22 Landscape and Irrigation September 2014 www.landscapeirrigation.com
C
ornell University Assistant Professor of Horti-
culture Dr. Jenny Kao-Kniffin is "working on a
bunch of integrated research projects about how
to manage weeds in landscapes and turf without
the need for pesticides." Her ability to handily
boil down sophisticated research into plain language is something
she uses daily in her outreach and extension work as a weed ecolo-
gist of urban landscapes.
Kao-Kniffin runs a lab at Cornell with the overarching focus of
studying the belowground ecology of invasive plants and weeds.
Her research is mostly of the applied variety, because it seeks to
solve particular problems or answer practical needs. It's the kind of
research that will directly affect a landscape and turf professional's
knowledge base and bottom line.
School grounds, research grounds
In 2010, New York State passed the Child Safe Playing Fields
Law (CSPFL), which restricts the use of conventional pesticides
from K-12 school grounds, playing fields, and daycare centers,
both public and private. Connecticut already had a similar law in
place for schools through 8th grade; Massachusetts has regulation,
albeit less stringent; and many other state legislatures, like those of
New Jersey and Maine, are considering bans.
There's huge momentum here that can be expected to even-
Applied Research and
the Bottom Line
By Michelle Sutton
Turf and ornamentals work at the Kao-Kniffin lab
Industry Insights
Left: Urban Landscape Weed Ecologist Dr. Jenny Kao-Kniffin (right) with Weed Scientist Dr. Andy Senesac at the Cornell Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension
Center Weed Garden, which is overseen by Senesac. Photo by Kevin Kniffin. Right: With new legislation restricting the use of pesticides, school facilities managers and
the lawn care contractors they partner with need non-chemical options to manage weeds on school grounds. Photo by Michelle Sutton