Impervious (Surfaces) – Waterproof coverings that do not permit infiltration of water and that increase the volume and speed of runoff water. Examples include: roofs, parking lots, roads and driveways.
Incomplete Metamorphosis – The life cycle of an insect going through the stages of egg and nymph to reach the adult stage. The nymph resembles the adult and progresses through several molts before reaching the adult stage. There is no pupa stage in this type of metamorphosis.
Inert Ingredients – Materials in a pesticide or fertilizer formulation that have no activity in creating the desired effect of the product. Many serve as binding agents or carriers for the active ingredients such that they can be applied efficiently and uniformly.
Infection – Establishment of a pathogen within a host plant.
Infiltration (Water) – The physical process of water movement into a soil.
Insecticide – A specific category of pesticides used for controlling insects.
Inorganic (Fertilizer) – Products used for supplying nutrients to a lawn; generally composed of simple, mostly water soluble nutrient salts that are immediately available for plant use following post-application watering.
Irrigation – The use of automated or manual systems for applying supplemental water for the benefit of growing plants and replenishing soil moisture.
Label – A printed statement attached to the pesticide or fertilizer container by the manufacturer listing the contents, directions for use, and precautions. A pesticide label is considered a legal document that is approved and registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Agriculture.
Landscape – An expanse of land (scenery) that the eye is able to comprehend as a single view.
Larva – The immature or worm stage (e.g., caterpillars, maggots, and grubs) of an insect that goes through 4 distinct lifecycle stages (i.e., egg, larva, pupa, adult) in its development. (See complete metamorphosis.)
Lawn – That portion of a yard or land area covered with grass plants kept short through mowing.
Leaching – The downward movement in water of pesticides and/or nutrients through the soil column.
Liquid Fertilization – A method of applying plant nutrients as a solution of dissolved fertilizer salts.
Long-Day Response – Usually applied to plants in which flowering is hastened by daily exposure to light periods longer than a critical number of hours.
Low-Maintenance Lawn – Lawn areas composed of turfgrass species and varieties tolerant of reduced levels of water, fertilizer and mowing while still remaining healthy.