IPM in Schools Checklists Exclusion & Sanitation Cafeteria, Kitchen, Storage Seal gaps where utility lines enter the building and between rooms Seal all cracks and gaps in foundations, windows, door jambs and vents Inspect incoming food and packaging for pests Keep window screens in good repair (no holes or tears) Keep plant material and mulch away from the foundation Keep outdoor garbage receptacles at least 50 feet from the building Inspect and maintain door sweeps to exclude rodents and insects Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly; store in a cooler Store all food in pest resistant packaging Keep sinks, garbage cans, workspaces and equipment (legs and wheels) free of food debris Reduce clutter, cardboard, and paper that provides covers for pests Keep shelves organized and clean of crumbs and spillage o Do not stack cardboard boxes on shelves o Employ first in, first out for food items Clean up spilled food Do not leave dishes in sink overnight Empty garbage every day and dispose outside the building Download a sample IPM Cafeteria Inspection Checklist. Classroom, Office, Hallway Seal gaps where utility lines enter the building and between rooms Seal all cracks and gaps in foundations, windows, door jambs and vents Inspect incoming food and packages for pests Keep window screens in good repair (no holes or tears) Keep plant material and mulch away from the foundation Keep outdoor garbage receptacles 50 feet or more from the building (or as far as possible)
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly upon receipt; store washed items in a cooler Store all food in pest resistant packaging Keep sinks, garbage cans, workspaces and equipment (legs and wheels) free of food debris Reduce clutter, cardboard, and paper that provide cover for pests Keep shelves organized and clean of crumbs and spillage o Do not stack cardboard boxes on shelves o Employ first-in, first-out for food items Clean up spilled food Do not leave dishes in sink overnight Empty garbage every day and dispose outside the building Gym, Pool, Locker room Seal gaps where utility lines (water pipes, electricity) enter the building and between rooms Seal all cracks and gaps in foundations, windows, door jambs and vents Inspect incoming packages, equipment and handcarts for pests Keep window screens in good repair (no holes or tears) Keep sinks, garbage cans, workspaces and equipment clean Reduce clutter, cardboard, and paper that provide cover for pests Keep shelves organized and clean o Do not stack cardboard boxes on shelves Clean up spilled food Institute a no-food policy for lockers Empty garbage every day and dispose outside the building Boiler room, Crawlspace Seal gaps under doors, around windows, and around utility lines Repair or replace broken screens, thresholds, and weather stripping Keep plant material and mulch away from the foundation
Keep outdoor garbage receptacles 50 feet or more from the building (or as far as possible) Do not store cardboard for long periods of time Walls, Windows, Roof, Eaves Inspection: Inspect rooflines in late winter and early fall for signs of possible access (openings) Inspect utility rooms, attics and similar areas on top levels of the building Prune tree branches to be no closer than ten feet from a building Seal openings with exclusion products such as hardware cloth, nonrusting steel-wool replacement products and flexible sealants Keep foundation perimeter free of debris Keep gable, soffit, root and other vents in good repair and made with animal-resistant materials and design Athletic Fields Giving turf the best chance to thrive is the #1 way to reduce pest damage. Assign a management level to each field based on intended use, budget, and school and community expectations (example: Level 1 some varsity football fields; Level 2 soccer and field hockey, football practice, all middle school fields; Level 3 playgrounds and high visibility lawns; Level 4 lower visibility lawns and utility areas). Establish maintenance schedule for each area based on its assigned management level Assess turf quality at least annually. Note bare areas and poor drainage, grass density and color, or other problems (see Turf Quality assessment checklist in our resources section) When establishing, renovating or overseeding, choose the right grass for the site s use; learn what grass tolerates your fields conditions Irrigate when necessary generally 1" a week if there is no rain Test soil every 1 5 years Maintain proper ph (6.0 6.5). Adjust ph with soil amendments and fertilizers according to soil test results and recommendations.
