Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• IPM is a research-based holistic approach to pest and disease management utilized by farmers, the Extension service, and the landscape/gardening industry for decades. Many principles work well on a smaller scale for home properties and gardens. 

• IPM principles can be applied to any type of garden including vegetable gardens.

• IPM emphasizes biological (e.g., attracting beneficial insects), cultural (e.g., knowing the proper care of your plant), and physical (e.g., hand removal of insect pests and weeds) approaches to prevent problems and control pests and diseases at acceptable levels. Learn more about Predatory Insects, Predatory Spiders, and Parasitoids.

• Monitoring (inspecting plants) before problems become too advanced and accepting some level of plant damage are parts of IPM.  

• And lastly, using organic or other low-risk pesticides only when pest or disease levels are unacceptable or will seriously impact the health of the plant.

Learn more at the University of Maryland Extension IPM Resource site.