Transcript IPM Landscape Pests Overview - Welcome to the Minnesota

IPM in the Landscape
IPM in Schools Program
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Contact: Jean Ciborowski, 651-297-3217
Funding provided from the MN Future Resources Fund
as recommended by the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources
1
Most Troublesome Outdoor
Problems







Dandelions
Other broadleaf weeds: thistle, clover,
creeping Charlie
Crabgrass
Quackgrass
Other grassy weeds: foxtail, sandburs
Diseases, Insects, Animals
Other: knotweed, plantain, stickers,
pigweed
2
4 Steps of IPM
Inspect
 Identify
 Take action
(action
thresholds)
 Evaluate

3
Definition of weed
A plant out of place
4
Turf IPM Steps
Starts with identification, inventory or
assessment of weed problems
Site map
 Note growing conditions
 Late summer or early fall,
mid August through
mid-September


Both annuals and perennials present
5
Maintenance Zones and Standards


Reflects function of area and level
of care needed
Standards identify kind and level
of maintenance



% weeds
Fertilization program
Mow heights, etc
6
4
3
Pond
Practice
area
3
Varsity field
1
3
4
Ball fields
School
Maint.
2
Blvd 2
1
Pkng
&
Bldng
Access
Blvd 2
Street
7
Zone 1: Varsity Fields

Varsity field
1

Highly visible
turf areas or
premier athletic
fields
Weed tolerance
15% or less
8
Zone 2: Multipurpose turf and
general use athletic fields
Ball fields
2



Relatively good turf density
Up to 30% weeds
No more than 10% bare ground
9
Zone 3
Practic
e
area
3




Moderate to poor turf quality
50% or more of area covered with weeds
No more that 10% bare ground (safety)
General use fields, playgrounds,
elementary school fields, practice areas
10
Zone 4 Other than turf areas


Control undesirable
weeds from entering
other areas
Ditches, fence lines,
adjacent woodlands
or field edges
11
Cultural Practices: Watering Tips

Is irrigation necessary



Total of 1 to 1-1/2 “ of water per week
(including any rainfall) during summer
Keep intervals as long as possible.


spring rainfall normally sufficient until June.
frequent, shallow waterings promote shallow
roots
Early morning most efficient, fewer
disease problems.
12
Cultural Practices: Fertilizing Tips


Soil test to determine fertilizer needs
Apply most of fertilizer in fall, not spring



No more than 1 lb N/1000 ft2 in a single
application if quick-release fertilizers used.
For each application, spread fertilizer in two
directions.
Water lawn immediately after fertilizing

For more information see Fertilizing Lawns
D. H. Taylor, C. J. Rosen, and D. B. White,
University of Minnesota Extension Service
13
Cultural Practices: Mowing Heights
From Sulis website, Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series,
University of Minnesota
14
Mowing Tips



Raise mowing ht to 2.5 to 3” for
landscape areas
If will not create safety problems
for players, raise mowing heights
on athletic fields
Scalping or too-long grass may
indicate uneven ground.
15
Physical/Mechanical Methods to
Exclude Weeds






Mow strips under fencing or backstops
Landscape fabric in plant beds and under stone
or brick walkways
Mulch 3-4” thick under shrubs, around tree
bases
Shallow cultivation on bare soil, baseball infields,
running tracks
Hand weed, string trimmers, and mowers when
possible
Seal cracks on asphalt
16
ACTION THRESHOLDS: When
herbicides are needed



Select product labeled for plants you wish
to control
Target and treat problem area only;
blanket application not necessary
Plants must be actively growing


Less effective if plants dormant or stressed
Avoid drift to flowers, trees and shrubs
17
Life Cycle of Plants

Perennial--Lives more than two years and

produces seed every year
Biennial--Two years to complete life cycle
1st Store food reserves in leaves and roots
 2nd Flower and produce seed


