Sports Turf Agronomic Management Program

PESTICIDE USAGE IN PARKS FOR WEED CONTROL

Since the implementation of the City of Irvine IPM Policy, the Landscape Maintenance Division has successfully managed a healthy turf grass population within the City ’ s IPM tiered approach. Organic as well as synthetic products are used to control weeds in hardscape and landscape at the 62 parks maintained by the city.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Park Pesticides Usage For Insect Control

The City Landscape Maintenance Division also uses biological control to reduce pest

Fire ants continue to be a

challenge throughout the City. The

use of organic products provides

populations. Biological control uses organisms often referred to as beneficials, natural enemies, or biocontrols. The biological controls act to keep pest populations low enough to prevent significant economic damage. The most common organism types used for biological control in landscapes to combat pest populations are predators and parasites. The City of Irvine has implemented the use of beneficial insects which are released in the parks and streetscapes to combat destructive pests, instead of relying on pesticides.

adequate control after three

consecutive daily treatments if the

fire ants are detected early during

mound formation. The three

consecutive treatments are labor

intensive and costly, but the

practice is an example of the City ’ s

commitment to the organic first

approach to pest management.

Organic products are also

utilized for rodent control

in city parks.

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