Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, does not sponsor the total elimination of pesticides. Pesticides play an important role of most IPM programs and will continue to be used as a tool in pest control. However, under IPM, pesticide use is optimized so that applications are less frequent, costs are reduced and the potential for environmental damage is minimized.

So in order to act on or control a pest, IPM practices refer to gathering information and selecting the most appropriate corrective action. Corrective action includes pesticide use only when justified on a cost/benefit basis. Now when we say ‘cost/benefit’ we are not talking about money. We are talking about the ‘cost’ of using a pesticide to:

- Pest resistance
- Destruction of non-target organisms
- Environmental contamination

So you really need to think about what course of action you are going to take to control the problem. Such as:

- Removing host plant
- Natural enemies (such as nematodes)
- Physical/mechanical methods (handpicking pests, fencing)
- Pesticides

Make sure you are equipped with the right information. Knowledge of pest population is very important. Get a book, look it up online, make sure to inform yourself about the pest you are trying to control. What will happen if you do not control the pest? Will it destroy one plant or a thousand? Do you need to apply pesticides or can you remove by hand or both? What sort of damage to the environment will occur if you apply a pesticide?

Questions are good to ask…educate yourself and apply the proper actions. IPM practices have been around for 50 years, it’s time to pay attention to them.

Help The Lawn Blog grow add us to the Stumble!