BMPs for Turfgrass Managers

Turfgrass demands protection from pests and diseases. As a result, growers use pesticides and other pest management strategies. Growers must use pesticides sparingly and properly. Maintaining a strategy of integrated pest management (IPM) protects the health of the crop, the grower, the environment, and the public. It also assures that viable pest management strategies are available for future use.

The purpose of this document is to consolidate current integrated approaches to turfgrass management in Virginia. The goals are: 1) to form a general working definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for turfgrass management, and 2) to develop a system of assessing how well turf managers adopt IPM guidelines, and if their operations have implemented enough core practices to qualify them as "IPM Practitioners" under these guidelines.

Growers should use this document and its sub-headings as a checklist of possible IPM practices. Growers should count only the activities they perform in their turfgrass pest management practices and aim to be compliant with 80% of the activities listed below.

This document is intended to help turfgrass managers identify areas in their operations that possess strong IPM qualities and also point out areas for improvement. Turf managers should attempt to incorporate the majority of these specific techniques into their usual maintenance practices, especially in areas where they fall short of the 80% goal.

To view the document, click HERE [PDF].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

• Crop Profile for Turfgrass in Virginia

• Pest Management Strategic Plan for Turfgrass (NC & VA)

• Virginia Cooperative Extension Turf Documents

• Virginia Pest Management Guide: Horticultural & Forest Crops

• Virginia Turf on Facebook

• Virginia Turfgrass Council

• Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendations

WRITTEN AND DEVELOPED BY:

• Holly Gatton, IPM Project Manager, Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, Dept. Entomology, Blacksburg, VA

• Mike Goatley, Assoc. Prof. & Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech Dept. Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science, Blacksburg, VA

• David McCall, Research Associate, Virginia Tech Dept. Plant Pathology, Physiology & Weed Science, Blacksburg, VA

• Rod Youngman, Former Professor/Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech Dept. Entomology, Blacksburg, VA

• Mike Weaver, Professor, Extension Project Leader & Director, Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, Dept. Entomology, Blacksburg, VA