Post on 13-Apr-2017
What is IPM? IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.
Gardens are Ecosystems
• Components:
– Living – plants, animals (including insects), bacteria, fungi
– Non-living – mineral, water, air, light
– Interactions between and among the living and non-living
Pests
• Insects have a role in the garden • Pests get out of check • Need to have some around to keep predators and parasites in the garden • Without ‘carnivores’ we are left with only chemicals
Habitat
• Food
• Nesting
• Resting
• Water
• Plants form niches
• Native plants have higher levels of interactions with native insects
Key Points
• Increasing plant diversity increases insect diversity, including predators
• Diversity means horizontal, vertical, and temporal
• Use native plants –avoid cultivars, especially those that change shape and/or color of flowers.
• Leave some bare ground for bees
• Keep dead stems and leaves in or near garden
How do I know this works?
• WWMND? – What would mother nature do?
• All pictures were taken in my yard.
• Dr. Michael J. Raupp studies on plant and insect diversity in landscapes.