Integrated Pest Management uses a Combination of pest Control Methods and Reduces the Usage Chemical Pesticide
Pests, whether they are insects, weeds, or plant diseases, are a fact of life for the home and garden. Often people believe chemical pesticides are the only way to control the pests. However chemical pesticides are not always the most effective way to control pests. There is an alternative, a method known as "integrated pest management," or IPM for short. IPM is a type of pest management that anticipates and uses preventative measures to control pest activities by combining a multitude of different strategies for long term solutions. Pest management decisions focus on need and effectiveness instead of a schedule. IPM works to solve pest problems by many methods with chemical pesticide use as the last resort. It requires planning ahead and working to prevent pest problems before they occur.
IPM is not switching to the use of organic pesticides or completely eliminating chemical pesticides. IPM incorporates a variety of cultural, biological and chemical methods to keep pests under control, lowers the dependency on chemicals, to achieve satisfactory control and have positive environmental and economic results. In other words, IPM is not a single action, but a combination of steps and processes that need to be carefully planned out.
The use of IPM, by performing certain actions and planning ahead, you can actually preventing pests from building up to populations where they are a problem. The steps can be very simple and of low cost. To keep indoor insect pests to a minimum, prune plant material away from the house at least 12 to 18" and do not let ivy or any other vines grow on the structure of the house. Pull all mulch back away from the foundation 18." Fix leaking pipes and correct drainage problems can also control indoor pests, as well cleaning up food material in and around the house. Keep pet food from sitting out overnight since it can attract raccoons, rodents, or other animal pests.
In the garden, some plants are resistant to certain pests. For example, lace bugs often infest azaleas and disfigure their leaves. Certain new varieties are resistant to lace bugs. Some varieties of crape myrtles are resistant to powdery mildew, especially those with Indian names like 'Natchez,' 'Catawba,' and 'Muscogee.'
Certain cultural practices are also a way to reduce pest problems. Over fertilization of turf and plant material opens the door to numerous pests. On turfgrasses, it can increase the incidence of diseases, in particular brown patch, a fungus that appears in the warm weather months causing brown, dead rings of grass. On plants, excessive fertilizer usage can lead to succulent, new growth that aphids and other insect pests like. Proper watering can reduce pest problems as well. Over watering can lead to root rots and other fungal disease problems on plants. Water them in the early morning hours. The water will evaporate from the leaves during the day, and will not be on the plant in the evening and night when they are most prone to diseases. Other methods can be a simple as the physical removal of pests such as washing aphids off with a hose or picking bagworms off infested plant material such as junipers or Leyland cypress trees.
These are but some examples of integrated pest management methods. If the need to use chemical pesticides arises, make sure you have identified the pest. An insecticide will control insects, but will have no effect on a plant disease caused by a fungus. You need to select the right pesticide for the problem. The most important thing to remember is to READ THE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USAGE. Use the ones that are the least toxic. For questions regarding pesticide usage or pest identification, please contact your local Extension office. Routine monitoring of your homes, lawns and gardens will help you detect pests while they are in the early stages so you can take the appropriate tactics to reduce their potential damage.
Integrated pest management, while not a silver bullet, can help reduce the pest problems in your home and garden. Understanding that pest problems are often the result of a multitude of factors can lead to keeping problems to a minimum. For more information on integrated pest management, please contact the Extension office.
Timothy Daly is the Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent with Gwinnett County Extension office. He can be contacted at 678-377-4010 or timothy.daly@gwinnettcounty.com.
