Organic Lawn Care 101 Overview

ƒ Discuss “Organic” ƒ Obstacles & Legislation ƒ Understanding Fertilizers ƒ Pest Control Products: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ƒ Developing an Organic Lawn Care Dr. John Stier Program Environmental Turfgrass Extension University of Wisconsin-Madison

Obstacles to Organic Why Go Organic? Lawn Care ƒ Dislike for pesticides, synthetic fertilizers ƒ No clear definition ƒ Capture “niche” market ƒ Customer desire lacking ƒ Environmental concerns ƒ Less than perfect lawn quality ƒ Water ƒ Expense ƒ Biota ƒ Unproven products ƒ Human health ƒ Workforce education lacking ƒ Food Quality Protection Act 1996

Organic Food Production Organic Food Production Act of 1990

ƒ USDA regulated ƒ No synthetic chemicals ƒ Fee-based certification ƒ Exceptions: ƒ Copper and Sulfur-based compounds ƒ Application and review process ƒ Bacterial toxins ƒ Recordkeeping required ƒ Pheremones ƒ Audits ƒ Soaps ƒ 3 Levels: ƒ Dormant/plant oils ƒ 100% organic ƒ Fish emulsions ƒ Organic ƒ Vitamins and minerals ƒ Federal or state Emerging Pest or Disease ƒ Made with organic Program

1 National Organic Program Products

ƒ www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/NOPhome. ƒ Fertilizers html ƒ Low analysis (< 20% N) ƒ ≤ $10,000 penalty for misusing “organic” ƒ Pest control terminology ƒ Biostimulants ƒ Components (e.g., compost) need to ƒ Most from small companies meet NOP standards ƒ Prohibits use of GMOs

Fertilizer Examples Biostimulants

ƒ Alfalfa Meal 3-2-2 ƒ Gypsum (CaSO4) ƒ Aragonite (CaCO3) ƒ Kelp Meal ƒ Azomite 0-0-2.5, 5% Ca ƒ Natural No-P 6-06 ƒ Blood & Bone Meal ƒ Peanut Meal ƒ Seaweed extract, plant hormones, ƒ Boron 14.3% ƒ Phosphate Rock ƒ Calcium 25 ƒ Pro-Booster 10-0-0 vitamins, etc. ƒ Chilean Nitrate 16-0-0 ƒ Vegetable + animal protein + nitrate of soda ƒ May have scientific basis (antioxidants) ƒ Corn Gluten Meal 10-0-0 ƒ Sulfate of Potash 0-0-52 ƒ Contains P ƒ Marketed for Stress Conditions ƒ Sul-Po-Mag ƒ Crab Meal 5-2-0.5 ƒ Likely small impact-plant production OK ƒ Epsom Salt ƒ Zinc-granular ƒ Feather Meal 12-0-0 ƒ Little testing ƒ Fish Meal 10-0-0 ƒ Lab results > field

Organic Pest Control Sources of Alternative ƒ Usually small companies Products ƒ Products may be: ƒ Viruses ƒ Good ƒ Bacteria ƒ Limited efficacy ƒ Xanthomonas campestris ƒ Contact, non-selective herbicides ƒ ƒ Ineffective Fungi ƒ Illegal ƒ Insects ƒ 10% bleach/ammonia concoctions ƒ Plant products (Fitchburg Star newspaper, 2004) ƒ Corn gluten meal ƒ Offerings may contain conventional Fungus growing in agar chemistry (e.g., glyphosate)

2 Challenges for Microbial Why Aren’t There More Products Biological Products? ƒ Lack of funding ƒ Infection requirements ƒ Poor government support ƒ Free-water ƒ Insufficient margin for chemical companies ƒ Wounds (bacteria) ƒ Difficult to develop ƒ Stabilize cells in dry-state ƒ Finicky microbes, etc. ƒ Sufficient inoculum ƒ > 107 cells ƒ Lack of researchers ƒ UV light degradation ƒ Biotechnology ƒ Affected by other pesticides ƒ Poor track record ƒ USDA-APHIS Restrictions ƒ Less effective than conventional ƒ May harm non-target plants compounds

