1. Turfgrass Pest Management (Category 3A)

Pesticide Application

Chapter 4

2. Properly selected and applied pesticides are useful tools in IPM programs. Plan and execute pesticide applications carefully to achieve good pest control and avoid costly mistakes or accidents.
3. Pesticides have many characteristics that need to be factored into your choice of product. Carefully consider you pest management situation with these criteria in mind:

• Labeled for the pest?
• Capable of the desired level of control?
• Least disruptive to the system?

1. Is the pesticide:

• Safe to use on turf (and other nearby ornamental plants)?
• Economically practical?
• Compatible with other plant management practices?
• Acceptable to the public?

1. There are hundreds of products marketed for turf pest management. To make the most of your options, understand the different pesticide classifications.

1. Type of pest controlled.
2. Pesticide chemistry.
3. Mode of action.
4. Pesticides formulation.

1. Remember, to use any pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is a violation of federal and state law.

Your first concern when selecting a pesticide is that it is labeled for the pest you want to control, and for use on turf.

2. The most familiar method of pesticide classification is based on the kind of organism it controls. For instance:

Type of Pest Controlled

Insecticide: Insects and related animals.

Acaricide: Mites and ticks.

Nematicide: Nematodes.

Fungicide: Fungi.

Rodenticide: Rats, mice and other rodents.

Avicide: Birds.

Herbicide: Weeds.

3. Limit applicator risk and public concern by using the least toxic pesticide available. Least toxic products have relatively high LD₅₀ (Toxicity Categories III and IV) and are not significantly corrosive to eyes or skin. In contrast, restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) may have low LD and/or are extremely corrosive, and/or are harmful to the environment if used incorrectly.
4. Because restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) pose a high risk, only certified applicators or supervised registered technicians may apply them. Pesticides with signal word "Caution" are considered only "slightly toxic."
5. The manner in which a pesticide works influences its ability to control pests and its potential for endangering nontarget organisms.

Mode of Action

Broad spectrum Targets two or more pests. Useful when controlling more than one pest, but destructive to beneficial organisms as well.

Residual pesticide Continues to be effective for an extended period of time after application.

Protectant Prevents pests from becoming established on plants.

Systemic Absorbed into and moves within a plant.

Contant Kills pests by coming in contact with them.

Nonselective herbicide Toxic to all desirable and weed plants.

Selective hervicide Kills some plants, but does little harm to others.

 

6. Pesticide formulations vary in their cost, ease of storing, mixing and applying, and potential threat to the applicator and nontarget organisms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Pesticide formulations used on turf include;

Formulation Description & Advantages/Disadvantages

Emulsifiable Concentrate (E,EC)

Liquid: active ingredient dissolved in solvents. Non-abrasive, little agitation required; can be phytotoxic, corrosive.

Wetttable Powder (WP) and Soluble Powder (SP)

Dry, concentrate preparations; mixed or dissolved in water to make spray solution. Low cost, easy to store; easily inhaled, requires agitation, abrasive.

Flowable (F, L) Finely-ground, wettable powder sold as a thick suspension; mixed in water to make spray solution. Easy to store, will not clog nozzles, requires some agitation; may be phytotoxic.

Granule (G) Dry, low-concentrate, ready-to-use particles No mixing, penetrates through dense foliage, less drift, easy and inexpensive to use; not for foliar applications.

Bait Pesticide pre-mixed with food for the pest. No mixing, minimal contamination; may attract children, pest other nontarget organisms.

8. Your choice of pesticide formulation is largely dictated by the application equipment available to you. No matter how simple or sophisticated, application equipment must be in proper working order and correctly calibrated to deliver at a uniform and consistent rate. Familiarize yourself with equipment operation, and stay on schedule for maintenance and needed repairs.
9. Turf managers have a wide selection of application equipment:

-Granular spreaders -Controlled droplet applicator (CDA)

Spray Equipment:

-Small-capacity sprayers -Hydraulic sprayers

10. Granular spreaders have a hopper to hold the pesticide product and a metering device (or feeder gate) that regulates the flow of granules through the bottom of the hopper.

Drop (gravity) spreaders drop granules by gravity feed. Since the application pattern is the width of the spreader, there are abrupt edges and even a small error in steering results in over- or under-treated areas.

Rotary spreaders have a mechanical agitator at the base of the hopper to provide continuous feeding and distribution and a guard to deflect granules. This allows for a swath width of 6 to 8 feet, but also creates more drift.

11. The part of a sprayer that has the greatest impact on applications is the output equipment. There are several types used for turf applications. Traditional spray guns designed for ornamental plant applications ate not useful for spraying turf because of the difficulty in obtaining uniform coverage. The ChemLawn shower head gun, and similar models, is specifically designed for lawn applications: these guns create a wide stream with heavy droplets less likely to drift. A spray wand is a long tube with a single nozzle used for low-volume spot treatments. Spray booms deliver solution to several nozzles. The length and height of the boom and its nozzle pattern determines swath width.
12. Nozzles are fitted to spray booms, wands and guns to break up spray solution into droplets and spread them in a specific pattern. Nozzles are classified by the spray delivery pattern, spray angle, discharge rate, and material from which they are made. Select nozzles that provide the desired droplet size and application rate when used according to the manufacturer’s recommended range of pressures. Nozzles used outside specified rates and pressures will not distribute material uniformly.

18. Nozzle types include:

19. Flooding Fan nozzles are not as uniform as flat fan. They are used for liquid fertilizer and pre-plant herbicides.

Hollow Cone nozzles are more uniform on a boom and best used for directed spraying. Used with insecticides or fungicides.

