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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett Creek Conservation Park | 8/21 – 9/15 | 7:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. | Wooded area adjacent to meadow area along Route 27 | Roundup Custom and Pathfinder II will be applied to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Little Bennett Regional Park | 8/21 – 9/15 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Floodplain between Little Seneca Creek and Western Piedmont Trail | Roundup Custom will be applied to invasive weeds to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Clarkmont Local Park | 9/4 – 9/15 | 6:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Landscape and tree beds | Prosecutor and/or Dimension will be applied to invasive weeds to protect plantings. |
| Germantown Town Center Urban Park | 9/4 – 9/15 | 6:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Stone pathway, landscape beds | Prosecutor and/or Sureguard will be applied to broadleaf weeds to protect amenities and infrastructure. |
| Germantown Town Center Urban Park | 9/4 – 9/15 | 6:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Landscape beds | Three-Way will be applied to invasive weeds to protect plantings. |
| Magruder Branch Stream Valley Park | 9/11- 9/12 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Natural areas | Roundup will be applied to to invasive weeds to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park Unit 3 | 9/11 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Reforestation area SW of 4104 Brookville Road and NE of 4412 Brookville Road | Garlon 3A will be applied to invasive weeds to protect plantings. |
| Olney Manor Recreational Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Northwest Branch Recreational Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Fairland Recreational Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Cloverly Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| East Norbeck Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Columbia Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Greenwood Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Burtonsville Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Layhill Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Ednor Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Manor Oaks Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:00a.m. to 1:30p.m. | Diamonds (infields, player benches, warning tracks) | Finalsan will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds for player safety. |
| Clarkmont Local Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Landscape beds | Prosecutor and/or Sureguard will be applied to invasive weeds to protect plantings. |
| Germantown Town Center Urban Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 6:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Landscape beds | Prosecutor and/or Sureguard will be applied to annual grass weeds to protect amenities and infrastructure. |
| Black Hill Regional Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Cabin Branch floodplain, between Hamilton Trail and Cabin Branch Trail | Roundup Custom will be applied to invasive weeds to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| River Road Shale Barrens Conservation Park | 9/11 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Hillside area on north side of River Road | Roundup Custom and Pathfinder II will be applied to invasive weeds to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Laytonia Recreational Park | 9/18 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Right-of-way Route 115 to park | Volunteer will be applied to noxious weeds (thistles, johnsongrass, shattercane) to comply with state law. |
| Magruder Branch Stream Valley Park | 9/18 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Outfall | Roundup and/or Garlon 3A will be applied to invasive weeds to protect amenities and infrastructure. |
| Rock Creek Regional Park | 9/18 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. | Landscape beds | T/I 2.5G will be applied to selective grass and broadleaf weeds to protect plantings. |
| 1905 Arcola Avenue | 9/18 – 9/22 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Natural area on western side of property (unmowed area under mature trees) | Transline will be applied to invasive weeds (Chinese wisteria) to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Black Hill Regional Park | 9/18 – 9/29 | 6:30a.m. to 2:30p.m. | Fence around Chestnut planting, tree rings | Prosecutor Pro will be applied to annual grass and invasive weeds to protect amenities and infrastructure. |
| Black Hill Park Police Substation | 9/18 – 9/29 | 6:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Flag landscape bed, ac units areas | Element 3A will be applied to woody weeds to protect amenities and infrastructure. |
| Clarkmont Local Park | 9/18 – 9/29 | 6:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Landscape beds | Prosecutor Pro will be applied to annual grass weeds to protect plantings. |
| Germantown Town Center Urban Park | 9/18 – 9/29 | 6:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Landscape beds, paver walkways | Prosecutor and/or Sureguard will be applied to annual grass weeds to protect amenities and infrastructure. |
| Countryside Neighborhood Park | 9/18 – 9/29 | 6:30a.m. to 2:30p.m. | Pond | Element 3A will be applied to invasive weeds restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Trolley Museum Property | 9/25- 9/29 | 6:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Forested area behind athletic field team maintenance yard | Garlon 3A will be applied to to invasive weeds to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park | 9/25- 9/29 | 7:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. | Mulch beds, walkways, landscaped areas | Cheetah will be applied to to invasive weeds to protect plantings. |
| Olney Manor Recreational Park | 9/25- 9/29 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Mulch beds, walkways, landscaped areas | Cheetah will be applied to to invasive weeds to protect amentities and infrastructure. |
| Agricultural History Farm Park | 9/25- 9/29 | 7:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. | Mulch beds, walkways, landscaped areas | Ranger Pro will be applied to to invasive weeds to protect amentities and infrastructure. |
| Germantown Town Center Urban Park | 9/25- 10/7 | 6:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. | Stone walkways | Prosecutor and/or Sureguard will be applied to annual grass weeds to to protect amentities and infrastructure. |
| Rachel Carson Consevation Park | 9/25- 10/6 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Natural areas, meadow | Garlon 3A will be applied to vegetation to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| South Germantown Recreational Park | 9/27 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Pond | Captain XTR or Seclear will be applied to algae to restore habitat and protect ecosystem. |
| South Germantown Recreational Park | 9/27 | 7:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. | Pond shoreline | Diquat herbicide, Aquaneat, or Flumigard will be applied to to invasive weeds 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.