Pesticide and Herbicide Application

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. Cultural- Cultural control is the use of management activities that prevent weeds and pests from developing due to enhancement of desired conditions.
  3. 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.
  4. Biological - Biological controls include the introduction or enhancements of natural enemy populations to target weeds or pests.
  5. 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

Download Pesticide Applicator's Act

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.

September 26, 2022

weather dependent

  • Locations: Erindale Park, George Fellows Park, Flintridge Medians, Dr. Frank Houck Park, Keystone Park, Tomah Park, University right of way
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Speedzone
  • Active Ingredient: 2,4-D, 2-ethylhexyl ester
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

Week of September 19

  • Locations: Candleflower Park, Frank Casello Park, Fairfax Park, Frontier Park, Mary Kyer Park, Judge Lunt, Eugene McCleary Park, Fred McKown Park, Lulu Pollard Park, John Stone Park, Wedgewood Park, Westcreek Park, and Woodland Hills Park
  • General Areas Treated:  Kentucky bluegrass areas
  • Product: Speedzone
  • Active Ingredients: 2,4-D, 2-ethylhexyl ester
  • Target Pest:  Broadleaf weeds in turf areas

 

  • Location: Henry, Heathercrest, Palmer Park, Pike, Otis, Lunar, Betty Krouse, Franklin, Mark Twain, Wagner, Bristol, Bonforte, Roswell, Bott
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Speedzone
  • Active Ingredients: carfentrazone, 2,4-D, mecoprop, dicamba
  • Target Pests: undesirable biennial, perennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

 

  • Location: Carver, Penrose and Keller Parks
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: T-Zone
  • Active Ingredient: triclopyr, sulfentrazone, 2,4-D, dicamba
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

Week of September 12

Weather dependent

  • LOCATION: Wildflower, Penstemon, Roy Benavidez, Adams, Prairie Grass, Sage Brush, Madison, Wasson, Jefferson, Audubon, Wilson
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Speedzone
  • Active ingredients: carfentrazone, mecoprop, 2,4-D, dicamba
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds
     
  • LOCATION: Meadowlark, Meadows , Monterey, Van Diest, Gold Camp, Jenkins, Oak Meadows, James Smith, Bancroft, Bunker Hill, Bott, Dorchester, Soaring Eagles
  • General Area Treated: Turf Grass
  • Product: Speedzone + Barricade
  • Active Ingredients: Carfentrazone-ethyl,mecoprop-p, dicamba, 2-4-D + Prodiamine
  • Target Pest: Broadleaf weeds in Turf

 

  • LOCATION: Shook’s Run – Willamette to Bijou; Portal and El Pomar turf conversion areas
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass and native grass areas
  • Product: Confront, Quicksilver
  • Active Ingredient: triclopyr, clopyralid, carfentrazone
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

 

  • LOCATION: Flanagan, Danville, and Portal Park
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Speedzone
  • Active Ingredient: carfentrazone, mecoprop, dicamba, 2, 4-D
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

 

  • LOCATION: Golden Hills, Discovery, Woodstone, Woodmen Valley, Marshal Sprague, Oak Valley, Mountain Shadows
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Tenacity, Turflon ester
  • Active Ingredient: mesotrione, triclopyr
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

 

  • LOCATION: Laura Gilpin, High Meadows, Jared Jenson, Ken Jordon, Old Farm maintenance facility, Otero, Pring Ranch, Remington, Rudy, Horace Shelby, Snowy River, Springs Ranch, Jack Templeton Park
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Tenacity, Turflon ester
  • Active Ingredient: mesotrione, triclopyr
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

 

  • LOCATION: Nevada and Cascade medians
  • General Area Treated: native grass areas
  • Product: Confront, Quicksilver
  • Active Ingredient: triclopyr, clopyralid, carfentrazone
  • Target Pest: undesirable perennial, biennial, and winter annual broadleaf weeds

Week of August 29

Weather dependent 

  • Location: Village Green Park
  • General Area Treated: turfgrass areas
  • Product: Speedzone
  • Active Ingredients: carfentrazone, 2,4-D, mecoprop, dicamba
  • Target pest: undesirable broadleaf weeds

 

  • Location: Briargate SIMD
  • General Area Treated: Turfgrass areas
  • Product: Triplet, Turflon ester
  • Active Ingredients: 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, triclopyr
  • Target Pest: unwanted broadleaf weeds