The Facilities Management Grounds Department follows an Integrated Pest Management strategy. According to the EPA, “In technical terms, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.” The IPM strategy employs five common sense approaches to manage pests effectively.

• Identification
• Monitor and assessment
• Thresholds for action
• Prevention
• Control

In CSU’s landscape programs, the term “pest” includes animals, insects, and weeds. The Grounds Department manages damaging insects and a variety of weeds. The State of Colorado Department of Agriculture requires the control of noxious weeds. You may access the noxious weed list at Colorado.gov.

CSU practices safe application according to EPA standards. The Grounds Department considers reasonable non-pesticide alternatives over chemical controls by following IPM procedure. CSU takes measures to alleviate weeds in turf grass areas by maintaining a healthy stand of turf grass throughout the university. They evaluate alternatives to chemical treatment including the cost-effectiveness of the treatments.

Additionally, the Grounds Department maintains the condition of natural and undeveloped landscapes on CSU properties, meeting requirements for items such as weed control, stormwater management, and protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

Facilities Management Grounds of the Outdoor Services Group manages pest control through the following IPM procedures.

• Prevention – This is the most effective pest management strategy. By reducing the landscape’s capacity to support the target weed or pest populations through design and appropriate management, the opportunities for 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. The most common practice of weed management for undeveloped landscapes is accomplished through mowing.
• Biological – Biological controls include maintaining healthy turf landscapes, proper plant material selection and diversity, and the introduction or enhancements of naturally occuring populations to target pests.
• Chemical – Reasonable non-pesticide alternatives are considered in our management practices. Pesticides are used only in combination with other approaches for more effective long-term control. Pesticides are selected and applied in ways that minimize their possible harm to people, non-target organisms, and the environment. Restricted-use pesticides are not used on main campus landscapes.

Learn more about our Integrated Pest Management program here: IPM Manual