Lawn and Landscape Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Landscape
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves the use of ecologically-based, common sense methods to maintain a healthy landscape. Too often pesticides are applied on a routine basis without any thought as to whether they are actually needed, or whether there is an alternate strategy in which to control pests without the use of chemical controls.
In contrast, IPM focuses on maintaining landscapes in a manner that prevents and minimizes pest problems. If pest problems do occur, IPM deals with them in an environmentally responsible manner.
With IPM, pest prevention entails maintaining vigorously healthy plant and soil communities. This involves proper techniques and approaches to mowing, watering, fertilization, mulching, pruning, plant selection and grass seeding. Just as healthy people are less susceptible to getting sick, healthy landscapes are less apt to be overcome by weeds, insects or diseases.
IPM also involves periodic monitoring of the landscape in order to determine if damaging pests are present. To do this, you first have to be able to identify damaging pest species from non-damaging or beneficial species. You must also determine whether the pest is present beyond a certain population level, or threshold, where it can cause significant damage. It’s important to realize that the presence of a few pests does not always mean that a problem exists.
However, if pests are found at unacceptable thresholds, IPM calls for a variety of approaches to be considered when dealing with any pest problem. These include biological, mechanical, cultural and chemical controls. Biological controls include the use of beneficial insects, bacteria and parasites to control pests. Mechanical controls include traps, equipment and/or hand removal. Cultural controls include proper watering schedules and periodic maintenance regimens. Chemical controls refer to the use of chemical pesticides to be used judiciously and as a last resort in the management of landscape pests.
The controls ultimately chosen should be those which are proven to be most effective and pose the least risk to people, pets and the surrounding environment.
EnviroPest IPM services include:
- Turf Insect/Disease Control
- Tree & Shrub Insect/Disease Control
- Mosquito/Nuisance Insect Control
