1. Development and Maintenance of a Knowledge Base

OBJECTIVE
Maintain organized references on agronomics, management materials and pests, and provide for easy access to information as needed. 

Develop and maintain professional turf management competency. 

  • This may include attending degree or certificate programs, workshops, conferences, field days, seminars and/or webinars, and in-house and on-the-job training 

Learn about pest identification and biology to effectively implement pest management strategies. 

  • If an insect, disease, or weed population affects a lawn area, the turf manager must be knowledgeable about the life cycle of the problem pest. 
  • For example, when is damage most likely to occur? What is the most susceptible stage for control? How can cultural practices be targeted to reduce pest populations? 

Maintain an organized library of turf management reference materials.  

  • The development of a library of reference materials will provide easy access to information as needed. 
  • Many excellent references are available. Consult Appendix E on page 127 of this document for a list of suggested resources and references. 

Reference materials and other reliable information sources could include:

  • reference textbooks (see appendix) 

  • trade journals 

  • pest management guides 

  • university and associated newsletters and e-newsletters

  • electronic media, websites 

Create and maintain current files for key pests (weeds, diseases, and insects) as well as abiotic stresses.  

  • Hard copy or electronic files may consist of articles, fact sheets, images, web sites, excerpts from larger publications, personal notes, etc. 

Example information that might be included in each pest file: 

  • life cycle 
  • environmental conditions and weather that favor pest activity 
  • symptoms 
  • best monitoring time  
  • best monitoring technique  
  • effective management tools and techniques: cultural, chemical, biological 

Obtain and maintain appropriate licenses and professional certifications. 

  • Individuals applying pesticides should be properly licensed and/or certified as required by law. 
  • Association memberships and professional certification programs (e.g. MCLP, MCH, CSFM) are useful avenues for professional development. 

Identify and access a reliable source of weather information regularly. 

  • Weather conditions and soil temperatures play a role in determining timing of cultural practices as well as pest activity and severity.  

Types of critical data should include current, accurately predicted and archived information on:  

  • most recent and forecast weather 
  • temperature
  • precipitation 
  • relative humidity and dew points 

Note and record specific weather or phenological information. 

  • It is often useful to monitor and record soil temperatures at 1.0 inch weekly during key times of the season at locations representative of the range of different microclimates being managed.  
  • A record of dates of full bloom of key bio-indicator plants (i.e. Forsythia, dogwood, horsechestnut) can be important in tracking pest development. 
  • Major, extreme or unusual weather events and their effects on turf or implications for applications of fertilizer or pest management materials.