Post Emergent Herbicides Post Emergent Herbicides ƒ Burnout Weed & Grass Killer ƒ Bioganic Weed & Grass Killer ƒ AI: Clove Oil 12% ƒ AI: Eugenol 2% Sodium Laurel Sulphate 8% 2-pheneythyl-propionate 2% ƒ Inert: Vinegar, Lecithin, Water, Citric Acid, Mineral Oil 80% Corn gluten meal 2% ƒ “Made of special blend of vinegar and ƒ “10 yrs research” lemon juices” ƒ Peer-reviewed? ƒ Wilting w/in 20 minutes, dead plants ƒ “100% organic” by morning ƒ EPA: 25(b) product ƒ Hailed by Gardener Broadcaster ƒ Not registered in AZ, CO, IN, NE, Ralph Snodsmith, University NM, ND, WA, WI Researchers, and Botanical Gardens

Efficacy of Acetic Acid Products % Control (crabgrass Borax for Ground Ivy Control & broadleaf plantain) ƒ Ground Ivy (Creeping charlie) 24 hrs 2 wks 9 wks ƒ Glechoma hederacea Nature’s Glory (25% aa) 96.0 94.7 48.3 ƒ Perennial Burnout (25% aa) 96.7 97.7 53.3 ƒ Stoloniferous 5% acetic acid* 93.3 74.7 33.3 ƒ Difficult to control ƒ Confused w/ henbit 20% acetic acid 98.3 96.0 76.0 Glyphosate 53.3 97.7 96.7

*Concentration in household vinegar Source: www.extension.psu.edu/cnregion/hort/newsletter/hort_may02.htm ƒ Univ. Wisconsin, Iowa State Univ.

3 Borax for Ground Ivy Borax for Ground Ivy Control- Control-UW 1995 UW 1995 % Control ƒ Application strategies Treatment Rate (lb ai/A) Timing 28 Apr 9 Jun ƒ Full bloom (125-150 Growing degree days) Triplet 1 Spring† 33 100 ƒ After first frost (1994) Triplet 1 Fall 98 88 ƒ Point quadrat evaluations 20-Muleteam 35 oz/gal Spring 8 24 20-Muleteam 35 oz/gal Fall 44 38 LSD (0.05) 15 12

† Spring applications at 125-150 GDD in 1995, fall applications in 1994 Source: Rossi, F., A. Sausen, H. Berg. 1996. Effective timing for postemergence ground ivy control. Wisc. Turf Res. XIII. p. 90-93.

Borax for Ground Ivy Control Scythe Herbicide (Dow Agrosciences)

ƒ Results differ: UW vs. Iowa State ƒ Non-selective, contact ƒ Ecotype differences ƒ AI: Pelargonic & other fatty acids ƒ Iowa State had inconsistencies between ƒ Similar to Quik II years ƒ Rapid membrane destruction ƒ Liquid borax >> dry borax ƒ Signal Word: Warning ƒ Temporary Kentucky bluegrass injury ƒ Effective

Corn Gluten Meal Corn Gluten Meal Application

ƒ Accidental discovery ƒ 12-20 lb/M ƒ Research-based! ƒ Early spring ƒ Activity ƒ Late summer ƒ Herbicidal ƒ Irrigate ƒ Fertility (10% N)

4 Weeds Controlled by Corn Crabgrass Control With Gluten Meal % Control Corn Gluten Meal ----rate (lb/1000 ft2)---- Weed spp. 66 142 199 Rate Corn gluten meal Milorganite 2 -2 Annual bluegrass 60 81 72 (lb/1000 ft ) ------No. plants dm ------Barnyardgrass 31 35 41 0 94 101 Black medic 49 63 63 40 35 93 Buckhorn plantain 80 95 96 79 22 77 Dandelion 75 90 100 119 5 55 Large crabgrass 51 70 82 159 0 41 Smooth crabgrass 51 85 97 13 199 0 21

LSD (0.05) 40 Adapted from: Christians, N.E. 1993. The use of corn gluten meal as a natural preemergence weed Adapted from: Bingaman, B.R., & N.E. Christians. 1995. Greenhouse screening of corn gluten meal control in turf. I.T.S. No.7. R.N. Carrow, N.E. Christians, R.C. Shearman (eds). Intertec Publishing as a natural control product for broadleaf and grass weeds. HortScience 30(6):1256-1259. Corp., Overland Park, KS. p.284-290.

