Integrated pest management for gardens and landscapes
Integrated pest management is the combination of actions and decisions gardeners make to protect the home garden, lawn, and landscape from unacceptable damage caused by insects, plant diseases, weeds, and other destructive pests. IPM is not one specific action or tactic; it is the combination of all actions that reduce the impact of pests while minimizing negative effects on the environment.
These actions include cultural practices, me- chanical control, biological control, and pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides).
IPM promotes prevention of pests rather than control and integration of a variety of management strategies. Pest prevention requires using knowledge of past and potential pest problems to avoid future issues. Your garden and landscape will require dozens of decisions that determine what, where, when, and how the landscape and garden are planted and maintained. These are called cultural practices, and are aimed at establishing and maintaining plants that are healthy, vigorous, and suited to the location. Healthy plants are less prone to disease and insect problems. Cultural practices include decisions such as plant selection, crop rotation, planting time, sanitation, plant spacing, proper watering, and fertilization.
Specific proactive actions to reduce pest damage in your garden and landscape:
• Carefully inspect plants for disease or pests prior to purchase.
• Select insect- and disease-resistant varieties when available.
• Time plantings for best growth and to avoid pest problems when possible.
• Perform a soil test for nutrients and pH levels to plan fertilizer needs. Soil tests can be done free of charge through the extension office.
• Space plants properly to allow good air circulation and reduce disease, insect, and competition issues.
• Use mulch to preserve soil moisture and lessen weed competition.
• Water plants in the morning and at ground level.
• Remove dead or diseased plant material promptly.
• Identify insects and diseases that are present, and evaluate the extent and potential damage from the infestation.
Mechanical control is another technique in IPM. Mechanical barriers such as netting or screens may keep pests away from garden plants. Also consider using traps to reduce or monitor for pests. Traps for insects in open areas may indicate a pest’s presence, but will not control the pest. Nuisance wildlife in your garden or landscape can be live-trapped and relocated. Mechanical control includes the simple removal of pests by hand. Large insects such as tomato hornworms can be hand-picked from infested plants. Weeds can be hoed or dug by hand.
Biological controls do not eliminate pests, but can help in keeping them controlled. Naturally occurring predators and parasites are found in gardens, orchards, and fields. These natural enemies attack pest insects and may help suppress or limit insect populations. Learning to identify these species, such as lady beetles, lacewings, and praying mantids, will be beneficial. One thing to note, purchasing and releasing natural enemies in a home garden and landscape will have little, if any, impact.
Pesticides are chemicals that adversely affect pests. They can be used to kill unwanted insects, weeds, or plant pathogens. IPM may include the judicious and proper use of pesticides as a chemical management tool. They can be carefully used in combination with other tactics, or if other tactics do not give the desired level of control. Careful use requires thoughtfully chosen and properly timed applications. Special attention should be taken to avoid pesticide use when plant pollinators are present.
Considering becoming a Master Gardener in 2020? Now is the time! Applications are available at the Cooperative Extension Office at 236 Woodbine.
Poultry Testing required for Garland County Fair
Poultry birds being entered in the Garland County Fair must be tested prior to the Fair. This testing will be held at the Fairground (Malvern Road) on Saturday, Aug. 10 starting at 8 a.m. until finished. All entries including 4-H Poultry Chain shall be tested and entered that day with the exception of waterfowl. Waterfowl do not require testing but must be entered on or prior to Aug. 10. For more information or questions call Phillip Howell at 501-627-2646 or Michael Howell at 762-7277.
4-H Club Information
For information about Garland County 4-H Club membership or program benefits, contact Linda Bates at the Garland County Cooperative Extension office located at 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs, call 501-623-6841, or email lbates@uaex.edu. Additional information is available at http://www.uaex.edu/garland.
Master Gardener Information
Master Gardener meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Elks Lodge. They are open to the public and guests are welcome. For more information call the Extension Office at 623-6841 or email Alex Dykes at adykes@uaex.edu.
EHC Information
Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC, call 623-6841 or email Alison Crane at acrane@uaex.edu. Follow Alison on Facebook @garlandEGF and @Garland FCS, and EHC on Facebook @GarlandCountyEHC.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.