Pest & Disease Control

The Best Practices approach, sometimes called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally sensitive approach to dealing with garden pests. This approach uses the scientific understanding of pests and diseases to determine if a problem requires treatment, and if so, how to proceed in the safest effective way—while also taking into account the specific sensitivities of the site.

Some questions to consider when choosing a solution to your pest problem:

• What is the safety of the applicator?
• What is the solution’s impact on people and pets (safety and other factors)?
• Is there a potential for runoff and what are the consequences for groundwater?
• Does the solution pose a threat to beneficial insects?
• What is the persistence in the environment (how long does it stick around)?
• What is the best timing of the treatment to mitigate the factors above?

Remember, starting out with the right plant in the right place will go a long way to ensuring success and pest mitigation in the garden. The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is very applicable here.

Visit the links below for more info on pest management.

• EPA: Pest Control and Pesticide Safety for Consumers
• OSU: Pacific Northwest Nursery IPM
• “The Truth about Organic Gardening” by Jeff Gillman
• A Method to Measure the Environmental Impact of Pesticides

Our best practice definitions provide you with clear steps for finding the best way to solve garden problems. Best practices are assured when these steps are applied in each situation:

1.     Identify the weed, pest or disease.
2.     Monitor pest numbers, spread of weeds, or extent of disease damage.
3.     Decide what threshold of infestation requires action. Can the damage be tolerated? Is it really an issue that requires treatment?
4.     Could prevention (e.g. appropriate plant selection, cultural controls) eliminate the need for future treatment ?
5.     Control the problem using the safest effective biological, cultural, mechanical/physical and chemical tools (see control methods listed below).

 It should be noted that Best Practices are not that same as approaching the issue from the standpoint of Synthetic vs. Organic. If control is warranted, then it is a matter of choosing the right tool to achieve an acceptable result–one which will minimize harm to humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Biological control would consist of natural enemies: predators, parasites, pathogens, or competitors (e.g. ladybugs, beneficial nematodes or bacillus strains, etc.).

Cultural controls would be practices that prevent or slow the spread of the problem (e.g, crop rotation, pruning, watering methods, etc.).

Mechanical and physical methods would include traps for pests, bird netting, row covers, mulching, and removing pests by hand.

Chemical control would be the safest effective pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides.

Don’t forget, there are many good bugs out there too!

Many insects, fungi, and bacteria can benefit your garden in one way or another. Beneficials come in many shapes, and sizes—with each helping your garden in their own way, including controlling pests and pollinating plants.

Creating a suitable habitat in your garden will attract beneficials, helping you to have a sustainable garden while supporting native wildlife. When relying on beneficials as a form of pest control, you must be patient and tolerant of a few pests in your garden—as well as some damage to your plants. Without a few pests around, your beneficials won’t have anything to eat!

Invite beneficials into your Garden:

• Plant a Garden to Attract Beneficials.
• Create a Bee Friendly Garden.
• Invite Mason Bees into your garden.