NCDOT's Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program
The following BLOG details the different programs that make up the NCDOT's Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management(IRVM)Program......
An effective IRVM program requires the Vegetation Manager to be knowledgeable about turfgrass, ornamental plantings, brush control and noxious and invasive weeds. During the pest control evaluation phase, herbicides may be the only realistic and cost effective control method available.
The use of herbicides is not an automatic response to sighting a pest, but rather the result of a "step down" procedure of evaluating all methods of control to maintain public safety and aesthetics. When herbicides are the chosen method of control, general use materials are selected based on least environmental impact and general use materials. Herbicides are then applied in a safe manner according to label directions when the pest is in a controllable stage.
Decisions to utilise herbicides are made after cultural or biological control methods have been evaluated. Short term and long term pest impacts are also considered and the cost of application and economic benefits are evaluated in the decision making process. With proper planning, herbicides can be used to reduce the frequency of mowing cycles and ultimately reduce the annual maintenance cost for interstate and primary routes. The following sections describe how herbicides can be important and necessary tools in an IRVM Program.
Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Program reduces one to two mowing cycles per year. The growth regulator program may be utilized to control the growth of cool season grasses such as fescue. A growth retardant typically interferes with cell division and thus prevents seedhead development. A plant growth regulator program can be an alternative to mechanical mowing, especially to reduce early season mowing cycles. Proper seasonal timing of application is critical for success.
The Warm Season Release (WSR) Program controls undesirable grass and weed species while releasing or maintaining warm season turfgrasses such as bahiagrass, bermudagrass and centipedegrass. Pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide treatments may be utilized in late winter or early spring to prevent growth of weeds and reduce early season sight distance problems and mowing cycles.
A Seedhead Control Program for warm season turfgrasses may also be utilized. Like the PGR program, this seedhead control program may reduce one to two mowing cycles per year in turfgrass areas that are being managed as warm season species, especially for Pensacola Bahiagrass. Such a control program has been shown to be an acceptable alternative to mechanical mowing, especially to reduce mowing cycles during the early "green-up" stage of the warm season turfgrass-growing season. Proper seasonal timing of application is critical for success, however this type of seedhead control may be applied at various warm season turfgrass developmental stages.
The Broadleaf Weed Control Program consists of controlling weed species along the roadsides while they are small and actively growing. Broadleaf weeds can present a major sight distance problem if not addressed properly. The presence of broadleaf weeds in roadside turfgrass can be aesthetically undesirable, and may also prevent the desired turfgrass from becoming readily established. The Department may utilize pre-emergence or post-emergence herbicides which effectively control broadleaf weeds.
The Annual Grass Control Program may utilize herbicide treatments during the summer to control annual and perennial grasses such as crabgrass, dallasgrass, broomsedge, goosegrass, and others. Annual grass control is crucial in any vegetation management program because undesirable annual and perennial grasses compete for plant nutrients during the summer months, thinning stands of desirable turf. In many cases, especially in warm season grass areas, control of undesirable annual grasses may negate or delay the need for mechanical mowing because the desirable turfgrass may not be of sufficient height to warrant the cost of a mowing cycle.
An effective IRVM program requires the Vegetation Manager to be knowledgeable about turfgrass, ornamental plantings, brush control and noxious and invasive weeds. During the pest control evaluation phase, herbicides may be the only realistic and cost effective control method available.
The use of herbicides is not an automatic response to sighting a pest, but rather the result of a "step down" procedure of evaluating all methods of control to maintain public safety and aesthetics. When herbicides are the chosen method of control, general use materials are selected based on least environmental impact and general use materials. Herbicides are then applied in a safe manner according to label directions when the pest is in a controllable stage.
Decisions to utilise herbicides are made after cultural or biological control methods have been evaluated. Short term and long term pest impacts are also considered and the cost of application and economic benefits are evaluated in the decision making process. With proper planning, herbicides can be used to reduce the frequency of mowing cycles and ultimately reduce the annual maintenance cost for interstate and primary routes. The following sections describe how herbicides can be important and necessary tools in an IRVM Program.
Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Program reduces one to two mowing cycles per year. The growth regulator program may be utilized to control the growth of cool season grasses such as fescue. A growth retardant typically interferes with cell division and thus prevents seedhead development. A plant growth regulator program can be an alternative to mechanical mowing, especially to reduce early season mowing cycles. Proper seasonal timing of application is critical for success.
The Warm Season Release (WSR) Program controls undesirable grass and weed species while releasing or maintaining warm season turfgrasses such as bahiagrass, bermudagrass and centipedegrass. Pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide treatments may be utilized in late winter or early spring to prevent growth of weeds and reduce early season sight distance problems and mowing cycles.
A Seedhead Control Program for warm season turfgrasses may also be utilized. Like the PGR program, this seedhead control program may reduce one to two mowing cycles per year in turfgrass areas that are being managed as warm season species, especially for Pensacola Bahiagrass. Such a control program has been shown to be an acceptable alternative to mechanical mowing, especially to reduce mowing cycles during the early "green-up" stage of the warm season turfgrass-growing season. Proper seasonal timing of application is critical for success, however this type of seedhead control may be applied at various warm season turfgrass developmental stages.
The Broadleaf Weed Control Program consists of controlling weed species along the roadsides while they are small and actively growing. Broadleaf weeds can present a major sight distance problem if not addressed properly. The presence of broadleaf weeds in roadside turfgrass can be aesthetically undesirable, and may also prevent the desired turfgrass from becoming readily established. The Department may utilize pre-emergence or post-emergence herbicides which effectively control broadleaf weeds.
The Annual Grass Control Program may utilize herbicide treatments during the summer to control annual and perennial grasses such as crabgrass, dallasgrass, broomsedge, goosegrass, and others. Annual grass control is crucial in any vegetation management program because undesirable annual and perennial grasses compete for plant nutrients during the summer months, thinning stands of desirable turf. In many cases, especially in warm season grass areas, control of undesirable annual grasses may negate or delay the need for mechanical mowing because the desirable turfgrass may not be of sufficient height to warrant the cost of a mowing cycle.
posted by Steve Hampton at
3:15 PM
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