APPLY PESTICIDES CORRECTLY
      A GUIDE FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS
       ORNAMENTAL AND
           TURFGRASS
         PEST CONTROL
EPA
730/
1976.6
          U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
            OFFICE OF PESTICIDE PROGRAMS
             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

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                                     TABLE  OF  CONTENTS
                                                                        Page
                                 Acknowledgments  	    1
                                 Preface 	    1
                                 Ornamentals  	    2
                                   Introduction 	    2
                                   Disease Agents 	    2
                                   Weeds  	    3
                                   Insects and  Mites	    4
                                   Vertebrate Pests	    5
                                 Turf grass  	    5
                                   Introduction  	    5
                                   Disease  Agents  	    6
                                   Weeds 	    7
                                   Insects  	    8
                                   Vertebrate Pests	    9
                                 Phytotoxicity  	    9
                                 Environmental Concerns	    9
                                 Protecting Animals  and People	   10
                                 Application 	   10
                                 Area Measurements	   10
                                 Weights and Measures	   11

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PREFACE
This guide  has been developed by North  Carolina
State University under U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA) contract number 68-01-2903.
This contract was issued  by the Training Branch,
Operations Division, Office of Pesticide Programs,
EPA. The leader of this group effort was Robert L.
Robertson,  North Carolina State University. Editors
were Mary Ann Wamsley, EPA, and Donna M.
Vermeire, North Carolina State University.

Contributors were:
John F. Ahrens, Connecticut  Agricultural Experi-
  ment Station
Jack D. Butler, Colorado  State University
Huston B. Couch, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
  State University
Douglas    Gaydon,    Environmental   Protection
  Agency,  Region IV, Atlanta, Georgia
William  M. Hoffman, Environmental  Protection
  Agency,  Washington, D.C.
Palmer Maples,  Jr., Golf Course Superintendents
  Association of America, Atlanta, Georgia
Richard L. Miller, The Ohio State University
Federal  regulations  establish  general and specific
standards that you must meet before you can use
certain pesticides. Your State will provide material
which you may study to help you meet the general
standards.

This guide  contains  basic information to help you
meet the specific standards for applicators who are
engaged in ornamental and turfgrass pest control.
Because the guide was prepared to cover the entire
nation, some  information important to  your State
may not be included. The State agency in charge of
your training can provide the other materials you
should study.

This guide  will give you  information about:
• recognition and control of ornamental pests,
• recognition and control of turfgrass pests, and
• environmental concerns for ornamental and turf-
  grass pest control.

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ORNAMENTALS

INTRODUCTION
Some plant damage  is caused by  living  pests,  in-
cluding:
• disease agents,
» weeds,
• insects and mites, and
* vertebrate animals.

Other causes of plant problems are:
* too little, too much, or imbalanced fertilizer,
• pesticide injury,
• improper planting and pruning,
• root girdling,
• soil conditions  (such as improper drainage, com-
   paction) ,
• mechanical  damage (by such  things  as earth-
   moving equipment, mowers, and hand tools),
* pollution damage,  and
• natural aging of plants (often mistaken for dam-
   age caused by insects and diseases).

You must diagnose the problem before using con-
trol methods. Can you find an insect or  recognize
the symptoms of a disease? Pinpointing  causes of
plant damage usually requires close observation.

DISEASE  AGENTS
Fungi,  bacteria,  viruses,  nematodes,  mycoplasmas,
and  parasitic  plants  cause diseases  of landscape
plants. Most common diseases are caused by fungi.
The  environment  is  of major importance to  the
development  of  disease in woody  plants.  For ex-
ample:
• A sudden drop  in temperature in the fall or early
  winter increases the susceptibility  of  plants  to
  cankers caused by  fungi.
• Waterlogging of the soil contributes to the de-
   velopment of certain root rots.
• Long periods of rain can  cause an increase  of
  such fungal diseases  as scab and leaf spots.

The more common diseases of landscape plants are
described below.

Vascular Wilt
Vascular wilt fungi of shade trees are of two types:
* those that infect roots (Verticillium wilt), and
• those that infect stems (Dutch elm disease).
The organism  that causes  Vericillium wilt is pres-
ent in the  soil. It spreads upward from the roots
through sapwood and interferes with water move-
ment and other plant functions. Dutch elm disease
is transmitted by elm bark beetles.

