Pollinator habitat. What comes to mind? A flower bed, fruit or tree orchard, a corn or wheat field, wild flowers along the side of the road, a flowering bush…a lawn of turf grass?
“There are some turf species that produce seed heads, where dispersal or movement, either through air currents or through pollinators, may be impacted by pollinating insects.”
Yet, according to North Carolina State University entomologist Terry Billeisen, seeing a significant number of pollinators in a home, lawn or golf course, whether bees, butterflies or Wasp, indicates…
“The general health or general balance in terms of insect populations within the system.”
Both in the number of non pollinators living within a turf grass ecosystem and the flowering plant species within a lawn or golf course, such as those found in flower beds or within native grasses. Thriving insect species within such an ecosystem, both pollinators and others, means minimal use of pesticides. From a best management practice perspective, needs to be considered.
“You want to adopt management strategies that have the smallest impact, not only just on pollinators, but on those other beneficial insect populations as well.”
Billeisen says the general concept is the same, regardless of ecosystem or environment. Yet some best management practices are more feasible or flexible in a particular lawn, golf course, or turf ecosystem than others.
“First of all that an application is absolutely necessary. Very often we see that damage is misdiagnosed and people incorrectly assume an infect is at fault, and so they make an insecticide application. Insecticide their products designed to kill insects. And so this application of those obviously going to be something that we want to avoid right off the bat.”
So need to apply pesticides to a lawn turf ecosystem, remove all flower heads from weeds by hand, herbicide or turf mowing prior to the application. Another strategy, create a two to three inch mulch buffer zone between flowering ornamentals and turf grass. So when and how to apply pesticides? Billisons advice. Think like a pollinator.
“They’re more likely to be active the month June through August, whenever temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you can avoid making applications then, again, not always feasible, but whenever possible, that’s kind of the first step.”
Other tips to minimizing pesticide application, avoid neonicotinoids around flowering shrubs and trees, as well as application in windy conditions. And if possible, use a granular application instead of sprays, dust, and powders.
“And then choosing a less toxic insecticide class the homeowner, if you go to the hardware store, there are certainly some products you can select that are going to be way less toxic to bees and others.”