Seventy percent of U.S. homeowners have gardens. And they spend over $11 billion a year on pesticides. That’s a lot of pesticides!
If you knew that pesticides harm wildlife and pollute our air, soil, food and water, would you want to replace the use of chemicals in your garden with something safer? How about if you were aware that pesticide use on home lawns and gardens actually exceeds the use of pesticides that farmers use on agricultural crops. And that pesticides can be harmful to your family’s health. Would you be willing to try something safer, like biologically based tactics to control weeds, insect pests and plant diseases?
Penn State University advises that home gardeners adopt the practice of IPM—integrated pest management. IPM is economical, effective and safer for you and the environment. IPM consists of
• proper pest identification
• understanding pest life cycles in order to treat at the most appropriate time
• monitoring for pest presence, location and abundance
• establishing an action threshold (how much leaf chewing are you willing to tolerate?)
• considering and selecting multiple tactics for pest suppression
• choosing the least toxic method for control
• evaluating results
Here are ten safer ways to control pests:
1. Check your plants for pests on a regular basis so you can address the problem early.
2. Correctly identify the pest and then choose an appropriate solution.
3. Encourage beneficial predators (birds, bats, frogs and beneficial insects) to take up
residence in your garden by planting a diverse mix of flowers, tress and shrubs
(especially natives) and installing bird feeders, bird baths and bird houses.
4. Use beneficial nematodes and milky spore to get rid of Japanese beetles.
5. Prune, bag and dispose of diseased plant parts. Do not add them to your compost pile.
6. Treat only the affected plant or area that is diseased or infested.
7. Don’t over-fertilize plants. All that resultant tender new growth is attractive to pests.
8. Be sure to place plants in conditions they prefer. (sun, shade, moisture) Stressed plants are more susceptible to pests and disease.
9. Read labels and follow directions for the remedy you choose. Don’t spray when
beneficial insects are active.
10. Use the least toxic pesticide for the identified problem. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soaps are good choices.
Keep your kids and pets safe. Be an environmentally friendly gardener—practice IPM. And tell your neighbors, too!
For more information on IPM, go to Penn State IPM
For comprehensive information on pesticides, go to Cornell University’s online tutorial
Do you have a gardening question? In Delaware County, call our Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.
UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS
July 12, 2008
Trees
Alan Jensen Seller, from The Care of Trees, will teach you about the trees on your property. Cost: $10
August 9, 2008
Hypertufa
Learn the basics of making your own garden trough in this popular hands-on workshop. Details will be sent upon registration. Limited to 15 participants. Cost: $15 (includes materials)
The Garden Series at Haverford Township Adult School
A collection of one night classes for both the indoor and outdoor garden. Classes taught by Delaware County Master Gardeners. Take one, two or all five– and save.
For more information, go to Haverford Adult School or call 610-446-8022.
Registration required for all events. Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website for a registration form.