In  both  diseases,  leaf  wilting,  browning  between
veins, and  leaf drop usually begin in one branch
and progress  through  the tree. Dead  and  dying
branches, sparseness of the crown,  and  reduced
twig growth are common  symptoms.  Another is a
discolored  streaking  in  the   wood  of  affected
branches or in the main trunk.

Leaf Spots

Fungal leaf spots  occur on most kinds  of  orna-
mental plants.  They usually appear first on  the
lower leaves. They may begin as dark brown, pin-
head-sized  spots which  sometimes have  a yellow
halo.  Spots may  enlarge to cover an entire leaf.
Small, black structures the size  of pinheads are in
the center of many leaf spots. As the  spots become
more abundant, leaves may yellow, die, and drop.

Leaf spots  are more common  in the early spring
and fall.  Wet  conditions usually are necessary  for
infection. Healthy plants become infected when  the
fungus spores are:
• splashed  onto them from infected leaves on  the
  ground,
• blown to them by the wind, or
• carried to them on clothing and tools.

Scab
Apples, crab  apples, and pyracantha are suscep-
tible to the scab fungus. Symptoms include:
• spots on leaves and fruit, and
• premature defoliation.

Scab  first  appears as  olive-green  spots  on  the
underside of new leaves. These spots become brown
and velvety; then leaves turn yellow and drop pre-
maturely. Fruit may become infected at any time
with circular,  olive-green  spots  that later become
brown or black. The fungi overwinter in  infected
leaves and  produce spores  in the spring.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery  mildew  occurs on  plants both in green-
houses and outdoors.  Common  hosts  are  rose,

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zinnia, crab apple, euonymus,  and crape  myrtle.
Powdery mildew may produce  a white powdery
coating on the  leaves,  buds,  or stems of  highly
susceptible plants.  The new growth is stunted and
curled, and leaves  may become dry and drop.  The
flower buds are often deformed and may fail to
open  properly.

Bacterial Fire  Blight

Certain varieties of  apple, flowering  crab,  pear,
pyracantha,  mountain ash,  and  quince  are  highly
susceptible to fire blight. Hawthorn, rose,  coton-
easter, spirea,  and amelanchier  are affected less
seriously.

The signs  of fire blight are:
•  Blossoms  and leaves  suddenly  wilt,  turn dark
   brown,  shrivel,  and  die, but  usually  remain
   attached.
•  Secondary infections start in the small twigs, pro-
   gress down the stem,  and  may involve whole
   branches.
•  Blighted terminals may bend to look like a shep-
   herd's crook.
•  Dark streaking of the  wood  extends  several
   inches beyond the diseased area.
•  Cankers on  limbs  are shrunken,  and are dark
   brown to purple. An orange gum or slime often
   oozes from them.

The baceria  overwinter  in  cankers  on the  plant.
They are spread by:
*  wind-blown rain,
•  insects, and
•  pruning tools.

Nematodes

Many nematodes live in the soil and feed on plant
roots. Some kinds cause small knots on roots; others
kill the tips of feeder roots.

The above-ground symptoms of nematode  damage
may  include:
•  yellowing of foliage,
•  stunting, and
•  a general decline of the plant.

It is  difficult to distinguish between the symptoms
of nematode damage and root  rot infection. You
may  need to  have soil and plant samples examined
in a laboratory to confirm a nematode infestation.
Root-knot of boxwood is an example of a nematode
disease of ornamentals.

Disease Control
Types  of  chemicals  available for disease  control
include:
• Protective  chemicals applied to foliage, flowers,
  and  fruit.  They are subject to weathering and
  must be reapplied  regularly.
• Systemic chemicals. These  can be applied less
  frequently.
• Soil  fumigants. Use of these to  control soil-borne
  fungi, bacteria, and nematodes is economically
  feasible in  the production  and establishment of
  high-value  ornamentals.

There  are no known  chemicals for control of virus.
With few  exceptions, disease-controlling pesticides
will  not  eradicate  disease-producing agents after
infection  has  occurred. Careful  management,  in-
cluding pruning  out  of dead and  dying  plant parts
and the removal of  infected leaves, coupled with
preventive use of the correct fungicides and bac-
tericides, will prevent further spread. In some situa-
tions,  routine preventive use of  a pesticide is  the
only practical  way  to  protect  highly  susceptible
plants. Your  local extension  agent  can help you
identify your pest problems and  select the correct
pesticide.

WEEDS
Many  kinds of weeds are  pests in landscape plant-
ings.

