BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Infographic provided by the EPA
Annuals and perennials grow best with no more than 2 inches of mulch . Around trees and shrubs , mulch should be no more than 3 inches deep . With any planting , place mulch between the plants and not on top of the crown or against tree trunks or shrub canes . In the winter after the ground freezes , a deeper layer of coarse mulch ( evergreen branches ) over bulbs and other perennials can delay or prevent early growth and can be used to protect tender plants . Do not place a new layer of mulch over the old layer each year . Each spring , rake the old mulch to break up any hard crust and add only enough new mulch to maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer .
PEST MANAGEMENT The same principles and methods identified in the IPM chapter of the SFMA BMP Guide can be applied to landscaped areas . University Extension publications can provide information on the pests of regional concern and provide guidance on pest management techniques to manage them . In addition , many Extension programs have diagnostic laboratories that can be utilized when needed .
POLLINATORS Most flowering plants need pollination to reproduce and grow fruit . While some plants are pollinated by wind , many require assistance from insects such as solitary bees , bumble bees , flower flies and butterflies , as well as other animals ( e . g ., birds and bats ). In the absence of these pollinators , many of the fruits of wild plants would fail to survive .
Pollinators are facing a number of threats that can alter their health and abundance , such as loss of genetic
38 SportsField Management | July 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com