AG1159 Golf Course Pest Control Commercial Applicator – Classification 6 Noncommercial Applicator – Classification 10 Training Manual University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating Golf Course Pest Control Edited by Dr. John D. Hopkins, Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Contributors Dr. John Boyd, Visiting Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Scientist, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Dr. John D. Hopkins, Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Dr. Becky McPeake, Professor andExtension Specialist-Wildlife, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Dr. Stephen Vann, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist - Urban, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Preface This manual provides information for the Arkansas commercial pesticide applicator wishing to become certified in Classification 6 – Golf Course Pest Control and the noncommercial pesticide applicator wishing to become certified in Classification 10 – Golf Course Pest Control. To become a certified applicator in the desired category, a candidate must pass both a general standards exam and pass an examination based primarily on the material presented in this manual and Circular 6, Arkansas Pest Control Law (Act 488 of 1975, as amended). Information covered in the general standards examination is contained in “A Guide for Private and Commercial Applicators: Applying Pesticides Correctly.” Refer to Circular 6, Arkansas Pest Control Law (Act 488 of 1975, as amended) for specific requirements for Classifications 6 and 10. The Arkansas State Plant Board administers the examinations. Up-to-date study materials can be obtained from the Arkansas State Plant Board, #1 Natural Resources Drive (P. O. Box 1069), Little Rock, AR 72203-1069, phone (501) 225-1598. Additional study information may be obtained from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, the pesticide label, current publications on the subject, pesticide distributors and manufacturers. Acknowledgments Information accumulates from direct observations, scientific literature and anecdotes from others. Information from these sources blurs together quickly, and consequently, unique ideas are rare in society. Credit for sources of information on golf course pest control and management must go to land grant university extension and research workers in the areas of entomology, horticulture, plant pathology and weed science who continually work to maintain and update golf course pest management information. In addition, thanks go to pest control industry workers who hold training sessions nationally, regionally and locally where infor­ mation is disseminated among the experienced and provided to the inexperienced, the Environmental Protection Agency whose personnel molded modern training and influenced the need for national uniformity in training requirements, and state regulatory personnel who cooperate with university and industry personnel and who strongly emphasized the importance of training. This training material has been adapted from commercial applicator certification training manuals for turf pests developed by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University; Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the Texas A&M University System; and University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Special thanks go to Jim Criswell, Extension Pesticide Coordinator; Gerrit Cuperus, Extension IPM Coordinator; Ken Pinkston, Extension Entomologist, Richard Price, Professor, Entomology, Don Arnold, Survey Entomologist, Mark Andrews, County Extension Horticulture Agent, Mike Kenna, Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Joel Barber, Assistant Professor, Turfgrass, Douglas Montgomery, Extension Assistant, Turfgrass, Randy Taylor, Extension Assistant Agricultural Engineering, Willard Downs, Associate Professor Agricultural Engineering, all with Oklahoma State University; Mark A. Matocha, Extension Program Specialist and Don L. Renchie, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M University, Texas Cooperative Extension; Clyde L. Ogg, Extension Educator-Pesticide Education and Dean Herzfeld, Coordinator, Health, Environmental, and Pesticide Safety program, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension; and George N. Agrios, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida for their kind permission to adapt their respective manuals. Further acknowledgements go to Lisa M. Williams-Whitmer, Margaret C. Brittingham and Mary Jo Casalena, College of Agricultural Science, Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for their information and help in preparing the goose management sections. Table of Contents Page Introduction to Golf Course Pest Management . 1 Turfgrass Management . 2 Golf Course Weed Management . 9 Turfgrass Disease Management . 26 Turfgrass Insect Pest Management . 33 Vertebrate Pest Management . 46 Pesticide Application . 52 Selected Turfgrass References and Study Material. 64 Turfgrass Glossary . 66 Introduction to Golf Course Pest Management A turfgrass pest is any organism causing turfgrass growth conditions prevail. Damage from deterioration in the aesthetic or functional value of insects and mites, nematodes and other animals is turfgrass. Pests include weeds, insects and mites, often greater where the turfgrass is also subjected to nematodes, diseases and vertebrate mammals. other stresses. Many pests can be effectively controlled as long as vigorous turfgrass growth is When pests are mentioned, pesticides are favored. As often as not, pest activity is the result of considered as important means for achieving underlying cultural problems rather than the control. Pesticides are valuable components of a problem pest itself. turfgrass management program, but pest manage­ ment includes more than selecting and applying the Symptoms associated with various pests and appropriate pesticide. The concept of integrated pest cultural problems are often similar and easily management (IPM) begins with selection of a well- confused. As a result, pests can inflict extensive adapted turfgrass, following proper establishment damage before proper control measures can be procedures and implementing cultural practices that started. Therefore, the first step toward the allevia­ favor healthy turfgrass growth. Therefore, IPM is tion of any turfgrass pest problem must be proper the proper use of pesticides in conjunction with a identification. sound cultural program that ensures high-quality turfgrass. The following chapters in this manual are designed to help turfgrass managers understand Weeds and diseases are often indicative of cultural practices that promote a healthy turf, unfavorable growing conditions for specific properly identify pest problems, understand condi­ turfgrasses. Their incidence can be prevented or, at tions that favor these pests and review the principles least, substantially reduced where favorable of safe and proper pesticide application. 1 Turfgrass Management Introduction Cultural Practices Preventing pests from invading a turf area starts Mowing with maintaining a healthy, vigorously growing stand of turfgrass plants. Pests usually take advan­ Mowing schedules should be based on the tage of a turfgrass exposed to long periods of envi­ desired cutting height and amount of plant growth ronmental stress, improper cultural practices or allowed between mowings. The growth rate will selection of the wrong turfgrass for the area. depend on the level of soil moisture, nutrients, Pesticides alone will not guarantee a successful pest temperature and sunlight. Since these factors fluctu­ management program. ate from week to week, it follows that plant growth also fluctuates. Therefore, the time to cut turfgrasses Turfgrass maintenance requires timely is at a point so no more than one-third of the leaf implementation and use of cultural practices and area is removed at any one mowing. To maintain a pesticides. Simply stated, it is the “how to” and turf at 1 inch, it should be cut when it reaches “when to” of maintaining turfgrasses. Turfgrass 1 1/2 inches (Table 2.1). Scalping or removing too maintenance requires a year-round commitment of much of the leaf area in a single mowing can cause care from the turf manager and a monetary commit­ plant stress and reduces the aesthetic value of ment to provide the necessary funds for equipment the area. and supplies from club, community or school organizations. TABLE 2.1. Cutting Height and Amount of Growth Allowed So No More Than 1/3 of the Leaf Area Is Removed Turfgrass Selection Cutting Growth Maximum Height Height Allowed Allowed* Turfgrass selection should be based on the environment, the intended use and expected man­ 1/2 1/4 3/4 agement intensity. Check with a turfgrass specialist 5/8 1/4 7/8 or Extension agent to find out which grasses 3/4 3/8 1 1/8 perform best in a given area. Blends and mixtures 7/8 1/2 1 3/8 should be used whenever possible to ensure good 1 1/2 1 1/2 performance over a wide range of conditions. Cool- 1 1/2 3/4 2 1/4 season grasses (bentgrass, bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue) are best established in the fall, whereas 2 1 3 warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, 2 1/2 1 1/4 3 3/4 centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass) are best planted 3 1 1/4 4 1/4 in late spring or early