Annual  Weeds
Annual weeds are  most troublesome in  intensively
cultivated  ornamentals.  Common annual weeds in
ornamentals include:
•  grasses  (crabgrass,  foxtailgrass, fall panicum,
   and  barnyardgrass) which germinate during  the
   spring and summer,
• annual  bluegrass and annual bromegrass, which
   germinate  during  the late summer or  fall,
• annual broadleaf  weeds  (purslane,  pigweed,  and
   lambsquarters) which germinate during the warm
   season and are killed by hard frost, and
• those that survive freezing  temperatures  (horse-
   weed,   common   chickwced,   bittercress,   and
   pepperweed).

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 Biennial and  Perennial  Weeds
Biennial  and  perennial  weeds are  most trouble-
some in uncultivated ornamentals. They have under-
ground plant parts  that survive from year to year.
They are spread in  several ways:
•  Many spread easily when carried in soil, in root
   balls, and on cultivating equipment, as well as by
   seeds.  These  include  Bermuda grass, Johnson
   grass, quackgrass, nutsedge, mugwort, and wild
   garlic.
•  Seeds of perennial weeds such  as  dandelion and
   goldenrod  are spread primarily  by  wind and
   water.
•  Horsetail rush is spread  by underground plant
   parts and by spores.

Weed Control
Consider both the weeds and the  ornamental plants
when choosing control methods. You can use cul-
tural methods, mechanical  methods,  herbicides,  or
combinations of the  three.  Many weeds  are re-
sistant  to  some  cultural or chemical controls. No
herbicide is safe for al! ornamental  plants. Newly
planted ornamentals usually  are more easily  injured
by herbicides than  established plantings. The label
will  tell  you how  to  use  a herbicide safely and
effectively.

Herbicides  kill weeds  throueh the  leaves  or the
roots or both. Selective herbicides kill some plants
without killing others. Nonselective  herbicides kill
most plants in the area of application.

The  main  types of herbicides  used  in  or  around
ornamentals are:
•  preemergence herbicides,
•  postemergence herbicides, and
•  soil fumigants and sterilants.

Persistence varies with  the herbicide and the dos-
age.  Persistent  herbicides may leave residues that
may injure a sensitive crop planted later. Repeated
applications of persistent herbicides also can injure
ornamental plants  under certain soil and  climatic
conditions. Granular  formulations are  an  efficient
way  to apply preemergence herbicides. Postemer-
gence  herbicides usually are less persistent  than
preemergence herbicides.  They  usually must  be
applied as  a directed spray.

Soil  fumigants  are nonselective  and   cannot  be
used in the root zones of desirable plants. Use fumi-
gants before planting. The label will specify waiting
periods between treatment and planting.

Soil  sterilants will  control  most  weeds for long
periods  of  time.  In humid regions, however,  no
material  is  completely effective for more than one
season. Soil sterilants are  nonselective. They can
damage nearby trees, shrubs, and turfgrass through
root uptake or movement of the chemical by wind
or water.

INSECTS  AND  MITES

Ornamenal   plants are  damaged  by  many  kinds
of insects and mites.  Some suck sap  from plants,
others  chew on or  tunnel  in plant parts or  cause
damage in  other  ways.

Some plants are  very  susceptible to  insects and
mites and  require  intensive pest  control.  Other
plants are rarely attacked by insects or mites. Pest
insect  infestations vary from  year  to year, and
control is not always needed.

There are  several kinds of insects and mites that
you should recognize. They can be  grouped accord-
ing to  the  part of the plant they feed on and  the
kind of injury they  cause.

Insects and Mites  that Damage Leaves,
Buds,  Fruits,  and Flowers

CATERPILLARS are  the larvae  of butterflies or
moths. Caterpillars chew plant parts and may com-
pletely defoliate a plant. Some  form webs or tents
on the branches. A few bore into the plant and feed
inside. Some have  more than one generation per year.

BEETLES  are hardshelled insects. Many have  spots,
stripes, or  other markings. Both adults  and larvae
may damage plant parts by boring into or chewing
them. Some beetles are active only at night.
LEAFMINEilS are the  larvae  of small flies, wasps,
moths, or beetles.  They feed inside the leaf. Damage
appears as  brown or discolored blotches or winding
trails on  the leaf.  There  may be more than one gen-
eration per year.

APHIDS are small,  soft-bodied insects that suck  sap
through tiny needle-like hiouthparts. There may be
several generations in a  single season. They may be
green,  red, or black. They feed on  stems, terminals,
or undersides of leaves.

