Integrated Pest Management
Traditional pest-management programs usually involve cover sprays, which can unnecessarily subject people, animals and the environment to toxic pesticides. By contrast, integrated pest management is a holistic approach that accounts for all of the factors in your trees' or shrubs' environment, uses comprehensive knowledge of pest life cycles and interaction with plants, and deals with pests in the most-efficient and environmentally responsible way. It is a cycle that includes assessment, preventive and remedial actions, monitoring, and feedback.
IPM begins with site visits, ideally on a monthly schedule. After thoroughly inspecting all woody plants on your property, Jim begins the IPM cycle with the first step - setting acceptable levels - and continues through the phases of IPM.
The IPM Cycle
Acceptable levels - the cycle begins with setting acceptable levels of pests (it is not feasible to set a goal of eradicating all pests).
Preventive cultural practices
Plant selection
Quarantine
Culling
Sanitation
Beneficial fungi/bacteria
Monitoring
Inspection
Identification
Record keeping
Mechanical controls
Picking
Physical barriers
Traps
Vacuuming
Tillage
Biological controls
Beneficial insects
Microorganisms
Responsible pesticide use
Conventional chemicals
Organic compounds
Crop sanitation
Contact Jim to set up your site visit, and get started protecting your trees and shrubs.