20. Abrasive materials like wettable powders cause nozzles to wear. As they wear, the orifice becomes larger and the nozzle output increases. Lessen wear by using abrasion-resistant nozzles. Check regularly and replace worn nozzles.
21. Controlled droplet applications (CDA) are commonly called rotary spray nozzles. CDA’s have a spinning cup with small grooves that spiral up the inner wall. Centrifugal force moves spray solution up the grooves to the edge where it is thrown out in a uniform hollow-cone pattern. Adequate coverage is obtained with very little spray solution. The droplet size varies with cup diameter, speed, and flow rates.

22. Small-capacity sprayer are used for spot treatment and small turf areas. They are relatively inexpensive, and simple to operate. Most are hand sprayers that use compressed air to pressurize that tank and deliver spray. Small-capacity sprayers may be fitted with a wand, gun, or small boom. Maintaining consistent spray pressure and keeping wettable powders in solution can be a problem with these sprayers
23. Most large-scale turf applications are made with hydraulic sprayers fitted with either a hand-held gun or boom. Hydraulic sprayers produce pressures ranging from nearly 0 to 500 psi. Tank size varies from 30 gallons to 1,000 gallons. Hydraulic sprayers are typically mounted on tractors, trucks, or trailers.
24. How you apply a pesticide is as important to successful pest management as your choice of pesticide and application equipment.
25. Over-applying pesticide does not result in better pest control, but does increase pesticide exposure to the applicator and nontarget organisms. Apply only the amount of pesticide required to obtain the level of pest control needed.
26. Pesticide is unless when applied where pests are not present. For example, pests commonly occur only on weakened turf areas. Spraying the entire lawn is a waste of time and material-spot treat the effected areas.

27. Some skill is required to properly apply granular pesticides.

Keep these techniques in mind when using a rotary spreader:

1. Fill the spreader on a paved surface. If spills occur they are more easily cleaned up.
2. Make a header strip by walking two complete swaths around the perimeter of the turf stand.
3. Avoid casting material into flower beds by adjusting the openings to feed the correct side of the spreader.
4. Treat the site with parallel passes that overlap one-half swath width.
5. Turn off the spreader before you turn around on the header strip.

28. 6. Keep the spreader level for consistent delivery of granules.

7. Walk at a consistent pace.

8. Never stop the spreader in the open position. Too much material will be released.

9. Do not operate the spreader backward as unacceptable patterns or rates will result.

Use these techniques and care fully calibrate your spreader to insure proper rate and placement of granular pesticide.

29. As with spreaders, sprayers must be in good working order for safe and effective pesticide applications. Routine maintenance significantly reduces repair costs and prolongs the life of equipment.

31. During spray applications wear the gear recommended on the pesticide label.

• Operate pumps no higher than recommended by the manufacturer.
• Check for nozzle clogging and changes in application pattern.
• Before working on nozzles or the sprayer, move to an untreated area and put on personal protective gear. Clean and unclog nozzles with a toothbrush or other soft tool. Never unclog a nozzle by blowing through it with your mouth.

31. After spraying, but before removing protective gear, wipe off trucks, guns and other equipment. Flush out residues inside of spray guns, nozzles, hoses and pump by running fresh water from the spray tank through the system. Spray the rinse water back into the tank

Before switching to another pesticide or making repairs, clean the inside and outside of the sprayer thoroughly.

Remember, herbicide residues cannot be adequately washed from application equipment without using specialized cleaning products.

Do not use herbicide equipment for any other type of application. Insect seals and fittings for leaks, and clean strainers and nozzles regularly.

32. Correctly applying pesticide spray to turf is not as simple as it seems. Developing good technique requires practice. The following are guidelines for spraying turf with shower head nozzle. Some of these techniques can also be applied to boom spraying.

1. Hold the shower head nozzle at an angle pointed away from your feet and legs.
2. Hold the hose comfortably in front of you. Do not drape the hose around your neck or back.
3. Apply pesticide uniformly and accurately – concentrate on pattern, walking speed, and pressure.

31. 4. Spray in parallel swaths. Do not walk in circles or changes direction within a spray area.

7. Walk at a comfortable speed moving the gun at a steady side-to-side motion. Your pace is about right if you hit a spot two or three times as you pass it.

Spray Techniques Continued……

34. 8. Make parallel, overlapping swaths. The degree of tapering on spray pattern edges determines the amount of swath overlap required to get uniform application. An overlap of one-half swath width is typically used with shower head nozzles. With this spray pattern, edges of the spray area receive only half rate.

"Trimming" is a technique where another half dose of spray is applied. "Trim" by speeding up the side-to-side motion and walking pace. Practice your "trimming" since it is a part of practically every turf application.

35. In addition to being an essential part of a pest management program Michigan law requires commercial applicators to record application information. As stated in Regulation 636, the applicator must record at the time of application the following information:

• Address or location of the pesticide application.
• Name and concentration the pesticide applied.
• Amount of pesticide applied.
• Target pest or purpose of the application.
• Method and rate of application, where applicable.

34. These records must be maintained for at least one year after a general-use pesticide application, and for at least three years after a restricted-use pesticide application.

• Name of the applicator.
• Certification or registered technician number
• Product EPA registration number.
• Date of last calibration.
• Time of application
• Weather conditions during and after application.
• Specific turf area(s) treated.
• Target pest stage at time of application.