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Learn how to use Integrated Pest Management in your home gardens for healthy, productive plants that resist environmental stresses. Discover the sensible approach to pest control by creating a natural balance of organisms in your yard or garden. Explore the shift from traditional chemical-based methods to IPM for sustainable plant health. Get tips on site preparation, plant selection, and proper cultural practices to promote long-term growth with minimal chemical input.
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Gardening Smart! • Healthy, productive plants use their natural defense systems to resist environmental stresses • How to use IPM for your home gardens – from ornamentals to vegetables and everything in between • Open questions
Today’s Smart Gardener The sensible approach to pest control is to create a natural balance of organisms in your yard or garden. In a diverse ecosystem, pest populations are naturally regulated. Development of this balance at your home relies on using products that minimize harm to beneficial organisms.
Plant Health • OLD: Commonly accepted to keep plants healthy was a broad application of chemicals to control pests – prescription pest control. • NOW: Though pesticides play a role in plant health, they also have limitations. In addition to environmental and health concerns, pesticides may give only limited and temporary control if other control measures and practices are not integrated into the overall management or maintenance program.
Planning and Site Placement Site Preparation and Establishment Selecting Appropriate Plants Proper Cultural Practices Practical Procedure for Plant Health
Planning and Site Placement • Water • Irrigated or not • Hardscapes • House, driveway, fences, etc. • Maintenance • Low, Medium, “Magazine” • Sun • Full Sun • Part Shade • Deep Shade • Wind • Direction, speed, occurrence • Soil • Sand, loam, clay • pH • Nutrient analysis
Site Preparation & Establishment • Correct drainage or erosion problems • Raised beds • Contour landscape • Amending and preparing the soil • Soil pH 6-7 • Organic matter • Altering light conditions • Removing tree limbs • Thinning trees
Selecting Appropriate Plants • Grow the right plant in the right place! • Know the requirements of a plant before you buy it • Select disease resistant varieties or cultivars • Select high quality plant material
Proper Cultural Practices • Planting Techniques • Prepare the hole • B&B preparation • Planting depth • Water Management • Maintenance • Staking • Moisture Management • Establishment vs. Maintenance • Fertility Management • Fertilization Frequency • Fertilization Timing
Healthy, productive plants can use their natural defense systems to resist environmental stresses. As a result, they need less chemical input for survival and productive long-term growth. An especially important concept is the plant health care attempts to manage plant health rather than just control pest problems. Plant Health Care
Integrated Pest Management:IPM • Uses multiple tools • Uses chemicals when necessary • Requires knowledge and planning • Protect garden and landscape from pests • Maintain beneficial organisms • Effective pest management with least negative impact to the environment
IPM Other Beneficial Organisms
IPM Purple loosestrife is an exotic invasive species that out competes native habitats.
IPM Turf • According to NASA's Ames Research Center: • 50, 000 square miles of the continental US is covered by lawn • There is 3 times as much irrigated grass as irrigated corn. • Turf is the most widespread irrigated crop.
