Controlling Pests in the Home Garden A Wholistic Approach

What We’ll Cover Types of Pests What is Wholistic Four Areas Cultural Mechanical Biological Chemical

Types Viruses Tabaco Mosaic virus Bacteria Bacteria Spot Fungus (Mold) Early Blight Insects Tomato Flea Weeds Nightshade Critters Bunny

Wholistic Approach? Technical Term is- Integrated Pest Management Long-term prevention of pests or their damage by managing the ecosystem Pest identification Monitoring and assessing pest numbers and damage Guidelines for when management action is needed Preventing/limiting pest damage Control vs Elimination Using a combination of management tools Cultural Physical/Mechanical Biological Chemical

Why? More Effective Less Expensive Safer Healthy/Balanced Environment Natural Control

Four Areas Cultural Practices Mechanical and Physical Controls Healthy Plants. Reduce pest establishment, reproduction, dispersal, and survival. Mechanical and Physical Controls Kill a pest directly or make the environment unsuitable for it. Keep the pest out. Biological Control Use of natural enemies—predators, parasites, pathogens, and competitors—to control pests and their damage. Chemical Control Physiological affect on the target pest.

Cultural Promote Healthy Plants Remove Inhibit Growth Planting Pruning Watering Fertilize Rotation Remove Remove Windfall Weeding before they seed Squish’em Inhibit Growth Mulch Remove favorable environments

Mechanical and Physical Controls Traps Mouse Traps Tanglefoot Barriers Tree Guard Fence Mulch Net

Biological Control Promote a Predator/Parasite Friendly Environment Feed all season Create Habitat Add biological agent Nematodes Bacillus thuringiensis (BTs)- "microbial insecticide" Ladybugs Predator Wasps

Chemical Control Sprays/Powders/Poisons Systemic/ Broad Spectrum Neonicotinoids 2,4-D Target d-Con Grass B-Gone Timing Late Evening After Bloom

Conclusion Positively Identify your pest Use all your tools Control vs Eradication