE THRESHOLDS • Bermudagrass or Bentgrass Greens: • 0% Pythium blight • 0.5% Dollar spot • Lawn: • 10% Dollar spot • 15% Brown patch

40. DISEASE THRESHOLDS • BASED ON: • Turfgrass species • Prevailing environmental conditions • Economic or aesthetic value of site • Cost of chemical treatment versus renovation of damaged turf sites

41. DISEASE THRESHOLDS • ALSO BASED ON SITE HISTORY: • Spring Dead Spot • Take-All Patch • Summer Patch

42. BIOCONTROL FOR DISEASES? Some success with composted organics as fertilizers/topdressing on: • Dollar spot • Brown patch • Red thread • Typhula blight • Pythium root rot

43. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Insects • Soil feeding - white grubs, mole crickets • Surface feeding - sod webworms, armyworms, cutworms, etc.

44. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Insects STRATEGIES FOR CONTROL: • Scouting for signs • Mapping of problem areas • Establishing thresholds

45. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Insects WHITE GRUBS: • Identifying threshold levels • Treating when in larval stage • March through May for June beetles • September for most others

46. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Insects SOD WEBWORMS: • Monitoring for inactive adults on the turfgrass, weeds or on the leaves and stems of trees or shrubs • Larvae are night feeders on the leaves of the grass • Determine thresholds and scout, are burrowed down in the grass

47. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Insects ARMYWORM and FALL ARMYWORM • Active in the early morning or late in the evening making scouting a requisite for control • Establish thresholds

48. SPECIFIC LOCAL PROBLEMS - Insects CUTWORMS • Moth larvae which overwinter as pupae or mature larvae, adults appear by mid-March. • Feed on leaves or grass clippings near the soil • Late afternoon scouting or a soap flush to determine presence • Determine thresholds

49. INSECT THRESHOLDS FLORIDA - Grubs: #/sq.ft. Japanese beetle 3 to 4 Masked chafer beetle 4 Armyworms 3 to 4 Billbugs 6 Cutworms 1 Mole crickets 1 to 2 Sod webworms 5 to 8

50. INSECT BIOLOGY BILLBUG LARVAE DEGREE DAY MODEL: • Larvae begin to emerge from the stems and are thus exposed to insecticides used between 925 and 1035 DDbase50; they can be controlled from this time until significant visual damage occurs between 1330 and 1485 DDbase50.