The Basics of Pest Management
Pests can damage or destroy agricultural crops, lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs, and other landscape features. They also can contaminate food and water supplies, displace wildlife species and alter the soil environment. There are many ways to control pests including cultural, biological, and chemical methods. Pest management is a process that balances these control options to reduce the need for pesticide use.
Prevention is the goal of integrated pest management IPM. It is important to know a pest’s life cycle, habitat and feeding habits in order to prevent problems. It is also helpful to understand the role of natural forces in controlling pest populations. These factors include climate, natural enemies, natural barriers, and the availability of food, water and shelter.
Providing a hostile environment for contact for London pest management can help to reduce their numbers and impact on desirable plants. This can be accomplished by denying them the basic elements needed for growth or reproduction. For example, removing debris from the garden deprives insects of hiding places. Mulching the garden discourages weed seeds from germinating, and planting sun-loving vegetables in full sun deprives fungal organisms that cause leaf diseases of their food source.
Certain plants attract beneficial insects that prey on or parasitize the unwanted pests. Interplanting crops with herbs, flowers and/or vegetables can confuse pests, making them harder to find. Planting companion plants that produce fragrances, taste bitter or are toxic to the pest such as garlic, onions or chives can also be useful.
IPM includes practices that reduce the need for pesticides, and is based on a three-step process: prevention, suppression and eradication. Pesticides should be used only when necessary and only to the extent required for adequate control, to minimize potential environmental harm. It is also important to consider the effects of any pesticide on other organisms, including humans and non-target plants.
Some pests, such as grubs in grass, can be controlled with chemicals but only after they reach a critical mass. Eradication, therefore, is often a difficult goal.
Once the need for control has been determined, a plan is developed to achieve it. The plan should address prevention and suppression, ideally at the same time. For instance, mulching and other physical controls can be used to exclude grubs from lawns and reduce their population so that the necessary fungicide can be applied.
Once a plan has been put into place, it is crucial to follow the instructions and safety warnings for all pest control products, especially pesticides. They should be used only when the proper procedures have been followed and when the proper precautions are taken to protect the health and safety of people, pets, children, and livestock. Pesticides should always be stored in a secure area out of the reach of children and should never be ingested or inhaled. They should be disposed of immediately after use and properly labeled to prevent accidental poisonings or other health hazards. This is especially important when working with organic products.
