Montgomery Parks Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use

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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use
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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use
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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use
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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use
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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use
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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use

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Integrated Pest Management Program and Pesticide Use

Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland including 420 parks, 275 playgrounds, 362 athletic fields, and many other amenities. The Department follows Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles to steward resources and protect them from pests (weeds, insects, animals, and diseases) that may harm people or plants, impair function, and deteriorate infrastructure. IPM means managing pests by combining multiple strategies and techniques such as mechanical removal of pests, cultural methods to improve soil and plant health, conserving and introducing beneficial biological controls, and using pesticides.

The Parks Department does not use pesticides for cosmetic purposes. Pesticides are used as a last resort to control noxious and invasive pests, maintain safe and playable athletic fields and courts, and prevent significant economic damage, including degradation of park infrastructure.

Staff who apply pesticides and fertilizers are certified and registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Montgomery Parks is committed to balancing the demand for recreation while protecting and conserving our valuable natural and cultural resources to meet the needs of current and future generations.

What is Montgomery County Code 33B?

County Code Chapter 33B went into effect July 1, 2016. The code presents guidelines for pesticide use in Montgomery County, including on county property and parkland. The goal of the code “is to inform the public about pesticide applications and minimize the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes, while not restricting the ability to use pesticides in agriculture, for the protection of public health, or for other public benefits.” Learn more about Montgomery County’s pesticide law.

What is Montgomery Parks doing to comply with the law?

Montgomery Parks continues to implement IPM strategies to ensure pesticides are used as a last resort. Montgomery Parks manages all playgrounds, community gardens and common lawn areas within local parks without the use of pesticides. In 2016, Montgomery Parks designated ten pesticide-free parks. In September 2019, the program expanded to 45 pesticide-free parks. To manage pests in parks that are designated pesticide-free, staff use alternative methods, such as hot foam, string trimming, mechanical weed removal, and products approved for use by Montgomery County Code 33B. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection examples of products allowed in pesticide-free parks under the law.

Scheduled Pesticide Applications

The below table includes a schedule of upcoming pesticide applications.* The list is updated to provide at least 48-hour notice for applications.

Park Name	Planned Application Date Range	Planned Application Time	Area To Be Treated	Application Details
Blair Local Park	11/7 – 11/10	7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Baseball field 1, softball field 2	Fiesta will be applied to broadleaf weeds to meet standards of play.
Johnson’s Local Park	11/7 – 11/22	8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Oak trees	Shortstop will be applied to oak trees to support plant or turf health.
Silver Spring Intermediate Neighborhood Park	11/7 – 11/22	8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Oak trees	Shortstop will be applied to oak trees to support plant or turf health.
Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park Unit #3	11/7 – 11/22	7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Reforestation area on the north side of Reddy Branch between 4104 Brookville Road and 4412 Brookville Road	Garlon 3A will be applied to invasive weeds to protect plantings.
Brookside Gardens	11/14 – 11/18	7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Carved sycamore sculpture at beginning of path to the Trial Garden	Bor 8 Rods will be applied to sycamore sculpture to preserve the wood.
Reddy Branch Stream Valley Unit #1	11/14 – 11/18	7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Recently constructed 2.3 acres of stream valley mitigation project site	Rodeo and/or RoundUp will be applied to invasive weeds to suppress plant growth.
Reddy Branch Stream Valley Unit #2	11/14 – 11/18	7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Half acre of tributary stream valley constructed bridge project	Rodeo and/or RoundUp will be applied to invasive weeds to suppress plant growth.
Johnson’s Local Park	11/15 – 11/18	7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Oak grove	Cambistat will be applied to oak trees to support plant or turf health.
Silver Spring Intermediate Neighborhood Park	11/15 – 11/18	7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Oak tree in center of the park	Cambistat will be applied to the oak tree to support plant or turf health.
Rachel Carson Conservation Park	12/5 – 12/16	7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Forested areas along the Fern Valley Trail, between the stream and the top of hill	Rodeo and/or Roundup Custom will be applied to nonnative invasive vegetation to restore habitat and protect ecosystem.
Rock Creek Regional Park	12/12 – 12/16	7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Floodplain on the east side of the paved hiking/biking trail (from trail to base of hill) on the north side of Southlawn Lane.	Rodeo and/or Roundup Custom will be applied to nonnative invasive shrubs to restore habitat and protect ecosystem.

