COLUMBUS, OH — There was a subtle subtext to the talks given by Ohio State Entomologist Dr. David Shetlar (aka "The BugDoc") at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation annual conference Dec. 6-8.

Noting that Canadian cities such as Toronto and Quebec have banned use of all cosmetic chemicals within city limits, he said the trend will undoubtedly filter into the United States. New York is already considering such bans.

"It's an idea that is spreading. It is going to happen," the BugDoc declared. "What happens on the East Coast and the West Coast will spread to the middle of the land."

He predicted that lawn care and landscape professionals will face another round of challenges to the "non-vital" use of turf chemicals. He traced the history to 20 years ago when Cleveland Heights, OH, tried to ban pesticides in the city. The state of Ohio overrode the move, saying that it was the state's place to set pesticide regulations.

He noted that idea could be overthrown if the Green Industry does not do a good job of informing the public, lawmakers, and similar groups about the use of chemicals.

A lawn or a plot of turf has enormous diversity of life in a square foot, Shetlar said.

"In 10 years, I'd like to write a book titled 'The Rainforest Beneath Our Feet,'" he said, noting that a small turf area might be home to as many as 500 species of organisms — even if many are micro-organisms.

"With the water, guatation, sugars, amino acids and other nutrients, turf is a very dynamic environment," Shetlar declared.

While IPM surely should have a place in any program, Shetlar concluded that both chemical and non-chemical approaches have a place in the turf arsenal. And lawn care and landscape pros have to be familiar with both.