suitable treatment for the pest insect or how to best
manage a pest infestation. Simply put, some pests
can cause more damage and/or at a faster rate than
others. Some pest insects may not cause significant
damage, which means treatment could be counter-
productive. A general understanding of how a certain
pest will affect a particular crop is very important
when determining if/what action is necessary. Imple-
menting the correct and most effective action for a
pest or disease can make all the difference in an inte-
grated pest management program.
Guidelines for Action
Drawing from his or her own experiences or the
knowledge gained from the experiences of others, a
horticulturist can set up guidelines for action within
his or her IPM program. Essentially, a guideline for
action is a threshold that helps determine when
particular action is needed. These thresholds will
be subjective depending on the particular pest and
garden.
at certain times throughout the day, thus reducing
the ability of particular pests to reproduce. For
indoor and greenhouse growers, manipulating the
light cycles, temperature, or humidity to influence a
pest’s ability to establish can be considered cultural
controls.
Biological Control
Biological control is the use of beneficial plants,
insects, or microorganisms to prevent or control pests
and pest damage. Just about every pest has a natu-
ral predator. Companion planting and/or releasing
beneficial insects into the garden are examples of
biological control. The supplementation of beneficial
microorganisms to strengthen a plant’s immune sys-
tem is another example of biological control.
Physical Control
Physical control refers to a solution that kills the
pest directly or physically stops them from enter-
ing the garden space. Screens or physical barriers to
keep out birds and insects are examples of physical
controls. A couple of examples of physical controls
in an indoor garden are air filtration devices and/or
screens to limit the entry of pest insects and spores
into the grow space. Using a pressurized water
sprayer to “wash” pest insects off the plants is an-
other example of a physical control. Chemical Control
The use of pesticides is an example of chemical
control. For most integrated pest management pro-
grams, chemical controls are only used when needed
and are almost always used in combination with
other techniques to both maximize effectiveness and
create long-term solutions. Put another way, chemi-
cal control is generally viewed as a last resort and is
used only when other control methods have failed to
keep the pest under the predetermined threshold for
chemical control action.
An integrated pest management program can be
a very effective way to prevent and control unwanted
garden visitors. The holistic approach of an IPM pro-
gram is an efficient and effective way to keep crops
growing healthily, while minimizing potentially
harmful treatments. By preventing problems before
they begin and implementing multiple controls when
pests do sneak into a garden, a horticulturist can
rest assured that he or she is doing everything pos-
sible to keep the garden healthy. Since every aspect
of an integrated pest management program is aimed
at promoting healthy plant development, an IPM
program is essentially the ultimate multifaceted ap-
proach to crop protection and pest maintenance.
For agriculturists, an IPM program is generally
looked at as a way to ensure and protect profits.
Similarly, hobbyists and indoor horticulturists can
use these programs as tools to help minimize prob-
lems and maximize the return on the investment.
Regardless of the size or type of garden, implement-
ing an integrated pest management program can be
an effective way for a horticulturist to ensure healthy
plants and maintain an economically viable opera-
tion. GG
Cultural Control
Cultural controls are practices that reduce the
pest’s ability to become established. For example, a
change in irrigation practices can reduce moisture Eric Hopper resides in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula
where he enjoys gardening and pursuing sustainability.
He is a Garden & Greenhouse senior editor and can be
contacted at [email protected].
Taking Action
When action is necessary, a good IPM program
will initiate a combination of control methods that
will best rectify the problem for the long-term. In
other words, the holistic approach applies to both the
prevention of problems and the treatment of prob-
lems in the garden. Different types of controls used
in an integrated pest management program include
physical, cultural, biological, and chemical. The most
effective way to manage pests over the long-term is
to implement multiple control programs. IPM pro-
grams normally implement a combination of treat-
ments or control practices that will prevent or treat a
problem from many different angles. Again, the idea
behind effective IPM is a combination of preventive
and control options. The following are just a sam-
pling of different control methods that can be used in
an IPM program.
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www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
May 2019