*Montgomery Parks staff make every effort to notify the community on this webpage when a pesticide application is scheduled in a public area. Dates of applications may change or be canceled due to weather; also, occasional emergency applications may be needed.

On-site Signage Procedures:

White prenotification signs are placed in advance of an application to playing fields, managed turf and treatments within 25 feet of a stream or creek. The signs list the planned application date, product, and the reason for the application.
Yellow signs are installed at the site at the time of application and remain in place at least 48 hours following the pesticide application. For more information, call the phone number listed on the back of the sign.

Please contact Montgomery Parks if you have any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are pests and why must they be managed?

Pests include weeds, insects, animals and pathogens that cause damage or harm. Pests are managed for many reasons including; to prevent harm to patrons, improve safety and accessibility, control invasive species, protect the forest and tree canopy of Montgomery County, maintain infrastructure and to comply with local, state and federal laws.
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is an approach to solving pest problems by applying science-based knowledge about pests to prevent them from harming plants, landscapes, buildings or people while minimizing risks to people and the environment.

There are four key components of IPM:

1. Mechanical and physical control: this strategy uses tactics to remove or block a pest, like a mouse trap or mulch that smothers weeds.
2. Cultural control: these methods include choosing pest-resistant plant cultivars, improving soils, and fertilizing to support healthy plants.

3. Biological control: these strategies protect, conserve and introduce natural enemies – like predators and parasites—to keep pest populations in balance and prevent significant damage.
4. Chemical control: this strategy includes synthetic and organic products to reduce damaging pest populations. Effective products are applied using techniques that minimize harm to people, non-target organisms, and the environment.

IPM programs combine a variety of management practices for greater effectiveness, including:
• Monitor plant health for early detection of pests.
• Maintain scouting records with calendars and maps of pest outbreaks.
• Assess pest population levels to determine damage potential and treatment thresholds.
• Identify, conserve, introduce and protect biological control organisms.
• Optimize timing of control measures based on season, pest life cycle, and environmental conditions.
• Select pesticides with low human risk that: are short-lived in the environment, are proven to effectively control the specific pest or pathogen, pose little threat to natural enemies and non-target species and are rotated with pesticides of different resistance classes.
• Choose equipment, nozzle and application techniques to optimize control, reduce pesticide quantity and minimize drift to prevent off-target effects.
• Review and evaluate treatment efficacy; modify as needed
What are pesticides?

A pesticide is a substance used to kill, repel, or control pests.
There are many different types of pesticides including;
• herbicides which control weeds,
• insecticides which control insects,
• fungicides which prevent the growth of molds and mildew,
• disinfectants which prevent the spread of bacteria
• rodenticides which are compounds used for controlling mice and rats
When and where are pesticides used?

Pesticides are used in the context of an integrated program of controls (Integrated Pest Management). Integrated pest management favors nonchemical controls, such as physical, mechanical, and biological, over chemical. When pests cannot be controlled by alternative methods, pesticides may be needed for park land and facilities.

Montgomery Parks provides information about planned pesticide applications to public areas on our website at least 48 hours prior to treatment (with the exception of emergency applications). Signs are also installed on-site at the location of the application with precise details and time of the application.
What alternative methods are used to manage pests?

The most common alternative pest management strategy is physical removal, which includes string trimming, mowing, pruning and even digging out pest-prone plants. Additional methods include applying hot water, steam, propane flame, or a hot foam consisting of a natural blend of plant oils and sugars including maize, potatoes, wheat, rapeseed and coconut. Biological control organisms, natural enemies that help keep damaging pests in balance, are also introduced and conserved in our parks, gardens and greenhouse facilities.
What areas in Montgomery Parks are pesticide-free?