Corn Gluten Meal as a Fertilizer Crabgrass Reduction in Field for Kentucky Bluegrass Turf Trials of Corn Gluten Meal on Rate Week Kentucky Bluegrass Treatment lb/M 2 6 12 1988 (4 wks pre-) 1991 (1 wk pre-) ------Quality------Rate (lb/M) % Control Rate (lb/M) % Control Urea0.5678 Urea 1888 00 00 Turf Restore 1.5 6 9 9 40 50 20 58 Turf Restore2699 81 65 40 86 Greens Restore1689 122 80 61 97 Corn Gluten1689 162 95 122 87 Corn Gluten2899

LSD (0.05) 6 5 7 97 203 92 101 79 Adapted from: Christians, N.E. 1993. The use of corn gluten meal as a natural preemergence weed control in turf. I.T.S. No.7. Intertec Publishing Corp., Overland Park, KS. p.284-290. Adapted from: Christians, N.E. 1993. The use of corn gluten meal as a natural preemergence weed control in turf. I.T.S. No.7. Intertec Publishing Corp., Overland Park, KS. p.284-290.

Corn Gluten Meal Derivatives Affect Grass Germination Attributes of Corn Gluten Meal In Vitro % Germination Treatment 0.6 lb/M 1.2 lb/M 4.5 lb/M ƒ Non-toxic to animals Corn gluten meal+hulls, germ 81 100 0 ƒ Used in feed, dog food CGM 100 100 50 ƒ Little/no effect on established turf CGM + bacterial proteinase 12 0 0 ƒ Biodegradable CG hydrolysate,ion-exchanged 62 12 0 Soluble corn steep liquor solids 75 88 94 ƒ Slow-release N source Insoluble CSLS 100 94 0 ƒ Not water-soluble LSD (0.05) 12 ƒ High rates required

Adapted from: Liu, D.L., N.E. Christians, J.T. Garbutt. 1994. Herbicidal activity of hydrolyzed corn gluten meal on three grass species under controlled environments. J. Plant Growth Regul.

5 Corn Gluten Meal for Weed Control Corn Gluten Meal for Weed Control ƒ High use rates (12-20 lb/1000 ft2) ƒ One to two applications/yr ƒ Patent 5,030,268 (1991) ƒ Expensive ƒ 1993 revision ƒ $25-$45 per application/1000 ft2 ƒ Broadened claims ƒ Pre-emergent only ƒ Hydrolyzed form ƒ Weed spp. controlled: crabgrass, ƒ Dipeptides dandelion, plantain, etc. ƒ Current/future research ƒ Overseeding limitations ƒ Water-soluble spray ƒ Fertility effect

Developing an Organic Lawn Corn Gluten Meal Sources Care Program

Exempt from EPA registration (not hydrolysate form) ƒ Rely on the Basics: ƒ Feed mills ƒ Mowing, fertilizing, irrigation, cultivation, overseeding ƒ Dynaweed-Soil Technologies Inc. ƒ Choose products wisely ƒ Amazing Lawn-Gardens Alive ƒ Scythe, corn gluten meal ƒ Many others ƒ Educate customer ƒ Iowa state website: ƒ Lawn quality may be different www.iastate.edu/gluten/home.html ƒ More frequent applications possible

Organic Lawn Care Program ƒ Soil Test: pH, nutrient deficiences, soil type How Can You Increase the Demand ƒ April: Overseed for Organic Lawn Care? ƒ May: Mow using 1/3 rule Corn gluten meal—fert., pre-emergent (early) ƒ Ask questions ƒ University personnel, extension agents, Post-emergent weed control (Scythe, etc.) chemical companies ƒ July: Fertilize, organic source (1 lb N/1000 ft2) (early) ƒ Make it an issue with legislators ƒ Beware of local P restrictions ƒ Support Research & Development, ƒ August: Maintain irrigation Extension Overseed (late) ƒ WTA/UWEX Turf Field Day ƒ September: Fertilize (1 lb N/1000 ft2) (early) ƒ Lake Monona Watershed IPM Program Overseed ƒ Participate in local issues ƒ October/November: Fertilize (1 lb N/1000 ft2) (late) ƒ Don’t eschew conventional lawn care Overseed

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