What does integrated pest management (IPM) involve?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a comprehensive approach designed to manage pest populations while minimizing potential harm to humans, beneficial organisms, and the environment. This method emphasizes the integration of various management strategies and tactics, which include biological, cultural, and chemical methods.

The inclusion of biological methods may involve the introduction of natural predators or competitors to control pest populations, while cultural methods can encompass practices such as crop rotation, habitat manipulation, and the timing of planting to disrupt pest life cycles. Chemical methods, although they are part of IPM, are utilized judiciously and as a last resort, only when monitoring indicates that pest populations exceed threshold levels.

By incorporating all these strategies, IPM aims to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly pest management system that reduces reliance on chemical pesticides alone and addresses the underlying causes of pest issues. This holistic view not only helps in managing current pest problems but also prevents future infestations, making it a more effective and sustainable approach to pest management in horticulture.