8 - Integrated Pest Management
IPM utilizes a range of pest management tactics, including cultural, physical, biological and chemical controls to reduce risks to human health and the environment. IPM focuses on pest identification, understanding lifecycles, pest-resistant plant selection, setting acceptable thresholds, and applying biological and other less toxic alternatives to chemical pesticides whenever possible.
IPM looks beyond a single-solution approach to pest prevention and management. It is important for golf course superintendents to know what IPM is and how to implement it for each pest group (arthropods, nematodes, diseases, and weeds) in order to grow and maintain healthy turfgrass. Superintendents must be well-versed in pest identification, pest lifecycles and/or conditions that favor pests, and the various control methods available.
Best Management Practices
Rotate chemicals and modes of action to reduce resistance in pests; always follow label instructions
Always adhere to local, state, and federal regulations for pesticide applications, restricted use pesticides (RUP), and biological controls; proper records of pesticide applications should be kept according to local, state, or federal requirements
Establish a written IPM plan. Monitor, observe, and document turf conditions regularly (daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the pest), scouting which pests are present, how damaging they are, determining pest thresholds, and necessary control strategies
Collect soil samples annually to assess soil fertility and pH; proper soil pH and fertility help prevent diseases and promote plant health to reduce potential for insect and weed invasion
Identify key pests and determine the pest’s lifecycle to know which life stage to target
Use cultural, mechanical, or physical methods to prevent problems from occurring (for example, prepare the site, select resistant cultivars) and reduce pest habitat (for example, by reducing the thatch layer that can harbor many disease pests)
Decide which pest management practice is appropriate and carry out corrective actions; direct control where the pest lives or feeds
When they are necessary, chemical pesticide applications should be carefully chosen for effective and site-specific pest control with minimal environmental impact
Use properly timed preventive chemical applications only when professional judgment indicates they are likely to control the target pest effectively; use cues such as soil temperature, growing degree days, and predictive models to properly time preventative applications
Determine whether the corrective actions used previously have reduced or prevented pest populations, were economical, and minimized risks; an effective way to do this is to maintain a non-treated ‘check’ area and record differences in the health of treated versus non-treated areas. Record and use this information when making similar decisions in the future
Maintain a supply of PPE for use when working on pesticide application equipment; required PPE differs depending on the pesticide and required PPE for each pesticide will be listed on the pesticide label
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a systems approach which combines science-based strategies to prevent and manage pests.
Written IPM Plan
A written IPM plan is an important tool for ensuring guidance is clear and all team members have a common understanding of the pest management approach. All five steps of IPM should be included in the plan, together with information about who is responsible; pest action thresholds; communication systems and a pesticide-use hierarchy. Decisions to implement pest control actions should be based on current or historic detection of the pest and/or damage occurrence, and not on a scheduled, preventive insecticide-based treatment regimen. Very often basic agronomic steps (altering fertilizer use or changing watering habits, etc.) can prevent further pest outbreaks without the use of insecticide-based treatment regimes.
Best Management Practices
Develop a written IPM plan integrating ownership/roles, guidelines for scouting, monitoring, thresholds, decision-making, evaluation, and education to cover five core areas as needed:
Prevention
Cultural/Sanitation interventions
Physical/Mechanical interventions
Biological interventions
Chemical interventions
Observe and document turf conditions regularly, noting which pests are present, so informed decisions can be made regarding how damaging the pests are and what control strategies are necessary
Decide which pest management practice(s) are appropriate and carry out corrective actions
Log corrective actions to determine if they have reduced or prevented pest populations and minimized risks; use this information when making similar decisions in the future
Scouting and Monitoring
Scouting is an important activity which should be included in the IPM written plan. Scouting is an exercise where golf course superintendents and staff regularly inspect all course areas to identify pest damage and population prevalence. This important activity should be included when developing a written IPM plan and may include several methods, including visual inspection, soil sampling, soap flushes, and insect trapping.
Monitor, observe, and document the presence and development of pests regularly - anything from daily to monthly depending on the pests.
