Organic Turf Program - 2009 6 - STEP PROGRAM STEP 1 8-0-3 Biofertilizer: Application: Early Spring STEP 2 9-0-0 Corn Gluten: Applied as a high nitrogen fertlizer and weed suppressor. Application: Summer STEP 3 PHC Biopak Plus: Biostimulant with kelp abstract to reduce stress. Application: Summer STEP 4 5-5-5 Plant Tech Application: Late Summer STEP 5 Cal Turf Pro: Lime substitute - raises PH and neutralizes soil acidity. Application: Early Autumn STEP 6 8-0-3 Biofertlizer. Application: Late Autmn ORGANICS 1. What is considered to be "organic" among those in the organic community?
The term organic is used when the principals of the following goals are adhered to:
- No synthetic pesticides including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
- No synthetic fertilizers. Fertilizers containing urea, biosolids or chilean nitrates.
- No Genetically engineered organisms
- The practice of building healthy soil that can support diverse soil life as well
as the groth of strong, healthy turf.
- The use of good cultural practices that engourage the groth of healthy turf and reduce the
need for irrication and other inputs.
- Increasing diversity of plant cultivars and species where approprate depending on how the
lawn will be used and the standards of the client.
The organic chemistry definition, that of a molecule with attached carbon atoms does not apply here. 2. Why Organics?
- Organic programs are driven by the concerns of the effects taht synthetic compounds
(pesticides and synthetic fertilizers) will have on the environment. 3. What is considered to be a pesticide?
- The EPA definition of a pesticide is "any substance intended for preventing, destroying,
repelling or mitigating any pest." Pests include insects, unwanted weeds, unwanted fungi,
bacteria and viruses that cause damage in plants. Pest also include rodents and animals
that do damage to plants. There are "organic pesticides" commercially available for sale. ORGANIC PESTICIDES The organic community does not consider all pesticides to be harmful. The clearinghouse for establishing an acceptable standard for "organic pesticides" is the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). The exception to this belief is the use of Chilean Nitrate; the local organic govering body, The Notheast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), which have several products taht are approved by OMRI. Here is a partial list of popular Insecticides. Azatrol - (PBI Gordon)
M - Pede - Dow
Conserve - Dow ORGANIC PEST CONTROL PRACTICES A lawn that is made of up 70% turf and 30% weeds is considereed acceptable according to NOFA Standards. Proper cultural practices such as aeration to relieve compaction and balancing soil PH are critical to weed control. Mechanical Cultivation - This is the best advice for dense weed populations.
Hand pulling - for minor infestationss Spot Control - Hand pick selectively or use a liquid organic herbicide that contains the following:
Acetic acid
Clove oil
Citric acid
Weed burning is also acceptable. Seed immediately following application to increase competition of desirable grasses. Proper cultural practices and modifications of the existing soils is critical for any weed control program. The following conditions are optimum for the following weeds: Wet, poorly drained soil
- algae, annual bluegrass, nutsedge, plaintains, rushes, sedges, smartweeds
Droughty, Excessively dry soil
quackgrass, cinquefoils, crabgrass, yarrow Low Soil PH
moss, red sorrel, wild strawberry Low Soil Fertility
cinquefoils, mallow, moss, wild carrot Low Nitrogen
clovers, chickweed, vetches Soil Compation
annual bluegrass, broadleaf plantain, moss, pineapple weed, prostrate knot weed. Low Mowing Height
annual bluegrass, chickweeds, purslane, crabrass, creeping bentgrass, ground ivy, moss Shade
common chickweed, moss, mouse ear chickweed, ciolet, ground ivy There is no commercially available product that will provide post emergent control for weeds in turf that is even remotely as effective as non organic products. There are also many beneficial uses for the weeds, sheep like dandelions, for instance. 1. Before taking any action, have a good idea of the population size that you are treating. The population may not warrant control. Use the flotation method for chinch bugs, the soapy drench method for sod webworms, armyworms and cutworms. Sample for grubs with a spade or soil sampler at two foot intervals. Six to 10 grubs per square foot is a serious problem. 2. Dethatching- exessive thatch provides good habitat for insect pests. Remove thatch to a layer that is no more than 1/2 inch deep. This will discourage chinch bugs, Sod webworms, Armyworms, Cutworms and Billbugs. 3. Concerve Predators - Avoild spraying broad spectrum insecticides (organic or conventional) which will wipe out the predators as well as the pests. 4. Organic Controls include the following products:
Conserve - works on young populations of chinch bugs and lepidoptera.
Insecticidal soaps - soft bodied insects such as aphids and caterpillars
Bacillus thuringensis - Lepidopteral
Pyrethrums - Chinch bugs, Lepidoptera (not in Ma.)
Insect parasitic nematodes - grubs and surface insects
Milky Spore - grub control | 
