Unit 4: Turfgrass Cultural Practices
Lesson 5: Integrated Pest Management
Cultural practices incorporate all of the methods that can be applied to sustain healthy turfgrass. Proper use of cultural practices promotes overall health of turfgrass so plants can better withstand pest pressure and environmental stresses. Weeds, insects, and diseases are often present in maintained turfgrass and may become detrimental once populations exceed the threshold. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a responsible method that combines cultural, biological, and chemical controls to manage pest populations and keep turfgrass areas healthy and safe.
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Properly identify turfgrass weeds
- Properly identify turfgrass insects and the damage they cause
- Understand the correlation between the insect lifecycle and damage to turfgrass plants
- Describe the factors necessary for turfgrass disease development
- Properly identify turfgrass diseases
- Define Integrate Pest Management (IPM)
- Analyze the steps associated with implementation of a successful IPM program
- Identify cultural, biological, and chemical control options for weeds, insects, and diseases
- Correctly read a pesticide label and interpret the directions and regulations
- Define Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and recognize related equipment
Turgeon, A. J. (2007). Turfgrass Management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon & Schuster.
Puhalla, J., Krans, J., Goatley, M. (1999). Sports Fields. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Uva, R.H., Neal, J. C., DiTomaso, J. M. (1997). Weeds of the Northeast. Ithaca, NY: Comstock Pub. Associates.
Michigan State University - Lawn Weed Identification & Research Resource
North Carolina State University’s Turffiles
Penn State Online Plant ID Resource
Weed Management in Turf – Penn State University
Bradenburg, R. L., & Villani, M. G. (1995). Handbook of Turfgrass Insect Pests. Lanham, MD: Entomological Society of America.
Landschoot, P. (2010). Managing Turfgrass Diseases. University Park, PA: Penn State University.
NC State University Turfgrass Disease Identification
Landschoot, P. (1993). Developing an Integrated Turfgrass Pest Management Program
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles - Environmental Protection Agency
Pesticide Applicator’s License Information
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