Best Management Practices
Train golf course personnel to observe and document turf conditions regularly (daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the pest), noting which pests are present and key activities on key plants
Train personnel to determine the pest’s lifecycle and know which life stage to target
Use monitoring information to make informed decisions regarding how damaging pests are and what control strategies are necessary
Look for symptoms of the pest. These may include mushrooms, appearance of weeds, animal damage, insect frass, webbing, chlorosis, dieback, growth reduction, defoliation, mounds, or tunnels
Determine the damage; problem areas might include the edges of fairways, high traffic areas, shady areas, or poorly drained areas
Document when the damage occurred; note how different weather conditions affect outbreaks throughout the year; note the time of day, year, and flowering stages of nearby plants
Map pest outbreak locations (including number of insects per unit area, disease patch size, and percent of area affected) to identify patterns and susceptible areas for future target applications and ultimate pesticide reductions
Pest Thresholds
A pest-control strategy should be used only when the pest is causing or is expected to cause more damage than what can be reasonably and economically tolerated. For this reason, it is important to set thresholds, based on turf health, economic, and aesthetic concerns; take into account the importance of minimizing chemical intervention whenever possible.
Aesthetic thresholds concern the appearance of the course and are subjective, driven by consumer preference. Educating golfers and maintenance personnel is an important part of any IPM plan as this can raise tolerance of minor aesthetic damage without compromising plant health, play, and aesthetics.
A control strategy should be implemented that reduces pest numbers to an acceptable level while minimizing harm to non-targeted organisms. When a pesticide application is deemed necessary, its selection should be based on effectiveness, low toxicity to non-target species, cost, and site characteristics (such as proximity to sensitive areas or areas which slope toward waterbodies).
Best Management Practices
IPM planning should consider turf health, economic costs, and aesthetic thresholds
Use of pest thresholds can help guide application decisions and associated education activities, while minimizing economic and environmental costs
Use preventive chemical applications only when professional judgment indicates that properly timed preventive applications are likely to control the target pest effectively while minimizing the economic and environmental costs; use environmental cues to properly time preventative chemical applications
Record-Keeping
Scouting results should be recorded to develop a historical record and allow for identification of patterns in pest activity together with IPM successes and failures. This information should be used to inform future pesticide use.
Recording pesticide applications is essential and with restricted use pesticides, required by law - the most common reason for applications receiving fines in Wisconsin is incomplete record-keeping. Contact your local Wisconsin DATCP environmental enforcement specialist if you have questions regarding what pesticide application records you are legally required to maintain.
DATCP Environmental Enforcement Specialists: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/EnforcementInspection.aspx
Best Management Practices
Document, identify, and record pest activities with the plant and location information
Determine the pest’s lifecycle and know which life stage to target (for an insect pest, whether it is an egg, larva/nymph, pupa, or adult)
Determine whether the corrective actions reduced or prevented pest populations, were economical, and minimized risks; record and use this information when making similar decisions in the future
Observe and document turf conditions regularly (daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the pest), noting which pests are present, so intelligent decisions can be made regarding how damaging they are and what control strategies are necessary
Licensed pesticide applicators in Wisconsin must keep a record of each pesticide application for which that license is required, reference full requirements: https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents/HTCLandscape.pdf
Pest Groups
Disease
Plant pathogens can disrupt play by damaging and destroying intensely managed turf. Golf course superintendents should first start with correctly identifying the disease. This often requires sending samples to diagnostic clinics. Contact the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab (TDL) supported by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Soil Science, and Entomology departments: https://tdl.wisc.edu/
Superintendents should be aware of multiple methods for tackling disease and reducing outbreaks. Organic layer management, fertility programs, water management, and mowing height selection are some of the tools that can support reductions in turf disease occurrence and impact. Disease outbreaks are less likely to occur on well-managed turfgrass and those that do occur are less likely to be severe when turf is healthy because it has better recuperative potential.
Best Management Practices
Correctly identify the disease pathogen; for support diagnosing and managing turfgrass diseases contact the TDL: http://tdl.wisc.edu/
Ensure that proper cultural practices that reduce turfgrass stress are used
Minimize conditions that produce stressful environments for turf (for example, improve airflow and drainage, reduce, or eliminate shade)
The appropriate (most effective) preventive fungicide can be applied to susceptible turfgrasses when unacceptable levels of disease are likely to occur
Record and map disease outbreaks and identify trends that can help guide future treatments and focus on changing conditions in susceptible areas to reduce disease outbreaks
Leave non-treated ‘check’ plots to determine how effective your management program is compared to a non-treated area
Weeds
Weed infestations can harm turfgrass, negatively impacting plant life and playing surface. Weeds can be spread via seeds often carried on footwear, clothing, or blown in from other areas or vegetatively through tubers, corms, rhizomes, stolons, creeping stems, or bulbs. They compete with turfgrass for space, water, light, and nutrients. Weeds also act as hosts for disease, nematodes, and insects and can cause allergic reactions and skin irritants for people.
