Integrated Pest Management
The City of Colorado Springs Parks Department follows an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy that focuses on using a multi-faceted approach to better defend against pests. The objective is to control weeds in the City parks, open spaces, and public right of ways and insects that can be damaging to the urban tree canopy. The best weed control is a healthy, vigorously growing stand of turf grass that can out compete weeds. We accomplish this by focusing on cultural practices such as mowing, fertilizing, irrigating, soil aeration/dethatching, topdressing, and overseeding. Herbicides are then used, if needed, as a last line of defense.
The principles of our IPM procedures are as follows:
- Prevention- This is the most effective pest management strategy. By reducing the capacity of the ecosystem to support the target weed or pest populations through design and appropriate management, the opportunities for weed and pest establishment can be reduced or eliminated.
- Cultural- Cultural control is the use of management activities that prevent weeds and pests from developing due to enhancement of desired conditions.
- Mechanical - Mechanical control is accomplished by using physical methods or mechanical equipment to control weeds and pests. Mowing and hand pulling of weeds can be very effective.
- Biological - Biological controls include the introduction or enhancements of natural enemy populations to target weeds or pests.
- Chemical - When chemical control of weeds or pests is necessary General Use herbicides are applied. No Restricted Use pesticides will be used in park landscapes.
The majority of the herbicide applications that take place in our park system are performed by outside contractors. All applicators are commercially certified and licensed through the Colorado Department of Agriculture and only apply products that are registered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Prior to the application being made the applicator will place yellow flags at conspicuous points of entry into the area indicating that an herbicide has been applied. When the herbicide is applied the applicators make spot treatments and only apply to areas containing target weeds. The area is safe to reenter once the product has dried.
For the State of Colorado Noxious Weed list visit:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/noxious-weed-species
Pesticide Application Schedule
This schedule is updated on a weekly basis during the growing season. Always look for the Pesticide application flags that are placed out before application and left up for 24 hours after application.
If there are any questions regarding the application, please contact the Jarod Clayton at Jarod.Clayton@coloradosprings.gov or call 719-385-6507.
Please note that this schedule is subject to change due to weather and scheduled activities.
Week of May 22, 2023
- Location: Legacy Loop Trailhead, Wildflower Park, Shook’s Run (Leon Young, South and Boulder to Bijou), Fountain Park,
- General Area Treated: improved native grass areas
- Product: Triad Select, Resolute 4L
- Active Ingredients: 2,4-D, mecoprop, dicamba, prodiamine
- Target Pest: winter and summer annual broadleaf and grassy weeds
- Location: Memorial Park, Wasson Park, Skyview Sports Complex, Leon Young Sports Complex
- General Area Treated: Turfgrass areas
- Product: Triad Select or Speedzone
- Active Ingredients: 2,4-D, carfentrazone, mecoprop, dicamba,
- Target Pest: perennial and winter annual broadleaf weeds
- Location: Dynamic Greenbelt between Lexington Dr. and Summerset Dr.
- Products and active ingredients:
- Ranger Pro: Glyphosate 41%
- Speedzone: Carfentrazone-ethyl .62%
- 2-4-D 28.57%
- Mecoprop-p acid 5.88%
- Dicamba acid 1.71%
- Quest: Hydroxy carboxylic, phosphoric acid , and ammonium salts 48.76%
- Polyacrylic acid 1%
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Target Species: grasses and broadleaf weeds, preparaton for native conversion
- Location: Meadow Ridge Park: Central and eastern portions
- Products and active ingredients:
- Speedzone: Carfentrazone-ethyl .62%
- 2-4-D 28.57%
- Mecoprop-p acid 5.88%
- Dicamba acid 1.71%
- Speedzone: Carfentrazone-ethyl .62%
- Target Pest: Broadleaf weeds in turf
Week of May 15, 2023
- Location: Memorial Park, Cheyenne Meadows, Legacy Loop Trailhead, Wildflower Park, Shook’s Run (Leon Young, South and Boulder to Bijou), Fountain Park, Leon Young Sports Complex
- General Area Treated: improved native grass areas
- Product: Triad Select, Resolute 4L
- Active Ingredients: 2,4-D, mecoprop, dicamba, prodiamine
- Target Pest: winter and summer annual broadleaf and grassy weeds
Week of May 10, 2023
- Location: Ford Frick, Centennial Medians, Mountain Shadows, Rockrimmon Medians, Buckskin Charlie, Union Medians, Woodmen Medians
- General Area Treated: improved native grass areas
- Product: Trimmec, Barricade
- Active Ingredients: 2,4-D, mecoprop, dicamba, prodiamine
- Target Pest: undesirable broadleaf and grassy weeds, mainly winter and summer annuals
Week of May 8, 2023
- Location: Pikes Peak Greenway Trail (Uintah to Fillmore)
- General Area Treated: Weeds growing between rockwalls and along trail
- Product(s): Esplanade EZ
- Active Ingredient(s): 20.460% glyphosate isopropylamine salt (CAS No. 38641-94-0), 0.890% diquat dibromide (CAS No. 85- 00-7), and 0.089% indaziflam (CAS No. 950782-86-2).
- Target Pest: All weeds
- Location: Sinton Pond Park
- General Area Treated: Canada thistle patches near dam
- Product(s): Esplanade EZ
- Active Ingredient(s): 20.460% glyphosate isopropylamine salt (CAS No. 38641-94-0), 0.890% diquat dibromide (CAS No. 85- 00-7), and 0.089% indaziflam (CAS No. 950782-86-2).
- Target Pest: Canada Thistle
- Location: Sondermann Park
- General Area Treated: Canada thistle patch near gate
- Product(s): Esplanade EZ
- Active Ingredient(s): 20.460% glyphosate isopropylamine salt (CAS No. 38641-94-0), 0.890% diquat dibromide (CAS No. 85- 00-7), and 0.089% indaziflam (CAS No. 950782-86-2).
- Target Pest: Canada Thistle
Week of May 1, 2023
- Location: Rampart, Carver, Danville, Freemont, Garden Ranch, Grant, Keller, Penrose, Village Green
- General Area Treated: hardscapes, mulch and rock beds, breeze and select bare ground areas.
- Product: Esplanade
- Active Ingredient: indaziflam
- Target Pest: pre-emergent control of grassy and broadleaf weeds
Week of April 17, 2023
- Location: Bonforte, Boulder, North Monument Valley Park, Palmer Park, Twain, Wagner, Wasson, Rampart Park, Carver North, Carver South, Danville, Discovery, Dublin, Fremont, Garden Ranch, Grant, Jackson, Keller, Penrose North, Penrose South, Pinon Valley, Portal, Village Green, Memorial Park, Leon Young Sports Complex, El Pomar Sports Complex, Blunt, Deerfield, Monterey, Monument Valley South, Thorndale, Vermijo, Westmoor
- General Area Treated: hardscapes, mulch and rock beds, breeze and select bare ground areas.
- Product: Esplanade
- Active Ingredient: indaziflam
- Target Pest: pre-emergent control of grassy and broadleaf weeds