Pest Management Strategy and IPM for Master Gardeners

Cliff Ruth, Extension Area Agent, and Regional Certification Program Coordinator

NCRLC, CPP, CTP, LIC-Technician, Manager, NCCLIDP

Source of Photograph Unknown

Source of Photograph Unknown

WHAT IS IPM?•Decision Making Process

•Integrates all tools available to manage plant or insect problems

•With IPM what you know is more important than which chemical is best

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the combining of several tactics – that may include cultural practices, nonchemical methods, as well as pesticides – to manage pests.

IPM – Integrated Pest Management

• There are no pests in a natural ecosystem• We consider certain species pests when they

are where we don’t want them• Pesticides alone will not solve all pest

problems• Not an organic approach but uses all

available options

“Pests” as part of a Natural System

To develop an IPM Plan combine a great deal of information with a strategy that fits the pest and the situation.

Pesticides give quick results – IPM Plan harder to implement, slower to show results, and may cost more initially.

Thresholds and values must be established.

Formulating an IPM Plan

• Monitor pests to determine population or potential infection levels

• Treat when thresholds indicate economic loss

• Suppression – combine pesticides and natural control

• Regulate pest populations with natural ecosystems (recognize & use)

Basic Strategies to Pest Management

1. Diagnose Problems Survey Property Look at all pest problems together

2. Create a Good Offense Deny pests food, shelter, temperature Interrupt their growth or reproduction

3. Keep Plants Healthy Conditions in landscape best for plant growth

IPM Steps to Follow

4. Encourage Natural Enemies Predators or parasites provide partial control

5. Monitor Pests and Plants Systemic check of plant condition – doesn’t happen

overnight

6. Tolerate Injury Threshold of unacceptable damage Plants tolerate a great deal of defoliation

7. Reevaluate the Program Recognize changes as the plant grows and ecosystem

changes

IPM Steps to Follow

Thresholds Defined• Economic.. Damage or potential loss in crop value

exceeds cost of management strategy. (Short and long term)

• Aesthetic.. Replacement value of landscape appearance or utility exceeds cost of management strategy

• Sentimental.. Plant has no economic value but due to historical significance may have sentimental value to property owner.

Why?• Socially accepted movement away from pesticides in landscapes/home gardens

• Government regulations

• Health concerns

Pest Management Strategies• Cultural- Plant choices, mulching, timing of planting, etc

• Biological- Beneficial Insects, Nematodes, Fungi

• Mechanical- Pruning, cultivations, hand removal

• Chemical- Synthetic, organic, and inorganic

Cultural Control• Proper plant selection for micro-environment

• Proper fertilization and liming to avoid over or under feeding.

• Avoid mono-cultures; plant diverse layers of compatible plants

• Plant timing to avoid pest occurrence

Cultural Control

• Proper planting and mulching depth are good ways to reduce both disorders and diseases

Disease Pyramid/Cultural Management

• Understanding the disease pyramid can help with cultural management of pathogens.

• Time is often considered as the fourth component of plant disease development.

Biological Control• Encourage and protect beneficial insects or other organisms (nematodes, mites, birds)

• Releasing beneficial organisms when needed

Mechanical Control

• Hand pulling of weeds

• Cultivation• Hand picking of insects

• Pruning

Mechanical Control

• Trapping• Screening• Temperature modification

• Pesticides are only one strategy of pest management and should be the last resort.

• Used properly they may pose limited or no damage to humans and the environment

• Not the first and only means of control• Include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides,

miticides and nematicides

Chemical Control: Pesticides

• What pests or problems exist?• What is the problem – disease, insect, weed etc?• Is the problem serious enough to use a pesticide?• Can the problem be fixed by cultural change or

does it need corrected?• What is the safest pesticide to use?• When and how much pesticide should be

applied?

Before you apply ask these questions

• By what they control• Insects, fungus, weeds

• By their chemical nature• Inorganic or organic

• By how they work• Smother, ingest, protect

Pesticide Groups

• Made from minerals• Arsenic, copper, sulfur, zinc

Inorganic Pesticides

• Natural compounds directly from plants• The active ingredient• Natural can be as dangerous as or even more

so than man made• Neem, nicotine, Pyrethrins, Rotenone

Plant-Derived Organic Pesticides

• Microscopic organisms• Bacteria, fungi, nematodes & viruses• Bt: Bacillus Thuringiensis (caterpillars)• Beneficial insects• Milky Spore

Microbial Pesticides

• Manmade – nonselective contact poisons (act when they touch)

• Toxic to many different plants and animals• Some work in more than one way – Look at

mode of action now

Synthetic Organics

• Applied to plants, animals, structures to prevent entry or damage

• Termites

Protectants

• Kills pests that touch them• Can be as simple as walking across a

treated area

Contact Poisons

• Must be eaten• Good for encouraging beneficial insects• Some also kill by contact

Stomach poisons

• Gases that kill the pests• Inhaled or absorbed• Bug bombs• Very dangerous to people and animals

Fumigants

• More toxic to some kinds of plants and animals

• 2,4-D for broadleaf weeds• Bt for certain insects

Selective

• Toxic to many animals and plants• Most are synthetic

• Sevin: (potato beetle and bees)• Roundup: any leafy plant

Nonselective

Labels and Labeling• The printed information

on the pesticide container

• All the information you receive from the company

• Items required are discussed….

