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Controlling Common Turfgrass/Ornamental Insects, Diseases, and Weeds C. Bruce Williams PhD- Presenter Agronomy and Horticulture Services LLC 2010 Recertification Credit: Virginia Pesticide Credit: Categories: 3A, 3B, 6, 60 PowerPoint presentations with photos and appropriate IPM strategies will be presented coupled with class participation and case studies. Additional case studies will be added as appropriate. Each section will last approximately 1 hour 10 minutes including questions and discussion for a total seminar contact time of 5 hours and 40 minutes. Breaks will be taken mid-morning, lunch, and mid-afternoon.
6 hours 10 minutes of direct training.
I. Abiotic
Causes of Disease a. Turfgrass- Common Problems Over- and under watering Compaction Shade Fertilization Herbicide Winter kill, Chilling and Frost injury b. Ornamental Woody Plants-Common Problems Over- and under watering Compaction Shade Fertilization Herbicide Winter kill, Chilling and Frost injury Improper pruning Other physical causes
II. Diagnosing and Treating Turfgrass
Insect Problems a. Common Warm Season Insect Problems and Control Mole Crickets Chinch bugs Grubs Ground Sod webworm Billbug
b. Common Cool Season Turfgrass Insect Problems and Control Chinch bugs Grubs Sod webworm Billbug Other…
III. Diagnosing and Treating Turfgrass Disease Problems a. Common Warm Season Turfgrass Diseases and Control 1. Large Patch 2. Dollar Spot 3. Spring Dead Spot 4. Fairy Ring 5. Pythium 6. St. Augustinegrass Decline 7. Centipedegrass Decline 8. Nematodes b. Common Cool Season Turfgrass Diseases and Control 1. Brown Patch 2. Dollar Spot 3. Fairy Ring 4. Anthracnose 5. Pythium 6. Nematodes c. Basic Disease Control Strategies- 1. Manual or Mechanical 2. Cultural 3. Biological 4. Physical 5. Chemical (with examples) - Contact - Systemic IV. Diagnosing and Treating Weeds b. Solving Weed Problems 1. Asking the right questions 2. Identifying the Weed 3. Evaluating solutions 4. Considerations to consider when making recommendations a. Legal issues b. Business considerations 5. Resources to help with problem solving
b. Weed Biology 1. Common Annuals 2. Common Biennials 3. Perennials
c. Weed Control Strategies for Turf and Ornamental Beds 1. Manual or Mechanical 2. Cultural 3. Biological 4. Chemical (with examples) a. Preemergent b. Postemergent
V.
Diagnosing
and Treating Common Ornamental Plant Insect Problems a. Problem Solving 1. Asking the right questions 2. Identifying the Problem 3. Evaluating solutions 4. Considerations to consider when making recommendations a. Legal b. Business 5. Resources to help with problem solving
b. Basic Insect Biology 1. Morphology 2. Physiology 3. Life Cycle and Insect Control
c. Basic Insect Control Strategies for Woody Ornamentals with Examples 1. Manual or Mechanical 2. Cultural 3. Biological- natural controls 4. Physical 5. Chemical (with examples) a. Contact b. Systemic c. Biological
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Homeowner calls in early spring. Holly shrub foliage is full of soft bodied scale and aphids accompanied by sooty mold. On inspection, you find sandy soils, no irrigation system, and a home owner that wants no chemical controls used on their plants. Soil tests indicate normal soil fertility. What are your insect control recommendations?
Case Study 2: Homeowner calls in autumn. Caterpillars in tent-like webs are suspended from the end of shade tree limbs. On inspection, you find sandy soils, no irrigation system, mature trees (over 80 in height) and a home owner that wants no “chemical” controls used on their plants. What are your insect control recommendations?
Case Study 3: Homeowner calls in early summer. Small circular and oblong holes are present on hosta leaves. On inspection, you find heavy clay soils, heavy shade, numerous ornamental stones (as a landscape feature), no irrigation system, and a home owner that wants the problem fixed any way possible. Slug and snail mucous trails are observed. What are your insect control recommendations?
Case Study 4: St. Augustinegrass sod was installed in the winter. At green-up large circular patches are observed. The outer edges of the patches have a yellow halo. Turfgrass plants in the center have dead foliage and stolons with decaying but inter-mixed many green healthy stolons. Yellowing of new growth is observed over the entire area. Owner is using a weed-and-fed product in early March/April. What is your recommendation?
Case Study 5: Season has been unusually dry. Leaf scorch is observed on shrub and tree foliage. Crape myrtle foliage and the foliage of other shrubs show a gray blotchy patch or dead irregular areas on leaves. What is causing the leaf scorch on the tree and shrubs foliage? What is your recommendation?
Case Study 6: Trees of many species in select areas are dying in a subdivision less than 8 years old. Numerous species of borers and wood rot diseases can be identified but no single species appears responsible for all the tree problems. Foliage is clustered or clumped near the main trunk of the tree. Trees also exhibit leaf chlorosis and nutrient deficiencies (like iron, manganese, and magnesium). What is your recommendation?
Case study 7: Homeowner calls in early spring. Centipedegrass/St. Augustinegrass/Bermudagrass sod purchased by homeowner (3 years ago) is dying. On inspection, you find sandy soils, no irrigation system, and large dead circular patches in the lawn. Soil tests indicate acceptable soil fertility. Yellowing of foliage is observed in rings around the edge of the patches. Few ant hills or other insects observed in the dead area. Small cream colored spherical cyst-like organisms (1mm diameter) are found in the soil 2-6 inches deep at the outer peripheral areas of the patches.
Case study 8: Homeowner calls in mid-summer. Tall fescue sod purchased by homeowner (1 year ago) is dying. On inspection, you find heavy clay soils, shade, a new irrigation system, and large dead circular patches in the lawn. Soil tests indicate acceptable soil fertility. Yellowing of foliage is observed in rings around the edge of the patches. Few ant hills or other insects observed in the dead area. Patches are more frequent in poorly drained low and shaded areas. Homeowner complains about moss growing on bare ground and is using a lawn service to green-up the lawn. You notice a fertilizer spreader and a bag of weed-and-feed at the utility shed. Homeowner comments that he is supplementing the fertility program of the lawn service. Lawn is mowed to 1.5 inches.
Case Study 9: Homeowner calls in early spring. Shrub and flower beds are full of perennial grass, including bermudagrass. On inspection, you find sandy soils, no irrigation system, and a mixed lawn of common bermudagrass and Tall fescue. Soil tests indicate normal soil fertility. Homeowner wants all grasses out of flower and shrub beds. What are your weed control recommendations?
Case Study 10: Homeowner calls in late spring.
Shrub and flower beds are full of small flowering winter annuals (annual
bluegrass,
Case Study 11: Homeowner calls in early May and complains of heavy weed infestation and cricket moles in the turfgrass. Turfgrass lacks vigor. No large trees exist in the landscape. Standing water is observed in several locations. The yard is fenced in and several large friendly dogs patrol their territory with vigor. What do you suggest?
Case Study 12: A new homeowner contacts you because
their plants are dying. You notice many semi-tropical plants, like palms,
hibiscus, and ferns. These folks want to create a “Jimmy Buffet” landscape in
their backyard in central __________ (fill in the blank with one of the
following:
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