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Foliage often curls or is otherwise distorted. Some
aphids  transmit  plant  disease.  Aphids  produce
honeydew,  a sweet  liquid which  collects  on the
foliage. A black sooty mold may grow on the honey-
dew.  Sooty  mold is controlled by  controlling the
aphids.
MITES are closely related to insects. They are hard
to  see  without  magnification.  Eggs, young,  and
adults all may be present on an infested plant at the
same time.  Some form webs on the lower leaf sur-
face.  Mites damage leaves by  sucking  sap.  The
foliage becomes stippled and may turn off-green, yel-
low, or orange. Mites may produce several genera-
tions in a single season.
LACEBUGS are  small,  broad,  flat  insects  with
clear, lace-like wings. Eggs, young, and  adults all
may be on a plant at the same time. Both adults and
young suck sap and cause off-colored speckles, yel-
lowing, and leaf drop. Many small, black,  varnish-
like spots of excrement on the undersides of leaves
are evidence of lacebug infestation.

Insect Pests  of  Trunks,  Stems, or
Branches
SCALE INSECTS  AND MEALYBUGS  may  kill
large branches or whole plants. Some attack leaves
and buds.  Both insects secrete  a protective  waxy
substance which covers  them.

Mealybugs  move on the plants as both young and
adults.  Newly hatched scale insects  (crawlers) move
around on the plant. Mature scale insects, however,
are securely fastened to the plant surface. They may
be circular, oval,  or pear-shaped.  Large numbers
may form crusts on the plant. They lay eggs under-
neath the protective covering.
BORERS are larvae of some  moths  and beetles.
They do the most damage in the tissue just under the
bark.  Plants in poor health are more susceptible to
attack by borers. One to several years may be re-
quired to complete a life cycle.

 Insect Pests of  Roots

GRUBS are the larvae of hardshelled  beetles  or
weevils. They usually are white with brown heads.
Some have  legs; others are legless.  Grubs eat plant
 roots and may weaken or kill a plant.
ROOT BORERS are the larvae of moths or beetles.
They are shaped like grubs or caterpillars. They are
usually a whitish color. Root borers damage plants
by eating or hollowing out plant roots and crowns.
ROOT-FEEDING  APHIDS weaken the root  sys-
tems of plants. They damage roots by sucking  sap,
which may cause galls to form. Root aphids look
like foliar-feeding aphids. Some are serious pests of
foliage as well as roots.
GALLS are swellings of plant parts. Many kinds of
insects and mites cause  galls and live inside them.
Galls are unsightly but usually are not harmful to
the health of  a plant.

Insect  and Mite  Control
To  control insects and  mites,  direct the pesticide
at the stage of the insect or mite that is causing the
damage. In some situations, preventive use of insec-
ticides may be necessary to protect plants from in-
festations. Your decision to  use a preventive insec-
ticide should  be  based on a previous history of in-
festation in your area. Your local extension agent
can help to identify your pest problems and select
the correct pesticide.

VERTEBRATE  PESTS
Vertebrate  animals may  damage ornamentals in
several ways. Some (such as mice and moles)  feed
on roots and crowns. Others (including mice, rabbits,
deer, and woodpeckers) feed on stems, trunks, twigs,
or foliage.

Barriers, trapping, repellents, and pesticides all  help
control  vertebrate pests.  Control  of the insects on
which vertebrate pests feed is essential.

TURFGRASS

INTRODUCTION

Pest control in turfgrass includes:
• good cultural practices, and
• chemical pest control.

Turfgrass problems often result from causes other
than pests. These other causes include:
• improper watering,
• improper fertilization practices,
• injury from pesticides,
• accumulation of excessive thatch,
• improper selection of turfgrass species,
• improper mowing height,
• poor root systems,

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   soil that is either too acid or too alkaline, or
   an accumulation of soluble salts in the soil.
are most severe on grass grown under high nitrogen
fertilization.
Be  sure to consider these factors when diagnosing
and treating turfgrass problems.

DISEASE  AGENTS
The major diseases of turfgrass are caused bj:
• fungi, which can cause root rots and foliar dis-
  eases, and
• nematodes, which feed on the roots.

Stands of diseased grass  may look thin  and  un-
thrifty or contain streaks or circular patches of dead
grass. Some of the more common  diseases  of turf-
grasses are:

Helminthosporium
Helminthosporium causes  leaf spots  and root rots.
Spots on the leaves usually begin as small  purplish,
reddish-brown areas about the  size  of a  pinhead.
These enlarge  to form tan to light-brown spots with
reddish-brown margins.  When  the disease is severe,
the spots girdle the leaves at the base and cause them
to yellow. A severe infection  may cause a general
fading out of  turfgrass.  Helminthosporium  diseases
are more severe during long periods of  wet weather.
They develop  best under high  nitrogen fertilization.