All playgrounds, lawn areas in local parks, and community gardens in Montgomery Parks are maintained without the use of pesticides.

Montgomery Parks also manages 45 pesticide-free parks in different regions of Montgomery County. (A complete list can be found in the “Pesticide-Free Parks” section on the upper right side of this page). Pests in parks designated pesticide-free are managed using alternative methods, such as hot foam, string trimming, mechanical weed removal and products approved for use by Montgomery County Code 33B. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection has posted examples of products allowed in pesticide-free parks under the law on their website.

These parks began as a pilot program for Parks staff to learn about the impacts and best practices of maintaining parks with alternative methods and products.

Synthetic pesticides are only used in pesticide-free parks or playgrounds when there is an immediate threat to human health, such as stinging insects.
How is Montgomery Parks using integrated pest management to maintain athletic fields?

Montgomery Parks follows an integrated pest management program on all athletic fields. Skinned infields and warning tracks are managed primarily via mechanical means as resources allow. Turfgrass is managed using aeration, improved turfgrass cultivars, and a nutrient management program to produce healthy turfgrass. When pests exceed thresholds and could affect player safety, pesticides are an option for management.

Montgomery Parks is conducting a pilot program to learn about the impacts and best practices of maintaining athletic fields using organic turf management approach. The pilot program is comparing two fields at Laytonia Recreational park; one is maintained using traditional turfgrass management and one is maintained using organic turf management. Montgomery Parks is working with a team of turf grass experts in the industry and from an accredited local university. The Parks Athletic Field team is overseeing the program implementation, and communicating with the university for program evaluation. The University is monitoring and providing independent assessments for consistency and field quality. Parks has retained a qualified vendor to implement the program for three years, with options for additional years pending funding and initial results
How do you manage the risk as an employer directing employees to use products that have safety concerns?

Risk is managed through training, staff certification requirements, providing required personal protective equipment, regular equipment maintenance and training in proper equipment operation.

Montgomery Parks’ pesticide applicators are registered and certified through the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). To become registered/ certified they must successfully complete a comprehensive training program that includes weed and insect identification, pest monitoring, how to protect pests’ natural enemies, pesticide label comprehension, safety and emergency procedures, pesticide application techniques, environmental and health concerns, integrated pest management principles and best management practices. Certified pesticide applicators are required to attend annual training courses to renew their certification each year.

Park staff are expected to comply with all county, MDA, and Environmental Protection Agency notification, posting, label, and safety requirements when applying pesticides on parkland. Park staff who apply pesticides are directed to always wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The PPE is specified on the pesticide label for safe use during applications. PPE includes protective suits, footwear, gloves, aprons, respirators, eyewear, and headgear.
After an application, how long should residents stay away from an area where a chemical has been applied? What is the basis for this guidance? How is this information provided to a person who comes into an area where a chemical has been applied?

Labeled products specify the re-entry interval on the pesticide label and safety data sheets. For public spaces, applicators select products that have a re-entry interval that allows entry when the application area has dried from a liquid application or when dust has settled from a granular application.

The pesticide applicator will still be on-site until the product has dried for liquid applications or the dust has settled for granular applications. Signs required by the Maryland Department of Agriculture for turf and ornamental applications stay on site for 48 hours following an application. Even though signs stay up longer, people can enter the treated area when dry or dust has settled according to the label requirement.
How can you help to reduce pesticides in Montgomery Parks?

Using alternative methods to manage pests is labor-intensive and requires additional staff time and volunteer support. You can help with this effort by volunteering to remove weeds from parks and natural areas. Please contact our Volunteer Services Office for more information. https://www.montgomeryparks.org/support/volunteer/

Last Updated: December 2, 2022