IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
Many times we Master Gardeners get the question, What can I spray for problems someone encounters in his yard. Spraying may be entirely inappropriate or ineffective in solving the problem or it may even be injurious to the health of the person or animal that encounters it. Whether the problem is in your home, yard,or garden, there are ways to deal with it. We can use our brains to analyze the problems, educate ourselves, and seek help to resolve the situation.
Knowledge of how plants grow, the life cycles of insects and pests, and sometimes acceptance of less than perfect results means that you can plan ahead or react at the best time to reduce or solve a problem. You can reduce pesticide use, allow Mother Nature to help with control, have fewer hazards to human, bird, animal, and fish health, reduce damage to the environment and more than likely, reduce your costs . . . and still have effective control of the problem.This approach is called Integrated Pest Management.
First, determine what the problem is. Many times folks call us seeking help to control an insect when the problem is really a disease or even a failure to water. If the problem is an insect, you need to control it at the life stage when it will be most vulnerable or perhaps let birds eat the critters. If it is a disease, is it one that endangers the tree's survival or is like acne - unsightly but not threatening? Map out where the problem is. Not all plants or trees experience the same insect or disease problems, we don't need to spray everything! All, however, experience drought when rain doesn't fall.
Next, decide whether action is really necessary. Is it an ish factor that bothers you but doesn't really harm the plant? Is it a condition that threatens health? Is there an influx of mice or just one into your home? When does one mouse become many mice (Minnie Mouse)? Is it merely a nuisance or is it something that can't be tolerated? Third, decide what to do. Will changing the cultural conditions prevent the problem?
A. Cultural control measures to promote success include using pest resistant varieties, fertilizing to promote growth, planting a sun-loving plant in a sunny spot, and disposing of diseased plant material.
B. Physical control measures involve a preventive approach. Barriers, such as mulches; microclimates produced by using Walls of Water; weeding to prevent undesirable plants from competing for light, nutrients, and moisture; caulking to prevent insect invasions when the cool fall weather approaches are some of those measures.
C. Biological control is a method that uses natural enemies of pests to work for you, e.g., lady bugs to eat aphids. It also means keeping those insects healthy to do their work. When you kill the white grubs that eat grass roots, you are also killing beneficial insects in the soil and the earth worms that aerate the soil.
D. Chemical Controls may be used judiciously when other strategies are ineffective or aren't appropriate. Then the least toxic that will accomplish the goal is the best choice. Limiting control to the problem area only is best. The label constitutes the law that authorizes use of a chemical; read and follow directions carefully, protecting yourself and the environment. Chemicals are not innocuous substances; they can be very harmful. Seek information on chemical use from sources that are qualified to give information. The University of Minnesota is one of those authorities; clerks in stores are not trained nor licensed to give that advice.
To learn more about IPM (integrated pest management), read future articles by the Master Gardeners on aspects of IPM, read University Extension information at www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo., or seek out the book, Managing Pests in Landscapes and Homes, produced by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for a comprehensive guide to integrated pest management.
Cathy Peck
Beltrami County Master Gardener