Rusts
Symptoms  are light-yellow flecks  on  the  leaves.
As  these  spots enlarge, the surfaces of the  leaves
rupture. Dry,  reddish-brown  pustules  develop.  At
this stage, the  spores readily rub off. The grass first
becomes light  yellow and  then rapidly  turns tan or
light  brown  as the grass leaves die. Rusts develop
best in moderate  air temperatures. The disease  is
less severe on rye grasses grown under high nitro-
gen fertilization.

Pythium  Blights
Pythium blights  are  among  the most destructive
turfgrass diseases. Grasses most commonly affected
are bentgrasses, Bermuda grasses, fescues, and rye
grasses. The disease is first seen as small, irregularly-
shaped, watersoaked, greasy patches V4 to 4 inches
in diameter. A cottony growth may be  present early
in  the  morning.  Diseased areas may eventually
range from  1 to  10  feet  in diameter.  Pythium
blights develop best in warm,  humid weather. They
Rhizoctonia  Brown  Patch
Under  conditions  of close  mowing,  Rhizoctonia
brown  patch appears as irregularly  shaped patches
of blighted turfgrass that range in size from a few
inches  to 2 feet or larger. At first, the patches are
purple-green in color.  They then fade to a light
brown. When the grass is wet, the diseased patches
frequently  have  dark,  purplish  margins  (smoke
rings).

When  high mowing is  practiced,  the  leaves wither
and rapidly fade to a light brown. The patches may
be irregular and  range up to 50  feet in diameter.
Rhizoctonia brown patch develops best during long
periods of humid  weather. The  disease usually
occurs during  hot weather (80-90 degrees F).
Grass  grown under  high  nitrogen fertilization is
more susceptible  to the disease.

Snow Mold
Pink and  gray  snow  molds are  turfgrass  diseases
that occur in cold weather.  A snow cover creates an
ideal situation for the diseases to  develop, but they
often occur in the absence of snow.

Snow molds are  seen  as  small patches  of tan to
light-brown grass, 2 to 4 inches or larger. Pink snow
mold spots usually are smaller than gray snow mold
spots. With gray snow molds, hard,  dark-red bodies
are embedded in  the leaves.

Slime Molds
Slime molds appear as dull-gray to light-blue masses
of powdery  growth on the surfaces of the leaves.
They are most common during long periods of light
rainfall. Although they  are unsightly, they do not
damage the grass. Controls are not  necessary.

Fusarium  Blight
Fusarium  blight causes  brown patches 1  to 3  feet
in diameter. The patches are similar to those caused
by other  turfgrass diseases, but  they have green
tufts (frog eyes)  in  the center. Fusarium  blight is
most severe during periods of  high day and night
temperatures.  Lush grass with an accumulation of
1  inch or more of thatch  is highly  susceptible to
severe outbreaks.

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Fairy Rings
Fairy rings are seen as circles of darker green, faster-
growing turfgrass ranging from 2 to several hundred
feet  in diameter. They  are  often  surrounded by
mushrooms, toadstools, or puffballs. These fungi
may prevent water from penetrating  the soil.

Nematodes
Many  kinds  of nematodes  feed on  the  roots of
turfgrasses and reduce  their vigor.  Nematode in-
jury may be  confused  with  nutritional problems,
insufficient water, compact soil, or any other factor
which  restricts root development.

Symptoms of nematode injury include:
* thinning or completely killed areas,
• pale green to yellow color,
• excessive wilting, and
• poor response to fertilization.
The best way to identify nematode problems  is
with a laboratory examination of soil or plants.

Disease Controls
Disease-producing  agents in  turfgrasses  can be
minimized and in  some cases controlled th'ough the
use  of  good  management  practices.  Turfgrass
fungicides are available for use as preventive sprays
or granules. When an outbreak  of  a disease agent
occurs, apply preventive fungicides  immediately.
After  infection has  occurred,  use  a  preventive
fungicide to protect against future infection. Timing
of protective  fungicide  applications should  be based
on a knowledge of:
• the life cycle of the fungus, and
• weather conditions that are best  for its  parasitic
  activities.

