The garden of the ecosystem
Twenty-five years, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) seemed a utopian dream-Mainstream farmers. The idea that pests, the plant has been maintained at levels without large quantities of chemical pesticides ran against everything they had learned. But now IPM is that almost all stakeholders in this area. What has to turn this around?
Miracles chemical
If chemical pesticides for the first time in large quantities in the years 1940, they were as a miracle of modern life. Now, all farmers had to do was spary their crops with DDT and other chemicals, and it could obtain full control.
But in a few decades, problems began to emerge. The most important is the pollution by chemicals, toxic and both persist. Even 25 years after almost entirely prohibited, the USA, DDT can still be found in the tissues of animals.
But even without taking into account environmental concerns, there were a number of other factors, which questioned the wisdom of such freedom of use of chemicals. First, if an insecticide to fight against a pest, their natural enemies are often killed, as well. This may also be the result of the unintended effect of a resumption of the fight against pests of the population.
Secondly, many insects can develop very quickly the population stable at a chemical.
And thirdly, if a pest is to remove the door is open for other, less obvious before their competition was killed. On the first solution of these problems appeared to be, just use more, or otherwise, chemicals, but later was clear, it is more like a good way to the pockets of chemical producers.
Avoiding the problem
The first principle of IPM against pests, it is trying to avoid the problem in D es first place. Defences natural plants against pests. The problems tend to occur if a plant is accentuated by its general condition. A plant does not receive enough moisture or too much sun is least to the extent of resistance against the onslaught of insects.
And those who are planted in a spot in the shade, are planted in close collaboration dipping or late evening are rather victims of mushrooms. To minimize problems mushrooms, make sure the plants are mulched have air circulation and are thoroughly impregnated in the morning. Try to remain outside the nearby Drop-lines of trees and remove branches and severely damaged the foliage.
Many insects, flow, first on a single species or species of plants. For example, rhododendrons edge Bug, Stephantis rhododendri, feeds almost exclusively on rhododendrons. During his cousin, p. pyrioides, RSS azaleas in general. Large, Single-groups of species of plants, also popular with landscape designers, you are sure that the creation of a channel of problems.
Over time, you find that Corythucha cydoniae (yet another bug-edge) in this huge bank cotoneaster, it will be too late. Within a few weeks, they have a regular and permanent basis will be blocked sprayings of insecticides. Thanks to the diversification of your plantings you minimize those risks. This does not mean you can not have small groups of species or certain forms of culture, to avoid really shows massively.
If you want to avoid chemicals altogether, you have to do without some plants. Except in ideal conditions, most hybrid roses require regular sprayings. Then again, if you can be sure, the less satisfied with the dramatic pink flowers rugosas or other landscapes, you can use fungicides and insecticides and perhaps avoid.
Outside take the good for good plants, planting, correctly and give them appropriate assistance are key to minimize the use of pesticides.
Manufacturing a balance
Integrated Pest Management, using a variety of methods of struggle against parasites. But what is more important, it will decide whether the use of these methods. The point is that only pests, when the health of your plants or their aesthetic value is in danger.
This last point is obviously a bit subjective call, but we must all relize that no matter what we have in our garden pests. For example, in my garden, I often see dozens of aphids chewing on my Iris. But they have no influence on the flowers and they can not even see without looking closely.
When I spray them (even with an insecticidal soap), I can affect other people my very healthy population of praying mantises part by the disappearance of their food (they love to eat the leaves). These insectivores can be a judge in other pests, once I have no conscience. Thus by spraying the foliage of my iris, I can endanger other plants to other insects.
A lawn is another example of a situation where the best solution is often nothing more to do. For example, one reason why you a lawn, children can play this, we wish to avoid the weeds with chemicals Killer.
If you have planted the right grass for your area, and dealing properly, they are usually strong enough to be able to compete.
Physical checks
There are a large number of physical checks at work in your garden. Lady beetles, spiders and mantises are all there eating insects. Wasps parasites lay their eggs in the larvae of other insects, where they breed and feed on the inside. And, as already mentioned above, even the healthy plants produce a wide variety of ways to control pests.
You can Lady beetles, parasitic wasps and intestines mantis egg for release in your garden, but they are probably already. If someone has a little heavier with an insecticide, it may be worthwhile to purchase some of these predators to replenish its population. Otherwise, the introduction of more than your garden can be maintained either a death or a mass migration to greener pastures.
Anyway, you’ve wasted your money.
The best way to maintain a healthy population of predators is to be avoided, with insecticides, and if you use, make sure you have an application on vulnerable sectors.
