Anyone who gardens has had a pest control problem. A garden pest can be a weed, an animal, an insect or a disease. The best defense is to learn how to diagnose the problem.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM involves identifying the plant, the problem and the pest, then deciding on a course of action that will mange the problem with the least damage to the environment. Few pests can ever be completely eliminated. The goal is to minimize damage.
Different people will have different thresholds in which they feel compelled to take action and different ideas about what actions are acceptable. We should always consider how the action that we decide to take would effect the environment and those around us.
For some people, having perfect roses means they are willing to handle and use toxic chemicals. Others want no chemical pesticides used in the yard at all. A pesticide is something that kills a pest, whether it is a weed or an insect. Your feelings on pesticides may change according to the situation.
Identification
Identifying the plant species with the problem is the first step. Knowing the species of plant that is having a problem lets you ask about or look up information on pest control more easily. Saying that green beans have a problem is different from saying that evergreens have a problem. Evergreens include a wide range of plant species, and each species has different problems that are common. If the pest is a weed, you need to know what it is to see what controls it. You can identify plants with reference books.
After identifying the plant, you need to identify the problem or pest. This is where you may need help from an expert. If you can, bring them a sample of the problem. If you are going to try to identify the problem and search for a solution yourself, or you are going to speak to some one who can't see the plant, you will need to observe carefully. What are the symptoms of the problem? If it is spots on a leaf, what color and shape are they? What color and shape is the insect? How many are on the plant? How many and what types of plants are affected? What parts of the plant are affected? How does the plant's general health appear? Does it appear ugly but healthy or is it dying?
Gather as much information as you can. Include the history of the plant in the garden, such as when it was planted, how it is cared for and anything that may have happened near or to the plant shortly before symptoms were noticed. Many plant problems are not pests at all but are caused by improper growing conditions, damage, nutrient deficiencies and other causes not related to disease or insects.
Solutions
Once you have identified the plant, the problem and the pest, you are ready to come up with a solution. If the problem is cosmetic, as many plant problems are, you need to determine if you even want to control it. Unfortunately, there are some problems that kill plants and that have no cure.
Some types of plants are more prone to needing preventative care, including chemicals, if the plants are to be productive or look good. If you are against using chemicals on your property, you may not want to plant tea roses, fruit trees and flowering trees derived from fruit trees like crabapples. Choosing varieties of plants that are disease-resistant will be helpful.
Exclusion means preventing the problem from entering the garden or getting to a plant. You can exclude deer and rabbits from the garden with fencing. You can keep cabbage moths from laying eggs that turn into worms by covering cabbage plants with spun-fabric row covers. Any plant that doesn't need insect pollination can be covered this way.
Mulch will prevent weeds from getting a hold in the garden and is a method of exclusion. It can be organic, such as wood chips, or inorganic, such as black plastic.
Exclusion methods that use taste, sight or smell to deter animals are not very effective for long-term use. You must rotate these controls so animals don't become used to them. Don't use things with a bad taste to keep animals out of the vegetable garden or you may not want the vegetables either.
Mechanical controls may mean hand picking insects or using a hoe to get rid of weeds. Some ways to mechanically control insects include using a hand vacuum on leaves and paying six-year-olds a quarter for each hornworm or dandelion they collect. It can also mean setting a trap for the woodchucks.
Pesticides
First, make sure you are getting the right product to control your pest. Read the label. Herbicides kill all plants, not just weeds; insecticides do not help with diseases. If you do not see the pest you are trying to kill listed on the label, don't buy the product. You may want to consult with your county's Extension Service to see what the best method of chemical control is for the pest.
Specific recommendations for chemicals can't be given. The chemicals on the market and the listed uses of them change rapidly, and some chemicals can't be used in some states. There are products on the market that are considered organic, such as orange oil and neem oil. Even though they are labeled organic, they may still be toxic. After all, they are made to kill something.
In all cases where any pesticides are used, including those that are considered organic, the label directions should always be read and followed. Use any safety precautions that are recommended, including gloves or masks, if directed. The label is the law, and when you do not follow label directions, you are breaking the law.
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