Preventive use of a fungicide is sometimes  war-
ranted when  the location has a history of  turfgrass
disease. The routine  use of fungicides can prevent
disease outbreaks in  turfgrass, but  is an expensive
and potentially harmful practice. Your local exten-
sion agent can help you identify pest problems and
select the correct pesticide.

WEEDS
Any plant can be considered a weed  if it  is grow-
ing where it is not wanted. Bentgrass, for  example,
would  be a weed in a bluegrass lawn. To  plan a
good weed control program, you must:
• identify the desirable turfgrass,
• identify the existing  weeds, and
• know what other weeds are likely to become a
  problem.

Annual  Weeds
Annual  weeds complete  their  life cycle  in  less
than one year. Because  climatic conditions influence
the  timing  of the  life  cycle, the correct time  for
control varies from place to place, year to year, and
from one species to another. It is often  desirable to
establish turfgrass in the fall so the freezing weather
will control summer annual weeds. In established
turfgrass, the  chemical control  of  summer annual
weeds after midsummer may not be necessary or
desirable.
SUMMER  ANNUAL WEEDS common to turfgrass
are:
  Broadleaf Weeds        Grass Weeds
  henbit
  knotweed
  spurge
crabgrass
goosegrass
barnyardgrass
foxtailgrass
stinkgrass
WINTER ANNUALS are common in new turfgrass.
After the first year, good management and dense
turfgrass usually  provide satisfactory control.  Ex-
amples are:
  Broadleaf                 Grass Weeds
  common chickweed        cheat
  shepherdspurse

Biennial  Weeds
Biennial  weeds normally occur  at the  same time
as perennial broadleaf weeds. Controls are similar.
Examples are: roundleaf mallow and  wild carrot.

Perennial Weeds
Perennials, both broadleaf and grasses, occur widely
as turfgrass weeds. Examples are:
  Broadleaf Weeds           Grass Weeds
  dandelion
  wild garlic
  dichondra
  plantain
  mouse-ear chickweed
  red sorrel
   Bermuda grass
   bentgrass
   tall fescue
   quackgrass
   nimblewill
   torpedograss
   nutsedge

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 Weed Control

 The presence of weeds in turfgrass does not always
 require the use of herbicides. In areas that con-
 tain sensitive  plants, it may be better  to avoid the
 use of herbicides than to risk  injury. In some loca-
 tions, any  kind of  plant cover may  be better than
 dead plants or bare ground.

 Granular  formulations  are  effective  for  pre-
 emergence herbicides. Sprays are better for  post-
 emergence control where foliar coverage is needed.

 BROADLEAF  WEEDS—Several  postemergence
 herbicides  are used to  selectively control  annual,
 biennial, and perennial  broadleaf weeds in  turf-
 grasses. They can be used alone or as combinations
 of more than  one active ingredient. Spring and fall
 applications of postemergence herbicides normally
 give satisfactory control and reduce the possibility
 of damage to nontarget  plants.  Young weeds are
 usually  more  susceptible to herbicides. Spot treat-
 ments are best for  scattered weed  populations.
 Weather conditions affect control  results.

 GRASS WEEDS—Control  of  annual grasses is best
 achieved with:
 • preemergence herbicides for general  infestations,
 • spot treatment with postemergence herbicides for
  localized infestations.

 Few herbicides are safe  for  use  on newly  seeded
 turfgrass. Some preemergence herbicides applied in
 the spring adversely affect germination  of  turf-
 grasses seeded in the fall. Certain  varieties  of turf-
 grasses are more prone to injury by  some herbi-
 cides. Check labels for precautions.

 Perennial  grass weeds  are the  most   difficult  to
 control. No herbicides are available which will con-
 trol  these  weeds  without  damaging  cool  season
 turfgrass.  Some will  selectively  control them  in
 warm season turfgrass. Soil fumigants and nonselec-
 tive herbicides are sometimes  used.

 INSECTS
When examining turfgrass for  insects, look for:
 • thinned grass stands,
 • dying or dead patches,
 • discolored or withered blades,
 • chewed or frayed blades,
• frass or webbing,
* small holes, mounds, or burrows, or
• presence  of  large numbers of bird and  animal
   droppings.

Some  of the  more  troublesome turfgrass  insect
pests are:

Grubs
Grubs are the  larvae of hardshelled  beetles. They
are white to off-white with a brown  head and six
legs.  Grubs damage grass by  eating the  roots.
Seriously damaged turfgrass can be rolled back like
a carpet. When the grass is rolled back, grubs may
be found lying in a C-shaped position in the soil.
Grubs are most easily controlled during  the time
they are actively feeding.

