So you have taken over a chemically managed Organic Management lawn and wish to convert it to be organically maintained. • Assumptions and observations (hypothetical) Nov 15th Green Gardening IPM Workshop The lawn is relatively free from weeds The lawn is the color of deep, not from nature green but has a deep thatch layer from too many high nitrogen apps.

Due to the repeated use of , fungicides and herbicides the lawn has a reduced population of beneficials. Graham Haroldson

Assumptions and observations (hypothetical) Client Contact continued  Of utmost importance. The client may have many reasons for switching to organic. Identifying these reasons will reinforce the  The lawn is maintained (mowed and watered) by the decision homeowner (or mowed by the homeowner and mowed/tidied by a neighborhood landscaping outfit). Client participation dictates success with every step The is compacted  reach an understanding * no aerations  reality check: coming from a chemically maintained landscape the * clippings being hauled away homeowner may have unreal expectations about what the lawn will look like The lawn is very short and a 2’ perimeter around the edges is extra short with moss taking over Make a timeline

Watering is being done at 10min durations every other The lawn may go into shock from the lack of synthetics day of the week The lawn may take at minimum, one year to come around with the slower release and getting microbial activities functioning Immediate timelines are needed to establish proper mowing and watering schedules.

Soils and soil chemistry Cation Exchange • Nutrient cycling: Ions; positive and negative molecules are held within the soil  micronutrients & macronutrients  All plants cycle nutrients, using and returning nutrients to the soil Plant roots exchange molecules within the soil  with higher organic material content have more The turf uses elements from available ions to exchange the soil, air, clippings and water. All elements are exchanged for each other.

Many different life forms are utilized here

1 pH Stands for potential hydrogen Soil Biology / Soil Food Web Directly impacts the availability of nutrients in the soil

Can be adversely effected by applications • Nematodes •Bacteria •

Soil Foodweb Inc. •Fungi Paul R. August, University of Minn. • Arthropods Soil Foodweb Inc.

SSSA

•Earthworms

•Protozoa

Wilhelm Foissner, University of Salzburg

Beneficial Fungi Beneficial Microorganisms aka: mycorrhizae • Mushroom “roots” Greatly increase the plant’s root zone (100x). Able to exploit  Bacteria and microbes Colonize root zones forming vastly more soil area and fit symbiotic relationships into smaller spaces roots can’t fit Some bacteria are stimulated by mycorrhizae Produces antibiotics for the host plant  Major players in the breakdown and rere--mineralizationmineralization of organic matter Increased pathogen resistance Able to suppress soilsoil--borneborne Carries nutrients to the plant pathogens

Creates usable nutrients through enzyme production

Compost Tea Best Management Practices • Exponentially breeding soil microorganisms For Turf • Fighting the good fight • Helping to jump start biological •mowing activities in the soil • Adds humic acids Frequency- every 4-7 days Height 2.5-3” Keep mower clean/sharp Try to mow when it’s dry to prevent fungal issues

2  Change patterns Mower etiquette frequently to prevent ruts Line Trimmers Mow with the outside tire as and striping  Fig. A- horizontal plane far as possible from the Never remove more than 1/3 should not be used. Fig. B- vertical plane O.K. turf’s edge the total grass blade Causes scalping/unnecessarily Used to create clean edges short areas of turf around the turf edge Promotes moss and weak turf Only possible reason, aesthetics

B.M.P. cont. B.M.P. cont. • Watering The deeper the water penetrates • Mulch mowing the deeper the roots

When done properly does not .One Inch of water per week add to thatch during summer months

.Check your systems output The mower used must be able to adequately chop cut blades .Only one to two applications into small pieces needed per week

Should only be done on a .Never apply at the 10 min disease free lawn Every day/other day intervals This is not adequate^ .Water in the a.m. just after dawn

Aeration • Loosens soil • Seed selection compaction Improves air and water penetration  Location/exposure Over seed Able to gradually improve soil • Timing Structure and rooting depth  Spring or Fall • Aftercare  Watering

 Top dress for success • De-thatching  If necessary, Should be done prior to aeration and over seed

Opens up soil surface to pull better plugs and for seed dispersal /root adhesion

3 Weeds and weed grasses • Slow release • Tolerance Cultural controls • Balanced Mowing/ prevents seeds from forming Proper turf height shades out weeds and moss • Contains water insoluble nitrogen Hand pulling  Herbicides • 4 lbs of nitrogen per year per 1,000 sq ft Mode of action

• N Applied 1lb per 1,000 sq ft per application Selective and Non-selective Cautions • Synthetics sometimes contain more nutrients than the NO WEED N’ FEED! • W.N.F. unnecessarily covers the entire lawn and is persistent in the plant can use, leaching the rest into the ecosystem environment much longer • Dangerous to kids, pets and wildlife

Carbon!!! Moles and Crane fly • An often overlooked and major component of soils Over applications of synthetic nitrogen actually reduce soil’s • Moles: Give up! • Crane fly carbon and the soil’s ability to hold nitrogen

• Top dressing with Use mounds as free top- A healthy lawn is able to dressing Withstand 25 larvae per Sq. ft. Adds vital carbon containing organic matter Ra ke hills in a ra dia l ou twar d Crane fly are typically a • Organic matter pattern like bicycle spokes symptom of an underlying problem Creates aggregates and Stomping down mole hills pores that hold and exchange If absolutely necessary!!!!! Only causes new ones nutrients, water and minerals As a last resort with the plant’s roots A synthetic pyrethrin may be used to reduce the population • Mulch mowing Leaving the holes alone, the moles may stop pushing new Helps return nutrients, carbon mounds up once they have and nitrogen to the soil their runs

The Wrap Up

It takes time to go organic and see results. Proper cultural practices reduce the need for inputs. Most soil organisms are good. Chemical regimens reduce beneficial populations and weaken the soil food web. Organic matter is vital for optimum nutrient availability.

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