Best Management Practices for Application of Turf Pesticides

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Best Management Practices for Application of Turf
Pesticides Fertilizers and YardScaping

• Gary Fish
• Board of Pesticides Control
• 287-2731
• gary.fish_at_maine.gov

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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/
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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

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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

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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

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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

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WIN-PST

• http//www.thinkfirstspraylast.org/turf_bmps/index
  .htm

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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 _at_ 275,000 CFU per gram
  of finished product

Look for Water Insoluble Nitrogen (WIN)
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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

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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

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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 85F
• Follow label temperature requirements

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Operating Standards

• Application continued
• Never apply until soil warms to 50 - 55F 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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New Regional Lawn Nutrient RecommendationsU-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

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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

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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

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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

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YardScaping for a healthy Maine
Gary Fish, CoordinatorMaine YardScaping
Partnership [phone]gary.fish_at_maine.gov
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The Partnership is very diverse!
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YardScaping

• A new paradigm?
• Some call it Sustainable Landscaping or
  Ecological Landscaping
• We want to keep it simple

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YardScaping Mission

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

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Maine yard care pesticide use more common than
perceived
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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)

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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

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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

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

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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

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Reduce lawn area

• Reduces
• Water air pollution
• Water usage
• Maintenance
• Costs
• Gives
• More free time

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Use low input plant varieties

• No-mow fescue vs Kentucky bluegrass
• Pagoda dogwood vs flowering cherry
• River birch vs paper birch

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Protect lakes streams with buffers

• Preserve existing landscape
• Winding paths
• Dont mow to lakes edge
• Pitch the rake

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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

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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
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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

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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.

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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
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Choose the right grass varieties for Maine
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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

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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
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http//131.128.91.217/maynard_susplants/html_spl20
00/index.htm
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Other resources
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Where to learn more
http//www.yardscaping.org
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Where to learn more
http//www.gotpests.org
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YardScaping For a healthy Maine