Best Management Practices
Select appropriate turf species or cultivars that are adapted to the prevalent environmental conditions to reduce weed encroachment that may lead to bare soils
Adopt or maintain cultural practices that protect turfgrass from environmental stresses such as shade, drought, and extreme temperatures
Address improper turf management practices, apply proper nutrient management, utilize proper mowing height and frequency, soil aeration, and address physical damage and compaction from excessive traffic
Mowing heights should be adjusted to a point where the turfgrass canopy is dense enough to suppress weeds and short enough to provide good playing conditions
Avoid scalping; it reduces turf density, increasing weed establishment
Weed-free materials should be used for topdressing
Proper fertilization is essential for turfgrasses to sustain desirable color, growth density, and vigor and to better resist diseases, weeds, and insects
Ensure correct identification of weeds and then record and map weed infestations to help identify site specific issues for preventative actions
Reference additional turfgrass weed control methods and strategies:
https://wisconsinturfgrassassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-Field-Day-Guide.pdf
Insects
Insects can seriously harm turfgrass and cause significant disruption to play. To determine the best course of action it is important to correctly identify the responsible insect pest and its lifecycle. This may involve sending samples to diagnostic clinics. Entomologists and other specialists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison TDL can provide assistance with pest identification: https://tdl.wisc.edu/
Another good resource is the University of Wisconsin-Insect Diagnostic Lab: https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/
For regular updates on Wisconsin pests sign up to the WDATCP Wisconsin Pest Bulletin at: https://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov/pb/index.jsp
Best Management Practices
Correctly identify the insect pest. For support diagnosing and managing turfgrass insect pests contact the Insect Diagnostic Lab: https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/
Utilize proper cultural practices to reduce turfgrass stress
Correct conditions that produce stressful environments for turf (e.g., improve airflow and drainage, reduce or eliminate shade, etc.)
Insecticide use may be integrated into an overall management strategy for a golf course; the appropriate (most effective) preventive insecticide can be applied to susceptible turfgrasses when unacceptable levels of insect damages are likely to occur
Record and map insect outbreaks. Identify trends to help guide future treatments and focus on changing conditions within susceptible areas to reduce insect outbreaks
Nematodes
Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic roundworms which are difficult to control. They cause damage to susceptible turfgrasses by weakening the root system, making it less efficient in uptake of nutrients and water and therefore more susceptible to environmental stresses. Over time, turf affected by nematodes thins out and, with severe infestations, may die.
The roots of turfgrasses under nematode attack may be very short, with few, if any, root hairs, or they may appear dark and rotten. Turfgrasses usually begin showing signs of nematode injury as they experience additional stresses, including drought, high temperatures, low temperatures, and wear.
Best Management Practices
If nematode activity is suspected, it is recommended to test a combination of soil and turfgrass roots to understand the extent of the problem; test with an experienced nematologist
The application of a nematicide on golf course turf should always be based on assay results
Divert traffic away from areas that are stressed by insects, nematodes, diseases, or weeds
Increase mowing height to reduce plant stress associated with nematodes, root-feeding insects, disease outbreaks, or peak weed-seed germination
Contact the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab for assistance in finding a diagnostic laboratory that specializes in turfgrass nematode assays
Controls
Cultural Controls & Turfgrass Selection
Cultural controls aim to make the environment less suitable for insect pests through disrupting lifecycles while promoting both turf density and health, in balance with providing a high-quality playing surface. Cultural controls include cultivar selection, mowing, aeration, surface cultivation, topdressing, and rolling.
A key part of IPM, which can assist in minimizing pesticide usage, is the selection of pest-resistant cultivars or plant species. Species grown outside of the areas where they naturally thrive are more prone to pest problems therefore plants should be selected according to the planting conditions and managed under conditions like their intended use (for example, not exceeding mowing height limitations that a grass was bred for). Selecting turfgrasses and other landscape plants which are appropriate for the eco-region of the golf course helps minimize irrigation requirements, fertilization needs, and pesticide use.
Reference the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program http://www.ntep.org/ for help with cultivar selection. When using the NTEP website, be sure to select sites in or near Wisconsin to find the best performing turfgrasses.