Billbugs
Billbugs  are small, dark-colored beetles with snouts.
Adults lay  eggs in turfgrass items in late  spring.
The  eggs hatch into legless larvae. The larvae eat
their  way down  the  stems and into the  crowns.
Adults feed on leaves and stems, but cause less
damage  than   the  larvae.  Damage   shows  up  in
late  summer as small dead patches  of  turfgrass.
Damaged plants break off at the  crown if pulled on.

Sod Webworms
Sod  webworm  caterpillars  are  1  inch or less  in
length. They are  off-white with parallel  rows  of
small dark spots. The adults are cigar-shaped, buff-
colored  moths. The  caterpillars  chew  off  grass
stems and leaves above the  soil line. Damage shows
up as small  dead spots. When many sod webworms
are present, the spots  join  to form  large, irregu-
larly shaped brown patches. Adult sod webworms
do not damage  turf grasses.

Chinch Bugs
Full-grown  chinch  bugs  are about 1A  inch long.
They are rectangular black bugs with a white area
on their  back.  Turfgrass  infested with chinch bugs
is a sickly off-color at first, with brown and  green
blades intermixed. Later,  large irregular  dead
patches show up.  Young  and adult  chinch bugs
suck sap from  turfgrass blades.  The  bugs may be
found deep  in the thatch at the outer edge of the
brown patches.

Insect  Control
Insects that attack turfgrass at  or below the soil
surface  can be controlled  only  by  directing the

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pesticide at the soil surface  and watering it in to
contact the pests.  Foliage-feeding insects can  be
controlled  by  directing the insecticide at the turf-
grass foliage.

Watering  in  an  application directed  at  foliage
feeders will move  the  insecticide below the area
where the  insect  pest  is feeding and the desired
control will be lost. In some areas, preventive appli-
cations of  insecticides will minimize damage from
soil insect pests. More than one pest may  be causing
damage at  the same time. Each  may require  differ-
ent timing  and placement of insecticide for control.
Be sure to  consider this when you develop a treat-
ment  schedule. Your  local  extension  agent  can
help you identify pest problems  and select the cor-
rect pesticide.

VERTEBRATE  PESTS
Vertebrate   animals  may damage  large areas  of
turfgrass while  they are searching for grubs  or
other soil-infesting insects. They include:
  mice,
  voles,
  skunks,
  moles,
  raccoons,
  foxes,
  squirrels, and
  birds.

Control  of turfgrass-damaging  insects  also helps
control damage by vertebrate animals,  because it
reduces their  food supply.

PHYTOTOXICITY

Phytotoxicity  is undesirable injury to plants.  Symp-
toms of phytotoxicity include:
• leaf drop,
• stunting,
• overgrowth,
• discolored foliage,
• leaf curl, and
• stem distortion.

The cause  of phytotoxicity may be easy to deter-
mine or it  may be subtle and hidden. Pesticides can
cause phytotoxicity. Other causes that create similar
symptoms are:
• insects and  disease agents,
• insufficient  moisture,
• improper fertilization, and
• other adverse growing conditions.
Factors that may contribute to pesticide phytotoxic-
ity include:
• high  air  temperature  during and  immediately
  after pesticide application,
• excessive rates of pesticide application,
• too little water,
• uneven distribution of pesticide,
• mixing liquids or emulsifiable  concentrates with
  wettable powders,
• mixing fertilizers with pesticides,
• variety and species differences.
Take special care to avoid injury to landscape plants
and  turfgrass when  using  herbicides.  Some  herbi-
cides leave residues  in spray tanks  that will injure
desirable plants. Use separate sprayers for herbicides.

ENVIRONMENTAL

CONCERNS

To control drift and vaporization:
• Apply pesticides when wind speeds are low.
• Use  lowest  practical  operating pressure  and
  largest practical nozzle opening.
• Keep nozzle  as close to target as  possible.
• Avoid using  airblast  sprayers  and dusters when
  working near sensitive plants and areas  inhabited
  by animals.
• Do not apply herbicides with airblast sprayers.
• When possible, select products with low  volatility.
To control the adverse effects of pesticide movement:
• Use special precautions when using  pesticides on
  slopes.
• Select the least  hazardous pesticide that will do
  the job.
• Use the lowest effective rate of application.
• If possible, maintain a buffer  zone  between the
  area to be treated and sensitive areas.
• Use mulches.
• Consider the chances of heavy rainfall.
• Regulate  the amount and duration of irrigation.
• Be aware of the potential for ground water con-
  tamination.
• Avoid carrying  treated material  or  the pesticide
  residue from the target area to other areas.
You must know  the persistence of pesticides you
apply  to ornamentals  and  turfgrass,   especially
where:
• adjacent areas may be affected,
• treated soil is used to grow other plants,  or
• humans, pels, or other animals are present.

