Integrated Pest Management (also known as IPM) is a lawn and landscape system that provides for reduced, better and safer use of materials designed to control insects, weeds and diseases.
Prevention
Monitoring
Controlling
Includes conserving natural enemies of turf pests by selective use of biological and synthetic pesticides. It also includes planting improved varieties of grass that are resistant to common insect and diseases. Using good cultural practices such as good mowing and watering practices, aeration on a regular basis, and heavy thatch removal.
Regular inspection of the lawn and landscape will help keep you aware of what is going on. It's much easier to take minor corrective steps in the early stages of a pest invasion, than major steps after problems become full blown.
Control includes using biological or chemical treatments only as needed to prevent major lawn and landscape damage. It also includes taking necessary precautions to save beneficial insects that may help destroy pests harmful to the landscape.
We never want to apply a broad-spectrum insecticide to an entire lawn just to be sure. If problems arise, we take the path of least intrusion. In other words, it is better if we can remove a few insects from a rose bush with the garden hose, instead of spraying the entire plant with a complete insecticide that may also kill all the insects within a 10' radius.
