An official website of the City of Las Cruces Government.
Here’s how you know

Integrated Pest Management

Weeds are a problem in many of the landscapes managed by Parks and Recreation. If left uncontrolled, noxious weeds such as Russian thistle (tumbleweed), London rocket (annual winter broadleaf), and Tamarix sp (Saltcedar) can take over a once beautiful landscape.

To effectively manage weeds and minimizing risks to people, Parks and Recreation is utilized the process known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Management Approaches

IPM combines management approaches for greater effectiveness in control pest species. The approaches can be grouped as follows:

  • Biological Control – using natural enemies to control the pest, such as using saltcedar leaf beetle to manage saltcedar
  • Cultural controls – proper mowing, irrigation, fertilization and aeration are examples for turf management
  • Mechanical and physical controls – pulling and hoeing weeds is an example, as is the use of mulch for weed control
  • Chemical control – use only the most selective product and applied in a way that minimizes harm to people, non-target species, and the environment

Staff responsible for maintaining the parks and landscapes in the City of Las Cruces utilize all the above approaches. We have a turf management program that emphasizes good cultural management practices – regularly scheduled mowing, aerating, fertilizing, and proper irrigation. Mechanical and physicals controls are also used. For example, decorative landscapes in parks and medians are mulched with gravel to reduce the amount of weed seeds that germinate.

Testing New Products

Parks and Recreation is also testing new products that can help control problem weeds. This year we have tested the following products to determine how effective these products are in weed management:

  • Avenger (chemical control)
  • Pucturevine Weevils (biological control)
  • Red Dragon Vapor Torches (mechanical control)
  1. Parks District Manager will coordinate spraying times and locations with Crew Leaders and/or assigned Staff
  2. Parks District Manager will email Armando Castañeda staff at least 24 hours in advance with the who, what, where, when. (to provide information in case citizens have concerns)
  3. Post signage at the location that will be treated with herbicide; signage will inform citizens to stay off the area for 24 hours; signage will list the product being applied to the area.
  4. Have staff available to communicate with citizens at location
  5. Spray location
  6. Remove signage after 24 hours

January & February

Tuesday

  • Harty Fields
  • Maag Park
  • Paz Park
  • Ron Galla T-ball fields

Wednesday

  • Provencio/Van Dam Multi-Use Complex
  • Soldados Multi-Use Complex

Thursday

  • Apodaca Baseball and Softball Fields
  • Branigan Ballfield and Park
  • Burn Lake Soccer Complex

Friday

  • High Noon Soccer Complex fields:
    • Numbers 1 through 5
    • Number 11
    • Number 12

Other Actions

  • Apply Cheetah/Rely/Pendulum Aquacap mix to control cool season weeds and preemergent

March & April

Wednesday

  • La Llorona Trail
  • Legends West Trail
  • Outfall Channel Trail
  • Triviz Trail

Other Actions

  • Apply Esplanade by contracted applicator Industrial Weed Control (IWC)

April – October

Monday

  • La Llorona Trail
  • Legends West Trail
  • Outfall Channel Trail
  • Triviz Trail

Tuesday

  • Apodaca Baseball and Softball field
  • Harty Fields
  • Maag Park
  • Paz Park
  • Ron Galla T-ball fields

Wednesday

  • Armando Castañeda Center
  • High Noon Soccer Complex fields:
    • Numbers 1 through 5
    • Number 11
    • Number 12
  • Las Cruces Regional Aquatics Center
  • Meerscheidt Recreation Center

Thursday

  • Burn Lake Soccer Complex
  • Provencio/Van Dam Multi-Use Complex
  • Soldados Multi-Use Complex

Friday

  • Archery Range
  • Bicycle Motocross (BMX) Track
  • Hadley Avenue from Solano to Walnut
  • RC Airplane Park
  • RC Track

Other Actions

  • Apply Cheetah/Rely or Avenger to control warm-season weeds.

November

Wednesday

  • La Llorona Trail
  • Legends West Trail
  • Outfall Channel Trail
  • Triviz Trail

Thursday

  • Armando Castañeda Center
  • BMX Track
  • Hadley Avenue from Solano to Walnut
  • Las Cruces Regional Aquatics Center
  • Meerscheidt Recreation Center

Other Actions

  • Apply Cheetah/Rely or Avenger to control cool season weeds

The schedule will cover 12 main areas, areas where citizens are expected to gather. The remainder of parks spraying is done in areas citizens are not permitted to gather.

  • Apodaca Park
  • Frank O Brian Papen Center
  • Gomez Garden, Munson Garden, Jardin De Esperanza, Sage Café garden
  • Heske Garden, Valley View Park (partial)
  • Pioneer Park
  • Twin Parks recreational trail
  • Veterans Park
  • Young Park

March & April (Yearly)

  • Pre-emergent spraying (Times could change depending on Weather, Equipment availability, manpower and event scheduling)
  • Second application 6-8 weeks later if necessary:
    • Barricade
    • Esplanade
    • Pendulum

July & August (Yearly)

Turf herbicide spraying for summer weed control:

  • Katana
  • Cheetah
  • Rely
  • Speed Zone

December & January (Yearly)

  • Turf herbicide spraying for summer weed control:
    • Katana
    • Cheetah
    • Rely
    • Speed Zone

Every 30-90 Days

  • Gomez Garden, Jardin De Esperanza, Sage Café garden, Munson Garden (Landscapes near the community gardens are sprayed with Avenger, an organic weed killer)
  • Twin Parks
  • Parks staff follows Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a science-based decision-making process that guides park managers when investigating a pest situation.
  • The IPM approach determines the most appropriate and cost-effective management solution for the specific pest situation.
  • IPM also establishes pest tolerance levels and monitoring protocols.
  • Parks staff consult with technical experts such as New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service to identify the pest (weed), reasons it exists, how it can best be managed.
  • The method allows staff to develop an effective, site-specific and low-risk strategy to manage the pest. This includes altering conditions which attracted pests to the site in the first place.
  • IPM often involves improving cultural practices (aeration, fertilization, irrigation, mowing, etc.).

Red Dragon Back Pack Vapor Torches

Staff purchased two vapor torches for controlling weeds on hardscapes. These devices are connected to 10-pound propane tank and kill weeds by burning them. It works best on young weeds that do not have deep root systems. They work best on hard surfaces such as concrete walks and pavers.

Puncturevine/Goathead Weevils

Microlarinus Lareynii and M. lypriformis love to eat Puncturevine. In fact, that is all the weevil larvae do eat. Since the weevils only eat Puncturevine, no desirable plants are harmed. The weevils do not bite, sting or compete with any useful insects such as pollinators.

On September 15, staff released 2,500 adult weevils on Puncturevine plants located in La Llorona Park and Trail. Female weevils deposit between 250 to 450 eggs inside of the burrs and stems of the plants where they hatch and develop into larvae. After 25 days, the larvae become adults and reproduce.

Release of the weevils has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research and Animal/Plant Health Inspection Service. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture has no restrictions regarding the use of the weevils to control Puncturevine.

Registered Herbicides

Parks and Recreation strictly follows the laws and regulations established by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

The following is a list of commercial herbicides and a link to the products Safety Data Sheet that are used by Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department: