Managing plant pests involves prevention, variety of controls
For bossy big sisters of a certain age, “integrated pest management” might involve Nerf guns and ransom messages scrawled on construction paper.
For gardeners, however, it’s a technique and a mindset that can save time and money — and lead to a more beautiful, productive and environmentally friendly landscape.
“IPM is just kind of a way of thinking about pest management,” Pat Hoehn, plant-records and healthcare specialist at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, said by phone.
“It’s a way of looking at plant health overall — thinking of it a little more holistically.”
To get a handle on the approach, he suggested thinking about it one word at a time:
means that “it can use a lot of different techniques” — from picking pesky beetles off plants to using chemical sprays against plant diseases.
refers to just about any unwanted living thing, from fungus or bacteria to ravenous deer.
means that you don’t necessarily eradicate pests but manage them.
“There are lots of different ways of defining it,” whether you’re in the kitchen, outside in the home garden or on a big farm, he said.
As a universal example, “let’s say you have some fruit flies in your house,” he said.
“Maybe you just need to take out your trash or get rid of that banana that’s been sitting on the counter too long.”
Congratulations — you’ve just practiced small-scale integrated pest management.
Although “it does usually involve decreasing pesticide use,” thus saving money, the program is not all-organic.
“It’s not limited to never using chemicals,” Hoehn said.
The first step, however, is to “make sure your plants are stress-free.”
“In general, IPM means preventing pests before they happen,” he said. “One of the ways to do that is by keeping