Rain and irrigation runoff carry fertilizers, pesticides, and soil into our storm drains and water ways--impairing water quality and causing harm to fish and wildlife. The toxins you use to kill your weeds and pests are also a danger to other plants in your yard, your pets, your children and our water ways. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a strategy that combines a suite of effective practices for your yard and garden. IPM strategies are safer for your home and our ecosystem.
IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that works with nature, instead of against it. IPM focuses on long-term management of pests and invasive plants by using the following techniques:
• Biological Control such as encouraging natural predators to control pest populations.
• Habitat Manipulation such as draining standing water so that mosquitoes can’t lay their eggs.
• Change Cultural Practices such as reducing over-watering, which discourages fungi and root disease in plants.
• Select Preferred Plant Varieties that are resistant to pests and/or that will thrive naturally in our climate.
• Mechanical or Physical Controls such as plugging up entrances for rodents around your house, or using traps instead of poisons.
• Chemical Control is sometimes still needed, but IPM means using the least amount of the safest products, targeted to the specific pest or area to minimize danger. For example, using ant baits rather than sprays limits the toxin spread to the ants and their colony only.
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