Best Management Practices
Select the most suitable turfgrass for existing conditions and one that adheres to design specifications
Use proper cultural, mechanical, or physical methods to prevent problems, reduce pest habitat, practice good sanitation, pruning, dethatching
Ensure proper soil management, including drainage, layering, and managing surface matter accumulation
Maintain sharp cutting edges to avoid stress
Varying mowing pattern encourages vertical growth, increases tolerance from wear, and minimizes soil compaction
Avoid use of turfgrass in heavy shade and select shade-adapted grasses for areas receiving partial sun or shaded areas
Minimize traffic in shaded areas to protect turfgrasses from injury and soil compaction
Prune understory and adjust irrigation scheduling to reduce pest and disease pressures by correcting dead spots and air-circulation issues
Where practical, reduce fertilizer applications and foot traffic in shaded areas to protect turfgrasses and trees from injury and soil compaction
Understand the ET of turfgrass and landscape plants at the facility; use this to optimize irrigation
Educate builders, developers, golf course and landscape architects, sod producers, golfers and others on which plants are best suited to their areas
Additional information on cultural practices and other IPM strategies:
https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/44517/reducing-chemical-golf-NYSIPM.pdf
Biological Controls
Biological controls refer to utilizing natural enemy predators (e.g. lady bugs) and parasitoids (e.g. tiny stingless wasps) to suppress insect pest populations. Virtually all pests have natural enemies. Appropriate introduction and management of natural enemies can effectively control many pests in a safe and economical manner. The intent of biological control is not to eradicate pests, but to keep them at tolerable levels at which they cause no appreciable harm.
Biological control products for disease and weed management exist, but aren’t used widely due to their lack of efficacy. However, research into improved biological control strategies continues and may yield improved biocontrols in the near future.
Although birds, mammals, frogs, and other higher animals can be important as natural enemies, they can rarely be effectively managed for biological control.
Minimizing impact to bees and beneficial arthropods is also an important part of IPM. Pollinators should be included in scouting and monitoring, as well as decision making around pest control strategies as they can be negatively impacted if they are not considered before selecting and application of pesticides. Avoid pesticides labelled as ‘highly toxic to bees’ whenever possible.
Best Management Practices
Develop a sound understanding of the relationships between pests, their natural enemies, and the environment
Identify existing pests and determine which beneficial insects can serve as natural predators
Where possible modify areas of the golf course to attract natural predators, provide habitat, and protect them from pesticide applications
Install a diverse environment including flowering plants that can provide parasitoids with nectar, or sucking insects (aphids, mealybugs, or soft scales) with a honeydew source
Avoid applying pesticides to roughs, driving ranges, or other low-use areas to provide a refuge for beneficial organisms
When using pesticides, minimize injury and damage by following label directions
Follow label information concerning the application of pesticides when plants may be in bloom; avoid applying pesticides during bloom season when pollinators are active
If flowering weeds are prevalent, control them before applying insecticides
Use the latest spray technologies, such as drift-reduction nozzles to remove and decrease off-site (target) translocation of pesticide
More information on biological controls:
https://vegento.russell.wisc.edu/ipm/biological-control/
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0145/8808/4272/files/NCR581.pdf
Conventional Pesticides
IPM does not preclude the use of pesticides but ensures they are used only when necessary and with the lowest levels of risk to humans or the environment. Pesticides should be used only when the pest is causing or is expected to cause more damage than what can be reasonably and economically tolerated.
Pesticides should be evaluated on the following items prior to utilization:
Effectiveness against the pest
Mode of action
Life stage of the pest
Personnel hazards
Non-target effects
Potential off-site movement
Cost
Effect on desired turf
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) regulates pesticide manufacturing, use, and distribution of EPA-registered pesticide products in Wisconsin. For some pesticide uses it is necessary to gain special registration.
Information about pesticide products in Wisconsin and registration is available here: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/PesticidesProducts.aspx
For information about Wisconsin Pesticide Product Restrictions refer to: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/atcp/020/30
Best Management Practices
Always follow the directions on the label; these have been developed based on the chemistry, biological effects, and environmental fate of the pesticide
Train employees in proper pest identification and pesticide selection techniques
Choose the product most appropriate for the problem or pest
Select a product that is labeled for the site it will be used at
Mix only the quantity of pesticide needed to avoid disposal concerns, protect non-target organisms, and save money
Spot-treat pests whenever appropriate
Make note of any environmental hazards and groundwater advisories included on the label
Rotate pesticide modes-of-action to reduce the likelihood of resistance
Consider use of the DriftWatchTM which makes information about nearby sensitive crops available to prevent damage from drifting pesticide applications: https://wi.driftwatch.org/
IPM principles include proper record-keeping of pest control activity to establish proof of use, application of protocols, and refer to past infestations in order to select best future course of action.
Reference Responsible Pesticide Management for additional information regarding pesticide usage and regulations.
