FL Lawn & Ornamental cheat sheet

Turfgrass caterpillars are distinguished by head capsule color and body pattern: fall armyworm has a light inverted Y on the frons and four dark dots per abdominal segment; tropical sod webworm larvae are greenish with dark spots and feed at night; cutworms curl into a C shape when disturbed.

White grub identification in Florida: Cyclocephala (Masked chafer) larvae have a raster of scattered hairs; Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle) has a V-shaped raster; Phyllophaga spp. have a parallel raster.

Southern chinch bug (Blissus insularis) is the key pest of St. Augustinegrass; adults are black with white wings folded in an X pattern; damage appears as yellowing in full-sun, drought-stressed patches.

Mole crickets (Scapteriscus spp.) damage turf by tunneling and feeding on roots; tawny and southern mole crickets are the primary Florida species; adults are identified by dactyl (claw) arrangement on the foreleg.

Bermudagrass mite (Eriophyes cynodoniensis) causes witches'-broom and tufted growth at nodes; mites are microscopic and reside in leaf sheaths and nodes, so miticide coverage must reach those sites.

Ornamental piercing-sucking pests: armored scales have a separate waxy cover and are controlled best during crawler emergence; soft scales produce honeydew and sooty mold; whiteflies and thrips feed on phloem and cause stippling or silvering.

Thrips damage appears as silvering, stippling, and distorted new growth; western flower thrips is a vector of impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in greenhouse ornamentals.

Lepidopteran larvae on ornamentals: identify by host plant and feeding pattern; loopers (Geometridae) move by arching; bagworms construct silk bags and are controlled when larvae are small and exposed.

Distinguish biotic from abiotic by pattern: abiotic problems appear uniformly across a site, follow soil or drainage lines, or affect multiple unrelated plant species; biotic problems are patchy and often species-specific.

Nitrogen deficiency causes uniform yellowing of older leaves first (mobile nutrient); iron deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis on new growth (immobile nutrient) and is common on high-pH Florida soils.

Potassium deficiency shows marginal necrosis on older leaves; magnesium deficiency shows interveinal chlorosis on older leaves; manganese deficiency shows interveinal chlorosis on new growth in high-pH soils.

Turfgrass disease diagnosis requires identifying the disease triangle: susceptible host, virulent pathogen, and favorable environment; dollar spot favors low nitrogen and heavy dew; brown patch favors high nitrogen and warm, humid nights.

Take-all root rot (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis) causes thinning and yellowing of St. Augustinegrass; roots are dark and rotted; confirm by examining roots, not just foliage.

Herbicide injury mimics disease: phenoxy (2,4-D, dicamba) injury causes epinasty and twisted growth; glyphosate causes chlorosis and stunting of new growth; check application records and drift patterns.

Soil testing determines pH and phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels; tissue testing determines what the plant actually took up; use both to diagnose nutritional disorders.

Nematode damage appears as patchy decline, poor response to fertilizer and irrigation, and stubby roots; confirm with a soil assay because symptoms resemble nutrient and water stress.

Signal words reflect acute toxicity: DANGER-POISON (Category I oral/dermal/inhalation), DANGER (Category I with no poison designation), WARNING (Category II), and CAUTION (Category III/IV).

Formulation codes: EC (emulsifiable concentrate, phytotoxic risk with solvents), WP/WDG (wettable powder/water-dispersible granule, requires agitation), SC (suspension concentrate), SL (soluble liquid), G (granule), and F (flowable).

Mode of Action (MoA) groups per FRAC (fungicides), IRAC (insecticides), and HRAC/WSSA (herbicides) are used to design rotations; never apply two products with the same MoA group consecutively against the same pest.

The label is the law: the label's site list, application rate, REI, PHI, and use restrictions are legally binding; off-label use is a violation of FIFRA.

Systemic vs. contact: systemic products (e.g., imidacloprid, propiconazole) move within the plant and require uptake; contact products require thorough coverage and are rainfast only after drying.

Preemergence herbicides (e.g., prodiamine, dithiopyr, pendimethalin) must be applied before weed germination and often require irrigation or mechanical incorporation; they do not control emerged weeds.

Postemergence herbicides are classified as selective or nonselective; 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba are selective for broadleaf weeds; glyphosate and glufosinate are nonselective.

Resistance management: rotate among MoA groups, use labeled rates, avoid sublethal doses, and integrate cultural and mechanical controls to reduce selection pressure.

Calibration formula for broadcast sprayers: GPA = (GPM × 495) / (MPH × W), where GPM is nozzle output, MPH is speed, and W is swath width in feet.

Calibration formula for granular spreaders: rate (lb/1000 sq ft) = (weight collected × 1000) / (area covered in sq ft).

Nozzle selection: flat-fan for broadcast herbicide and preemergence; hollow-cone for thorough coverage of foliage with fungicides and insecticides; drift-reduction (air-induction) nozzles for windy conditions.

Spray volume and pressure: increasing pressure increases flow and drift; increasing nozzle orifice size increases flow; changing speed inversely changes GPA.

