Integrated Pest Management

Intergrated Pest management is a method of dealing with landscape problems such as pests and drought in enviromentally friendly ways. Methods usually rely on monitoring pest populations and applying a combination of preventive and control techniques before pests become a problem. Its goal is to achieve an acceptable crop yield and plant quality with the least enviromental disruption.

IPM programs start by identifying the problem or pest and gathering information on it. A threshold level of tolerable damage is set, and control nmethods are selected to maintain that threshold. Many IPM techniques have been used for centuries, but have been forgotton or abandoned for easier and faster chemicals.

Soil Solarization

Crop Rotation

Traps, Collars, Barriers

Sanitation

Beneficial Insects

Beneficial Plants

Xeriscaping

This method is very helpful for the home gardener because crops are usually grown year after year in the same soil. This technique takes several months but is extremely effective at killing weed, weed seeds, insects and their eggs and most disease organisms in the soil.

Covering the soil with clear plastic for 6-10 weeks can generate a high enough temperature in the top 6-12" of soil tro kill all pests and weeds. This method is very effective against nematodes, which can be a big problem in the home vegetable garden. The beneficial effects can last for several years. Mid summer is the best time to solarize beds. Rake and smooth bed, water if it is dry and secure edges with a mound of soil completely sealing the inside.

Crop rotation is the practice of shifting the locations of crops within the garden each season so the same crop does not grow in the same place year after year. this technique helps mange soil fertility, soilborne disease and some soil pests.

Plants use the soil in different ways. Leafy and fruiting crops (lettuce,cabbage,corn, and tomatoes) are heavy feeders and rapidly use up nitrogen. Root vegetables and herbs are light feeders, while peas beans and other legumes add nitrogen to the soil but need lots of phosphorus.

Many soil-borne diseases are host-specific, that is, they attack only certain plants or plant families. Avoid planting the same type plant in the same spot in your garden, year after year. Plant buckwheat or clover in the vegetable garden to discourage grubs. Certain soil diseases require many years to die off. For a quick cure read the above description on soil solarization.

Known generally as physical controls, traps, collars and barriers prevent pests from reaching your plant or removes the pest from your plant.

The number one method of physical pest control is to manually pick the insects off the plant. Obviously this only works on large pests like grubs, worms and caterpillars. Pulling weeds and keeping the garden clean is also a common form of control.

Fences provide a easy guard against large pests like rabbits and other small mammals. Netting and rowcovers provide excellent protection against beetles and other flying insects. Made of a fine web of polypropylene, rowcovers allow water, air, and sunlight to circulate while keeping out pests. Collars are effective against cutworms and many other crawling insects. Finely broken egg shells spread around the base of a plant will stop snails and slugs. Sticky tree bands can be found in most garden centers and stop most crawling insects from climbing plants.

Traps are very good way to prevent and control insect pests. They usually work by using an attractive component like color, odor or shape. There are so many types of traps for different insects that it is best to go to your local garden center and shop around. The one down side to traps is that they are not discriminate about who they trap, so if you see beneficial bugs in your traps, remove them. Some examples of beneficial insects can be found below.

After a day in the garden wash all tools with 10% bleach solution or rubbing alcohol to prevent diseases like bacteria, mold and fungus from spreading. This goes for pots and planters also. Check new plants for insects and disease before bringing them home from the garden center. Some garden centers will knowingly sell diseased plants so as not to lose profit, so be a smart shopper. Clean beds of old dead plant material (especially dropped fruit) that might harbor disease or insect eggs. This material should be composted so that it is heated and sanitized. Pull weeds often, weeds are a breeding ground for insects. Use mulch in planting beds to reduce splash-up of soil during rain. Many fungal diseases in the vegetable garden are caused by rain water splashing soil on to leaves. Also, increase ventalation in the garden, don't cram plants together.

Xeriscaping is the practice of using native plants to reduce watering and insecticdal use. More information to come in the near future.