Bowling Green Maintenance: 23. Use of Pesticides

Where pesticides and other chemical products are used, this must be in a responsible way and one in which all other actions have been undertaken to reduce the need for their use in the first place. The use of Integrated Pest / Turf Management, or similar, in reducing the need for pesticides and then only as a last resort should be foremost in managing a bowling green.

Whilst many grounds managers will use pesticides as a last resort, many also apply them as a matter of routine, without questioning their need, efficacy or cost effectiveness for the desired outcome.

Chemical applications should be able to be kept to a minimum where good turf cultural practices are being applied.

Any pesticide which is applied to a bowling green must be approved for use and undertaken by a certificated user. It is illegal for anyone who does not hold a certificate of competence in the safe use of pesticides to apply a pesticide to a bowling green. In many greens run by volunteers a suitable arrangement might be to contract out the application of pesticides to their green.