Development and implementation of integrated pest management in lawn care

We conducted a three year study comparing the aesthetic, biological and economic effectiveness of five different lawn care programs including a chemically and an organically/biologically based integrated pest management program in experimental turfgrass plots over a three year period. Data were recorded on lawn quality, occurrence/populations of weeds, insects and diseases, and the cost of monitoring and the application of pesticides. Results indicated superior performance of the IPM programs compared to the standard programs. We also then worked with a large lawn care company to demonstrate and implement the IPM approach. The results are encouraging and open the way forward for the long-awaited implementation of IPM in lawn care.