CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED LAWN WEED MANAGEMENT: INSIGHTS FROM U.S. LAWN CARE OPERATORS

Lawn care operators (LCOs) report Poa annua (annual bluegrass) as a pest of concern in most regions. The lack of diverse, cost-effective chemical and non-chemical practices hinders effective control to avoid the evolution of herbicide resistance. Lawn weed management, including that of Poa annua, is geographically heterogeneous, making uniform treatment prescriptions inappropriate. A general, unmet need is the exchange of credible information on effective weed management practices between LCOs, their suppliers, and clients. Adopting integrated weed management in lawns will require new organization schemes that engage all stakehold-ers in discovering sustainable treatment approaches. University scientists are the most trusted information source and can lead the development of an information exchange network for lawn weed management.