Nozzle wear: replace nozzles when flow exceeds 10% of the new-nozzle rating; check all nozzles at once with a calibration jug or flow meter.

Sprayer agitation: suspension concentrates and wettable powders settle; maintain agitation during application and mix according to label order (fill tank with water, add products, then surfactant).

Granular application: use a rotary or drop spreader calibrated for the product; overlap half the swath to avoid streaks; apply when foliage is dry to prevent granules sticking to leaves.

Drift management: apply when wind is 2-10 mph, avoid inversions, use low-drift nozzles, maintain buffer zones, and keep boom height low.

PPE selection follows the label's PPE section; minimum label PPE often includes long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes plus socks, and chemical-resistant gloves; some labels require respirators, goggles, or aprons.

Chemical-resistant glove materials: nitrile and butyl are effective for many pesticides; leather and cloth gloves absorb pesticides and must not be used.

Signal words correlate with toxicity: DANGER-POISON indicates Category I toxicity (oral LD50 ≤ 50 mg/kg); WARNING is Category II; CAUTION is Category III/IV.

Cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates) can cause cholinergic symptoms (salivation, lacrimation, sweating, miosis); monitor handlers per label requirements.

Spill response: contain the spill, protect drains and waterways, use absorbent material, and follow label and SDS instructions; report reportable quantities to the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802).

Environmental protection: maintain buffer zones near water, avoid application before rain, and observe label restrictions for endangered species and groundwater protection.

Triple-rinse containers: rinse with 1/4 of the container volume, pour rinse water into the spray tank, and dispose of the container per state and label requirements.

Heat stress in Florida: schedule applications for cooler parts of the day, hydrate, and recognize heat exhaustion symptoms (dizziness, nausea, confusion) in handlers.

FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) governs pesticide registration, labeling, and use in the United States; the label is legally binding.

Florida pesticide applicator certification is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS); the Lawn & Ornamental category requires passing the core and category exams.

Florida requires certified applicators to keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for at least 2 years; records include date, location, product, EPA registration number, rate, and applicator name.

Restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) may be applied only by or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator; Florida requires RUP licenses for purchase and use.

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requires training, notification, and PPE for agricultural workers and handlers; training must be repeated every 12 months.

Florida law requires posting of treated areas in certain settings (e.g., schools, golf courses); check specific FDACS and local ordinances for posting and notification requirements.

Recordkeeping for general-use pesticides is not required by FIFRA but is required by many Florida label instructions and by WPS for handlers; maintain records for at least 2 years.

Label violation penalties: FIFRA civil penalties can reach thousands of dollars per violation; repeat or knowing violations may carry criminal penalties.

IPM hierarchy: prevention (cultural, sanitation, resistant cultivars) → monitoring (scouting, thresholds) → biological control → chemical control as a last resort.

Economic threshold: the pest density at which the cost of control equals the value of damage prevented; treat only when the threshold is reached.

Action threshold for chinch bug in St. Augustinegrass: treat when 20-25 nymphs are found per square foot in a soap-flush sample.

Biological control agents: predatory mites (Neoseiulus spp.), parasitic wasps (Trichogramma), entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema, Heterorhabditis) for mole crickets and grubs.

Resistance management: rotate MoA groups, use labeled rates, avoid sublethal doses, and combine chemical control with cultural and biological tactics.

Scouting: sample with a soap flush (1-2 tablespoons liquid dish soap per gallon of water poured over 1 sq ft), a cup cutter, or a flotation method to detect chinch bugs and grubs.

Sanitation and exclusion: remove debris, control weeds that harbor pests, and avoid over-fertilization that promotes succulent growth and disease.

Record scouting results and treatment outcomes to evaluate IPM program effectiveness and to justify product rotations.

Mowing height: St. Augustinegrass 3.5-4 inches, bermudagrass 1-1.5 inches on lawns, zoysiagrass 1.5-2 inches; never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in a single mowing.

Fertilization: St. Augustinegrass requires 2-4 lb N per 1000 sq ft per year in Florida; bermudagrass requires 4-6 lb N per 1000 sq ft; avoid nitrogen applications in late fall and winter.

Irrigation: apply 1/2-3/4 inch of water per application when turf shows drought stress (folded leaves, footprinting); water early morning to reduce disease.

Thatch management: maintain thatch below 1/2 inch; core aeration, verticutting, and topdressing reduce thatch; excessive nitrogen and infrequent mowing increase thatch.

Soil pH: most turfgrasses and ornamentals perform best at pH 5.5-6.5; lime raises pH, elemental sulfur lowers pH; test before amending.

Ornamental pruning: prune at the correct time for species; spring-flowering shrubs set buds the previous year, so prune after bloom; avoid heavy pruning in summer heat.

Mulch: maintain 2-3 inches of mulch around ornamentals; keep mulch away from trunks to prevent rot and rodent damage.

Shade and competition: select shade-tolerant turf (St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass) for shaded areas; reduce mowing height slightly and reduce nitrogen under shade.