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Repeated applications of some pesticides to the same
area may cause harmful residues.


PROTECTING  ANIMALS
AND  PEOPLE

Keep animals and people  away during application
and until spray has dried or dust has settled. Keep
them away from areas of potential drift and runoff.
Remove  toys,  pet  food dishes, birdfeeders,  and
other articles from the site before applying a pesti-
cide. Do not use pesticides when people or pets can-
not be excluded during the reentry period specified
on the label.


APPLICATION

Methods of application vary with:
• the kind of pesticide,
• the host, and
• the target pest.

Application  equipment must be able  to  deliver a
thorough coverage of the correct amount of pesti-
cide to the plant parts which need protection.

Low-pressure, low-volume sprayers or granular ap-
plicators can be used for control of:
• soil or foliage pests of ornamentals,
* diseases or insects on turfgrass, or
• weeds.

High-pressure  hydraulic  or  airblast sprayers  are
not often used on  ornamentals  or  turfgrass.  You
can use them for spraying large trees.


AREA MEASUREMENTS

To determine  how much pesticide  you will  need
to do a job,  you  must measure  the area to be
treated.  If the area is a rectangle, circle, or triangle,
simple formulas may be used.

Rectangles:  The area  of  a  rectangle is found by
multiplying the length by the width.
Area = Length X Width.
                                 W
Circles:  The area of a circle is the radius  (one-
half the diameter) squared and then multiplied by
3,14.
Area = 3.14 X the radius squared.
Triangles: The area of a triangle is one-half the base
multiplied  by the  height.

        bxh
Area=	
                    B
Irregularly  shaped tutfgrass  areas  often  can be
reduced to one or more of these common shapes.
Calculate thj area of each and add them together
to obtain the total area.
Example:
                     Area A+B+C = Total Area


Another way is to establish a line down the middle of
the property for the length, and then measure from
side to side at several points along this line. Areas
with very irregular shape require more side to side
measurements. The average of the side measurements
can be used as the width. The area is then calculated
as a rectangle.
Area = Length X Width. Example:
                                               10

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                                                 WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES
                  Length = line AB
                          line C+D+E+F+G
                  Width =	
                                    5
A third method is to convert the area into a circle.
From a center point measure distance to the edge of
the area  in  10 to 20  increments. Average  these
measurements to find the average radius. Then cal-
culate  the area, using  the  formula  for  a  circle.
Area = 3.14 X the radius  squared.
Example:
                                                 Weights
                                                 1 ounce
                                                 16 ounces
                                                 I gallon water
                                                  -  28.35 grams
                                                  =  1 pound = 453.59 grams
                                                  =  8.34 pounds = 3.785 liters =
                                                      3.78 kilograms
                                 Liquid Measures
                                 1 fluid ounce     =

                                 16 fluid ounces    =
                                 2 pints           =
                                 8 pints=4  quarts =
                                 Length

                                 l foot
                                 3 feet
                                 16'/2 feet
                                 5,280 feet
                                                 Area
                                                 1 square foot
                                                 9 square feet

                                                 43,560 square feet
                                                 Speed

                                                 1.466 feet per
                                                   second
                    2 tablespoons=
                    29.573 milliliters
                    1 pint =0.473 liter
                    1 quart = 0.946 liter
                    1 gallon = 3.785 liters
                 = 30.48 centimeters
                 = 1 yard = 0.9144 meter
                 = 1 rod=5.029 meters
                 = 320 rods =1 mile=
                    1,6 kilometers
                                                     929.03 cm*
                                                     1 square yard=
                                                     0.836 square meter
                                                     160 square rods= 1 acre =
                                                     0.405 hectare
                                                      88 feet per minute =
                                                      1 mph = 1.6 kilometers per
                                                      hour(kph)
Area = (3.14) X
line A+B+C+D+E+F+
   G+H+I+J+K+L
           12
Volume
27 cubic feet

I cubic foot
I cubic yard =
0.765 cubic meter
7.5 gallons =
28.317 cubic decimeters
                                               11

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