UTILIZING IPM IN A HOME GARDEN

Written and submitted by Katie Gasior, Horticulture Program Coordinator

IPM is short for “integrated pest management.” It is a way to control insects, diseases, weeds, animals and other “pests” that wreak havoc in a garden by combining biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical practices. The goal of IPM is to reduce environmental, health and economic risks. No one spends time cultivating fresh healthy fruit and vegetables to eat, only in turn to have to use environmentally harmful and human health-harmful chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

Steps to following IPM

Place Physical barriers to prevent deer, groundhogs, chipmunks from gaining access. Consider using raised beds and placing animal repellant around crops.

Identify pests and understand their lifecycles. Know your plants, the common pests that specifically affect them and the damage they cause. Only a few insects are actually pests; many are beneficial or do no harm. Take time to identify beneficial insects and pollinators. Consider how much damage is actually being done before reaching for a chemical. Encourage beneficial insects in your garden by giving them hiding spots and providing a non-sterile environment. Inspect your garden daily and remove or kill known pests immediately. Manage insects and mites by using insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils on softbodied insects and mites. Hand-pick larger insects such as potato beetles and tomato hornworms.

For help in identifying specific insects and diseases, e-mail clear pictures and questions to Sullivan County’s Horticulture program coordinator at kmg287@ cornell.edu.

Starting with a healthy growing environment will help plants remain healthy. Well-draining soil and full sunlight is where most crops grow best. Consider bringing in a sample of the soil in your garden for testing. We send out soil for testing right from the office in Liberty, which will determine soil quality and any amendments needed for a successful garden.

Start with healthy plants. Buy well-branched, stocky transplants with healthy leaves, sturdy stems and well-established root systems. Or consider starting from seed so you have more control. Transplants need good root systems to quickly establish in the garden. Roots should be well formed, whitish and hold the soil mass together. Avoid older, overgrown, leggy or pot-bound transplants with flowers or fruit, as this will limit yields. Reject plants with soft, brown or rotten roots. Keep plantings clean by removing and destroying diseased plants at the first sign of disease to avoid spreading to other plants. Remove those that are severely infested with insects during the growing season, as well. Keep tools and equipment clean by using a solution of 10% chlorine bleach to disinfest tools after using them on diseased plants.

Plant disease resistant varieties and rotate your crops. Don’t grow the same crop two years in a row in the same spot, rotate where and what you plant. Perform a fall cleanup of old crops. Ensure your plants have enough space for air flow. Give plants a deep watering three times a week rather than every day. This encourages healthy deep roots and keeps the soil from harboring too much moisture.

Manage weeds by handpulling or cultivating the soil with a hoe. Use mulch to retain moisture and prevent splashing onto leaves. Keep leaves dry as much as possible. Use trellis, stakes or cage gardening to keep leaves and plants off the ground. Happy gardening!

Source: Branstrom, Isabel, et al.“Integrated Pest Management in Vegetable GardensGardening in Michigan.” Gardening in Michigan, 16 Jan. 2020, https://www.canr.msu. edu/news/ipm_smart_pest_management_ for_the_vegetable_garden.

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