Brand Name

• Used for advertising – appears on the front panel

• Liquid Sevin (carbaryl)• Black Flag Ant and Roach

Killer• 2,4-D Weed Killer

Common Name

• Most have complex chemical names

• Carbaryl – 1-naphthyl N-methyl carbamate

Active Ingredient

• Listed by chemical or common name or both

• Percent of each active ingredient is listed

• The inert ingredient does not have to be listed

Signal Words & Symbols

Danger – Highly toxic – taste to tsp

Warning – Moderately toxic – tsp to 2 tbsp

Caution – Slightly toxic – ounce to more than a pint

Scientist determine the dosage that will cause death of laboratory animals as well as irritation – LD50

Precautionary Statements

Hazards to humans and domestic animals – how it is poisonous

Environmental hazards – fish, birds or other wildlife

Physical or chemical hazards – flammable, explosive, or other risks

Statement of practical treatment – instructions for first aid

Directions for Use• Instructions for the best

way to use the product safely

• Pests that are controlled• How, when and where to

apply• How to mix (illegal to

apply greater than rate recommended)

• How often• Waiting period - reentry

Application Equipment

• Use the appropriate equipment for safety

• Compressed air sprayers• Back pack sprayers• Hose end sprayers• Granular applications

Preparation Instructions• Mixing is the most

dangerous activity• Concentrated material!

• Read the label• Inspect the equipment• Add water first

• Mixing more than one pesticide together• May be formulated by manufacturer• Mix ahead of time and test for heat• Check for clumps or settling

Compatibility

• A certain amount to a problem area• Rate per 100 or 1000 square feet• Spray till it is wet

• 1 Gallon per 250 square feet for foliar • 1 Gallon per 25-50 square feet for soil• We all apply at different rates

Calibration

• No good method to dispose of spray material – mix only what you need

• Dusts and granules can be saved for next application

• Never pour down the drain• Clean when done – rinse sprayed on area

recommended on label only

Clean up and Disposal

Protective Clothing (PPE)

Pesticide label will tell you what to wear Body covering – long sleeve shirt,

pants, coveralls, no shorts! Gloves – most exposure is

through hands and forearms Goggles – eyes readily absorb

chemicals Respirator – “Danger or

Warning” Shoes – liquid proof boots or

covers Washing clothes – pre-rinse, use

hot water, not with other clothes

Cost of PPE• When making pesticide choices consider the cost of the PPE

• These costs are including in thresholds• Some PPE may last a year or more $$$• Others may be 1x use but cost $$ per year

• PPE prices change every year

Washing PPE • Pre-rinse clothes worn during applications and wash separate from other clothing

• Wash in hot water then run washer with detergent and hot water w/o clothes

• Line dry• Wash gloves, respirator, boots before storing- soap and hot water!

• Pest incorrectly identified• Incorrect pesticide used• The pesticide improperly used• Pesticide used at the wrong stage of pest’s

lifecycle• Coverage inadequate to control pestime – pest life cycle

Pesticide Failures

Storing Pesticides Properly• Read the label• Store in original container or

label!• Buy only what you need to

avoid long term storage• Away from combustible

materials, food items, fertilizers• Above freezing and away from

extreme heat• Store away from your home(Separate building)

Container Disposal• Triple rinse• Pour rinse in tank, apply

to approved site• Approved disposal site

Buncombe Landfill will take recyclable pesticide containers

• Punch holes in container, before taking to the landfill

Pesticides in the Environment

Moving away from release site may cause environmental contaminationDrift – moved by airVolatilization – liquid to gasSpills, leaks, improper

equipmentHeavy rain may wash awayLeaching – downward

movement

• Vary in the rate they breakdown and how long they stay in the environment

• Most persistent pesticides been removed from the shelves

• Once absorbed broken down into less toxic materials

• Micro organisms break down the pesticide

Pesticide Degradation

Read The Label• Be educated and aware of

what you are doing or recommending with IPM

• Restricted Use Products- (RUPs) only applied by certified/licensed applicators

• Applications of ALL pesticides on the property of another requires a license.

To Recap• Properly identify the problem• Is it abiotic or biotic• If it is biotic is the damage from an insect, disease, mite or animal ?

• Know the history- weather, past applications of fertilizer, pesticides, mulching or pruning practices

Look at SymptomsAbiotic

• Appear suddenly• Affect many plants• Not spreading• Has a defined pattern

• Distinct lines between health and infected tissue

Biotic• Appear gradually• Affect only one

species• Symptoms spread• Occur randomly on

plant or landscape• Halo between healthy

and damaged tissue

Causes of Plant Problems• Environmental

(Abiotic)• Temperature (hot,cold)• Light extremes (shade,

sun)• Water / humidity

(flooding, drought drainage)

• Nutrients• Air pollution • Chemical• Physical damage

• Biotic• Animals

•Chewing•Urine

• Insects/mites

• Pathogens•Bacterial•Fungal •Viral•Nematodes

Questions• What are the four pest management

strategies we discussed?

• What are the 3 signal words on a pesticide label

• Define IPM as it applies to gardening.

• Lawn mower blight would be consider to be what kind of plant problem?

Questions