Print This Page
Integrated Pest Management Planning
Successful Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, requires planning and knowledge. A written IPM Program can help staff and clients understand the steps needed to create and maintain landscapes and prioritize health and environmental quality. An IPM template can help in designing a program for any company. Many companies are successful in providing organic, or chemical-free, services to their clients.
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a strategy that uses environmentally-sound and effective ways to keep pests (including weeds) from invading landscapes and buildings and damaging plants. Successful IPM typically combines several methods for the long-term prevention and management of pests. These strategies don’t harm people or the environment. While pesticides may be an option, they are often not necessary when other—nonchemical--methods are used first.
Managing pests in buildings and landscapes
- Accurately identify the pest. Different pests require different management methods. The links below help identify pests.
- Determine if there are ways to prevent pests or nonchemical methods for reducing the pest problem. For best results, combine several of the following methods and controls:
- Prevention: Prevent pests from increasing in number. This includes starting with healthy, organic-rich soil; eliminating the pests’ sources of food, water, and shelter, and/or using coarse mulch to keep beds weed-free.
- Cultural controls: Use good cultural practices to discourage pests. These include: good sanitation; removing debris and infested plant material; proper watering and fertilizing; growing competitive plants; and using native or pest-resistant plants.
- Physical or mechanical controls: Control pests with physical methods or mechanical devices such as a water spray, barriers and traps, and pulling weeds while they are small.
- Biological control: Use beneficial organisms to manage pests. Encourage natural enemies by planting flowering and nectar-producing plants and avoiding the use of broad-spectrum pesticides.
- If nonchemical methods are not successful, consider using pesticides. Have a plan for choosing the safest material available.
- Pesticides can be part of IPM if used as a last resort and after trying other methods. Be sure that the pest problem is serious enough to warrant a pesticide treatment and use the least toxic, yet effective, products available. Use them in ways that reduce human and pet exposure and protect the environment.
- Combine pesticide treatments with preventive methods to discourage pests from coming back.
- Limit pesticide applications as much as possible. Begin ongoing prevention and cultural and physical controls as soon as possible.
IPM resources
City of Seattle Conservation & Environment
www.ci.seattle.wa.us/html/citizen/utility_conservation.htm
City of Seattle Natural Landscaping
www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Yard/Natural_Lawn_&_Garden_Care/index.asp
City of Seattle: Salmon Friendly Gardening
www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Yard/Natural_Lawn_&_Garden_Care/Salmon_Friendly_Gardening/index.asp
Integrated Pest Management Practitioners Association
www.ipmaccess.com
King County Native Plant Resources
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/nw-yard-and-garden/native-plant-resources-nw.aspx
King County Native Salvage Plant Program
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/volunteer/plant-salvage-program.aspx
King County Noxious Weed Control Program
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds.aspx
Oregon State University, Integrated Plant Protection Center
www.ipmnet.org/
Seattle Tilth Association
www.seattletilth.org/
University of California, Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/
University of Washington, Botanic Gardens
depts.washington.edu/urbhort/
University of Washington, Elisabeth C. Miller Library
depts.washington.edu/hortlib/index.shtml
Washington Association of Landscape Professionals
www.walp.org/
Washington Native Plant Society
www.wnps.org/
Washington State Department of Agriculture, IPM
agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects/IPM/default.aspx
Washington State University - Cooperative Extension - Hortsense
pep.wsu.edu/hortsense/
Washington State University - Cooperative Extension - Native Plants
gardening.wsu.edu/text/nwnative.htm
Washington Toxics Coalition
www.watoxics.org/
Workshops and training opportunities
Washington State University Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education
pep.wsu.edu/
Washington State University IPM Certification Program
ipm.wsu.edu/cert/cert.html
Washington State Pest Management Association
www.wspca.org/
University of Washington Pro-Hort
depts.washington.edu/urbhort/html/education/planpro.htm
Literature
Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook
weeds.ippc.orst.edu/pnw/weeds
Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook
uspest.org/pnw/insects
Oregon State University, Plant Disease Handbook
plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/
B & B a publication from the Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association
www.wsnla.org/
Northwest Garden News
www.northwestgardennews.com/
