Custodial and Grounds
A well-trained custodial and grounds crew knows what to do, why they are doing it, and how best to take care of park maintenance. This area contains resources applicable to staff organization, health and safety, and efficient logistical approaches to improve custodial and grounds operations.
Winter Pond Inspection Checklist
Penn State Extension, 2021
If you are a pond owner, winter or early spring is a good time to take a walk around your pond to see if any maintenance is needed.
Winter is Tree Pruning Season
Penn State Extension, 2021
While you may need to bundle up, the cold temperatures of winter make for a great time to prune.
Pruning Landscape Trees
Penn State Extension, 2021
Proper pruning of landscape trees improves their structural strength, maintains their health, enhances their beauty, and increases their value.
Disinfecting Tools, Equipment, Pots, Flats and Benches
Penn State Extension, 2011
Prewash tools, benches, and equipment to remove soil and plant debris because disinfestants do not penetrate these well.
Fungicides, Herbicides, and Insecticides
Penn State Extension, 2006
In some cases, pesticides are the only alternative in controlling pests. The pesticides cited here have moderately low mammalian toxicity and degrade soon after application.
Let Beneficial Insects Work for You
Penn State Extension, 2020
Next growing season, why not use some natural pest management?
Weed control: Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.)
Penn State Extension, 2021
Common purslane, sometimes referred to as pursley or wild portulaca, is a weed of low-maintenance lawns, parks, institutional grounds, and athletic fields.
Weed control: Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Penn State Extension, 2019
Yellow nutsedge—sometimes referred to as nutgrass—is a persistent weed problem in lawns, athletic fields, and golf course turf.
Weed control: Spotted Spurge - Chamaesyce Maculata L.
Penn State Extension, 2020
Spotted spurge—sometimes referred to as prostrate spurge or spotted sandmat—is a weed of lawns, parks, institutional grounds, and athletic fields.
Weed control: Wild violet (Viola spp.)
Penn State Extension, 2019
Wild violet is a common name used for several species within the Viola genus that infest home lawns, parks, grounds, cemeteries, and other turf areas.
Weed control: White clover (Trifolium repens L.)
Penn State University, 2020
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is perhaps the most common weed of home lawns and other turf areas.
Postemergence Control of Crabgrass and Other Summer Annual Grasses in Lawns
Penn State Extension, 2017
The most common summer annual grasses in our region include crabgrasses (Digitaria spp.), goosegrass (Eleusine indica), foxtails (Setaria spp.), and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli).
Weed control: Japanese Stiltgrass [Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus]
Penn State Extension, 2020
Japanese stiltgrass, also known as Nepalese browntop and Mary's grass, is a highly invasive weed along roadsides bordering wooded areas, in infrequently mowed naturalized rough areas on golf courses, as well as in shaded or partially shaded parks and lawns.
Weed control: Common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.]
Penn State Extension, 2020
Common chickweed is a weed of home lawns, parks, golf courses, and athletic fields.
Weed control: Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi)
Penn State Extension, 2015
Nimblewill is a native warm season perennial grass. It is extremely common, especially in older lawns.
