Village of Hinsdale IPM Compliance Presentation 2012

IPM Policy  Hinsdale adopted the IPM policy in November of 1995  Village property maintained to promote public health, safety, and welfare  Minimize reliance on chemical pesticides  Maximize advantages from alternative pest-control

What is IPM?  Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a program which manages insects, disease, weeds and other pests through environmentally sensitive and economic practices  Utilize best management practices FIRST  Pesticides are only used as a LAST resort

Village IPM Process  Establish action thresholds  Identify pests  Prevent pest damage  Manage pests

Action Thresholds  First step in the IPM process  Level of tolerance for particular pests  Set to prevent harm to people, plants, or property  Management is only taken when a threshold is broken

Action Threshold Honey Locust Plant Bug

Identification  Second step in the IPM process  Identification of pests determines any necessary action for control  Proper identification helps target specific pests which minimizes pesticide application

Identification White Clover at Pierce Park

Prevention  Third step in the IPM process  Utilizes cultural practices to promote healthy plant growth  Encourage natural ability to defend against pests

Prevention Tree pruning

Management  Final step in the IPM process  Only necessary if action threshold is broken  Begin with methods which have little or no environmental impact  Herbicide was applied to 93 acres of Village green space in 2009  Only 22.3 acres were treated with herbicide in 2012

Turf Maintenance  Evaluate  Recommend  Record

Turf Evaluations  Performed three times per season (April, July and November)  Evaluated based on turf density, weed population and overall appearance  Scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)

Turf Evaluations Date: 11/1/12Location: Burns FieldEvaluator: Ralph Nikischer Sub- Location DensityWeedAppearAverageAreaAvg x Area Comments Soccer Area acres 3.16Monitor weed population Fringe acres 9.91Minor spotty patches in parkway Playground acres 0.66N/A Ice Rink acres 3.94Needs consistent attention (aeration and over seeding) Totals5.43 acres /5.43 Score 3.25 Recommendation: The major issue at Burns Field is the ice rink area. This portion of turf is heavily utilized throughout the year. A regular maintenance plan including over seeding and aeration will help maintain this portion of turf. Fertilization in the ice rink area should be carried out in twice in fall and once in spring. Other sub-locations of the park would benefit from fall fertilization. Over seeding and aeration should be done in late summer, fall, and again in the spring. The other locations in the park should be aerated twice per year and over seeded in the fall. Spot seeding in the spring could also be beneficial.

Turf Evaluations Burns Ice Rink

Turf Recommendations  Recommendations are made in conjunction with turf evaluations  Recommendations include aerating, fertilizing, over seeding and weed control

Turf Recommendations BURNS FIELD A ICE RINK A,F,W,S A SOCCER AREA A,F A PLAYGROUND A,F PF FRINGE A,F Nov-12 Density Weed Pop.Appear. Action SITE LOCATIONThresholdRatingRecommendations

Turf Improvements  Soil  Seed  Water

Soil  Conduct soil tests Conducted on deficient turf areas Determines nutrient availability Explains soil pH and texture  Aeration Ideal soil composition: 25% water, 25% pore space and 50% soil solids Alleviates compaction Conducted at least twice per season Ideally four rounds of aeration cycles on heavily used turf areas

Soil  Fertilization Performed three times per season Utilized as needed based on turf evaluations  Top dress with organic matter Materials include biosolids, peat moss and compost Improve soil structure Increase cation exchange capacity Adjust soil pH

Top Dressing Veeck Park Spring 2011

Top Dressing Veeck Park Fall 2012

Over seeding  Seed is chosen based on soil structure, water availability and use  Perennial Rye and Bluegrass mix used on athletic fields  Fescue mixes used on shaded areas  Test out new varieties and mixes

Water  Turf can require at least two inches of water per week  10 Village green spaces have irrigation systems  Drought conditions impacted Village green space in 2012

Water Drought stress at Stough Park

Sustainable Landscaping  13 planting beds in the business district converted to sustainable landscaping  Project cost $  Provides aesthetic landscape with minimal maintenance

Sustainable Landscaping

Prairie Maintenance  Performed prescribed prairie burns for Charleston Road Aquatic Garden and Jackson Street Prairie in March 2012  Native plants root systems withstand heat  Locations continue to improve quantity and quality of native plant species

Prairie Maintenance Charleston Rd Prescribed Burn

Prairie Maintenance Charleston Rd. After

Tree Preservation  Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in February of trees treated in 2012 Lost 42 trees  Elm Program 326 trees treated in 2012 Lost 27 public and 51 private  131 new trees were planted

Tree Preservation Emerald Ash Borer Gallery

Mosquito Abatement  West Nile Virus cases rose in 2012  171 cases in Cook County  55 cases in DuPage County  Mosquito abatement services include surveillance, monitoring, larva and adult control as necessary

Recommendations  Turf Maintenance Continue using corn gluten meal at Melin Park Continue using Burn Out II as a non-toxic herbicide Continue education on natural lawn care Expand soil testing to develop long term soil amendment program Approve the use of TriPower chemical pesticide for fall 2013 application as necessary Increase over seeding

Recommendations Continue using biosolids as an organic fertilizer alternative and soil amendment  Sustainable Landscaping Selectively prune sustainable plants to encourage vigorous growth Incorporate sustainable plants to KLM entrance beds Conduct prescribed burns at Charleston Road Aquatic Garden and Jackson Street Prairie in spring 2013

Recommendations  Tree Maintenance Continue Emerald Ash Borer injections and document results Continue elm preservation program  Continue mosquito abatement program

Questions? Ralph Nikischer Village Horticulturalist