Intregated Pest Management (IPM)

For more then a decade, IPM has been evolving as the most conscienctius means of managing diseases and insects in ornamentals. It focuses on establishing a set of property-specific standards and using a variety if techniques to discourage pests.

The basic principals associated with Integrated Pest Management include:

• Establishing guidelines and parameters for making decisions about specific property.
• Monitoring pest populations and tolerating up to certain threshold levels of pests before plants are treated.
• Using a variety of methods-such as insecticiadal soaps, horticultural oils, light and pheromone traps to manage pest.
• Selective and intelligent pesticide usage.
• Keeping accurate records of when pests have been a problem and how they are selectively controlled.

The specifics linked to IPM are really nothing more than basic common sense practices long associated with professional turf and ornamental maintenance.

For Example:

• Minimizing pest problems by using resistant ornamental plant varieties ideally suited for the site i.e. rustresistant crabapples.
• Modifying site (selective pruning, drainage soil, etc.) if necessary.
• Encouraging plant health and vigor through proper maintenance including fertilization, irrigation, pruning, mulching, etc.
• Insuring correct treatment by properly identifying specific problems.
• Maximizing pesticide efficiency by applying when diseases are most susceptible.
• Managing pest problems with alternative controls such as insecticicdal soaps and horticultural oils when ever possible.

IPM Program for Small Trees & Shrubs

• Late Winter Horticultural oil
• Early Spring Insecticide, fungicide
• Mid/late spring Insecticide, fungicide
• Early summers Insecticide/Miticide fungicide
• Late Summer Insecticide/ Miticide
• Fall Deep Root Fertilization
• Late Fall Antitranspirant to evergreens
• Early winter Antitranspirant to evergreens