Annual--Germinates, grows, flowers and
produces seed all in one season
Summer annuals--Germinate in spring; complete
life cycle by fall
 Winter annuals--Germinate in fall or late winter
and mature in late spring or early summer

18
Types of Herbicides

Selective


Non selective


Damages (kills) all green tissue
Systemic-(perennial weeds)


Targets broad leaf or grass-like plants
taken up by roots (or leaves) and moves
through plant
Non systemic-(annual weeds)

affects only part of plant contacted by
pesticide
19
Pre-emergent herbicides

Destroys weed seedlings as begin to
germinate, but before emerge from
ground
Apply 2-3 weeks before seeds
germinate; depends on soil temp
required by seed
Crabgrass and knotweed germinate in
early spring. Apply preemergent for
crabgrass when soil temps are 55-60oF,
usually between May 1 and May 15
20
Post-emergent herbicide

Controls visible,
growing plants after
emerging from
ground

Dandelion and many
other perennial
broadleaves
21
For other landscape problems:
Is the cause insect, disease or other?
 Compare to a “normal, healthy”
plant


What is wrong?
What are the symptoms?
 Examine the affected plant
 What portion is affected?
 When did symptoms appear?
 How did symptoms progress?
 Examine the site
 Is there a pattern?
 Are only certain plants affected?22
IPM Step 1: Identify
 What is the host plant?
 Can you identify it to species? cultivar?
 Investigate possible causes
23
Investigate Both Current Conditions
and History
 Is the plant appropriately planted?
 Is it zone hardy?
 Is it receiving the proper amount of sun or
moisture?
 Where were plants obtained?
 How were they cared for?
 Has there been construction within the
last 5 years?
24
IPM Step 2: MONITOR OR
INSPECT
for insect problems:
 Check for presence of insects and
evidence of feeding
 Use traps, calendar dates (average
day insect appears) and plant
phenology
25
If you suspect insects-- IDENTIFY
Learn insect life stage and habits to
 know feeding habits
 recognize type of
injury caused
 evaluate severity of
problem (action
threshold)
 plan most effective
time of control
Photo by Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota
Mountain Ash sawfly
26
Do not treat if
Take action (action
thresholds
 Insects present, almost done feeding
 Damage detected, but insects not present
 Damage already severe
 Few insects present
27
Other Causes: Abiotic or non-living
 Drought, improper planting, cold injury, etc.
 Disorders can weaken plants and encourage disease
Apple scab photo
courtesy of Jody
Fetzer, Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum
28
TAKE ACTION: IPM Tactics
 Protect natural enemies
(predators and parasites)


Less than 1% of all insects are
pests on plants
Beneficials feed on pests


Lady beetles, praying mantids,
assassin bugs, ambush bugs
Vary bloom times to favor
insect diversity and avoid
unnecessary insecticide
applications
 Remove by hand or
Many insects can be
removed with strong
spray of water spray;
be sure to check
undersides of leaves 29
MONITOR FOR PLANT DISEASE
PROBLEMS
 Environmental conditions
Host
favorable for disease
development


Temperature and moisture
Anticipate disease problems
 Pathogen must be present
Environment
 Virus, bacteria, fungi
Pathogen
 Susceptible host
 Often specific host/pathogen
relationship
31
Disease Diagnosis Difficult
Disease agents usually microscopic
 Symptoms can be subtle, significant damage
before it’s noticed
 Control options limited
 Many problems caused by fungi
 Fungicides preventative, not remedial
32
Juniper problem
Photos from Janna Beckerman,
University of Minnesota
33
Use IPM Treatment Strategies
Least:
hazardous to human health
disruptive of natural controls
toxic to non-target organisms
Most:
likely to be permanent
cost-effective
site-appropriate
Easiest: to carry out safely
and effectively
34
For all outdoor pests, insects, diseases or
weeds,
create inhospitable
surroundings
 Diversify

Mix types of plants, bloom
times
 Plant resistant cultivars
 Use appropriate cultural practices



Water
Fertilize
Prune
35