IP What?
By Andrea Peck
This week I had a fun visit with the Multiflora Gardening Club in Paso Robles. Our conversation centered on the topic of pests. Well, I've been having my own pest problems that I have yet to decipher despite my most concerted efforts. No matter, the topic of pests is confounding and wily at best, which is why the Master Gardener's prefer to attack “those who foil all of our garden efforts” with a scientific approach. We have little control over pests, their lifecycles or their desire for my kale. But, the more we know about their proclivities, the more we are able to create a bubble of protection.
That is where IPM comes in. IPM?
According to the Master Gardener website, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is defined as:
An ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment.
Whew. That's a mouthful.
Underneath the fancy verbiage, however, is a lot of common sense. When considering your plants, for example, it is best to provide consistent good care. The more refined your approach, the more likely your plants will be able to withstand pest annihilation.
The most influential factors your plants have are the soil that surrounds them and irrigation. Not all plants appreciate the same exact circumstances, but most thrive when soil is rich and loamy. Achieving this state is best done with consistent applications of compost. Mulch also plays its part by keeping soil moist. You see, underneath the brown glob that is your soil, lives life. The microscopic kind. Bacteria, fungi and all sorts of creatures, such as insects, spiders and earthworms live in your soil – or you better hope they do. Soil devoid of micro-life lacks the mechanism which breaks down nutrients.
Some plants, particularly Mediterranean plants, prefer less nutrient-rich soil, maybe even leaning towards sandy soil. This is where knowledge of your plant comes into play. Soil needs, water requirements and location, all weigh-in when it comes to the growth of a sturdier plant.
Integrated Pest Management does not mean grab your pesticide and spray away. IPM methods prefer covering all bases of plant care before the need for pesticides. Pesticides, though useful under a variety of circumstances, must be used with care because often the pesticide has a deleterious effect on soil quality and may negatively affect beneficial insects and animals. Certain pesticides can have long-term effects. Pesticides that have long-term residual effects include pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbaryl, imidacloprid and metaldehyde.
There are many methods for solving pest problems that do not involve the use of pesticides. Mechanical control, such as picking off snails and caterpillars, can reduce numbers significantly. Exclusion methods, such as netting or row covers, head the problem off at the pass. Similarly, chicken wire stapled onto the bottom of raised beds deters gophers. Creating a boundary may seem overly simple, but often is enough to solve the problem. Closing doors, sealing entryways with caulk or wire mesh and closing compost bins limits rodents and the like.
When you discover a pest, ask yourself why it may have chosen your home or garden. Did you leave out a veritable welcome mat of dog food and water? Putting away animal foods and shutting down access to water may make your home less appealing to larger critters like raccoons, skunks and squirrels.
There are many pests, some are so tiny that you need tools, such as a magnifying glass, to identify them. Make sure when you do visually locate the little instigator that you identify it correctly. The internet is a great resource, providing images of just about everything that lives. I'm not a detail person, so this particular area is difficult for me. I'm notorious for seeing something and immediately forgetting everything about it. Those are the moments that you really want to get a good description of your pest.
After all, no one wants to blame the mole when it's really a gopher.
For a hyper-organized wealth of information check out this link: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/GENERAL/whatisipm.html