Fertilize in fall for root growth and again in spring, using slow release N and other nutrients according to soil test results. Mow at highest setting for field use and, if possible, higher in off season Overseed thin spots often during and after sport season Schedule regular overseeding for entire high-end fields as allowed by constraints Scout for, monitor changes and record incidence of weeds, diseases and insect pests in turf Reduce thatch to reduce incidence of some molds and insect infestations Aerate at least 1 2x year or as often as you can Fence Lines Determine a threshold for weed tolerance (ex: no poison ivy but will ignore crabgrass) Deal with weeds when they are small and less established Aim to remove complete plant and root when weeding Continual knock back (removal of leaves) will eventually starve roots of some persistent plants without use of pesticides Establish a management plan (IPM) for long term success based on thresholds and treatment options For playground fences, install a weed barrier such as weed-proof landscape fabric covered with a significant layer of wood mulch, rubber matting or rubber mulch Use string-trimmer or heat treatments (flamer or hot water steam) For fence lines in grassy areas, consider impermeable material such as concrete, underlain with weed-proof landscape fabric Consider options of low-maintenance ground covers able to out-compete weeds in troublesome areas Parking Lots, Sidewalks Install barrier along edge of hardscape to keep grass from intruding into edges of hardscape When installing new walkways, follow good construction guideline to prevent cracking and subsequent weed problems Deal with weeds when they are small and less established Understand the nature of the plant: what is its life-cycle? How does it spread? Why does it favor this type of site? Establish a management plan for long term success based on thresholds and treatment options Use string trimmers or heat treat options (torch or steam) Hand-pulling weeds: Aim to remove complete plant and root when weeding Understand how frequent soil disturbance can deter some weeds and encourage others Seal cracks in sidewalks and blacktop with flexible caulking or sealers
Keep debris and loose soil out of hardscape areas so they don t provide habitat for weed germination Use mechanical removal where possible (dragging chains or chain-link type fencing to scrape off weeds) Low-maintenance Turf Understand the nature of the weed: what is its life-cycle? How does it spread? Why does it favor this type of site? Determine threshold for weed tolerance. (Example: Clover: any amount is OK, Other broadleaf weeds: control if cover exceeds 50%) Learn to recognize a grassy weed from a broadleaf weed Establish a management plan for long term success based on thresholds and treatment options Understand how frequent soil disturbance can deter some weeds and encourage others Choose the right grass for the site s use; learn what grass tolerates your fields conditions Irrigate if necessary generally 1" a week if there is no rain, or allow to go dormant if unused during summer Maintain proper ph (6.0 6.5); test soil every 3 5 years on moderate-care turf. For most lawns and low-maintenance turf, test soil at establishment and before renovation. Fertilize in fall for root growth and again in spring, using slow release N if soil test results indicate need. Many lawns rarely, if ever, need fertilizer. Mow at highest setting for intended use. Leave clippings whenever possible use mulching mower if available. Do not remove more than 1/3 of plant height at each mowing. Keep mower blades sharp. Overseed thin spots and reseed bare soil. Early fall is best time. Scout for, monitor changes and record incidence of weeds, diseases and insect pests in turf Reduce thatch, if needed, to reduce incidence of some molds and insect infestations Aerate once every other year or more often if heavily used (such as playground areas) Planting Beds Deal with weeds when they are small and less established Understand the nature of the weed plant: what is its life-cycle? How does it spread? Why does it favor this type of site? Is it shallow or deep-rooted? Determine a threshold for weed tolerance. (Example: No field bindweed but ignore hawkweed) Increase knowledge of weeds such as how to recognize a grassy weed from a broadleaf weed Establish a management plan for long term success based on thresholds and treatment options
Aim to remove complete plant and root when weeding Understand how frequent soil disturbance can deter some weeds and encourage others Consider options of low-maintenance ground cover which outcompete weeds in a troublesome area Reduce sunlight on soil with mulch Remove weeds by hand when possible Don t walk in wet gardens (to reduce spread of plant disease pathogens) Choose the right plants for your site Pick disease and insect resistant plants when possible Don t over fertilize Rinse garden tools with water; use a 10% bleach solution on tools that may have come in contact with plant disease pathogens Don t loosen soil in perennial beds where you aren t planting (reduces risk of bringing weed seeds up to the surface) Vegetable Gardens Light raking in garden beds often destroys young annual weed seedlings. Choose the best mulch for your site: plastic or polyester weed barrier (has some pros and cons), newspaper, cardboard (secure with rocks, clean soil or cover with straw), straw or grass clippings (has some pros and cons), shredded bark mulch. (see resource below) When possible, reduce space between plants to shade out soil and therefore reduce weed seed germination this works well with wide row planting of leaf lettuce, carrots, beets, radish, snap beans, and onions (will require thinning later in season) Amend soil with compost (purchased or created as part of gardening project)