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Manage pests and diseases with IPM

Integrated pest management (IPM) prevents problems first and uses pesticides only when monitoring shows they are needed. It protects people, pollinators and the natural enemies that keep pests down.

How

1. Prevent: grow healthy plants, choose resistant varieties, rotate crops, keep beds clean and manage irrigation so leaves stay dry (UC IPM).
2. Monitor: walk the garden at least weekly, checking leaf undersides, stems and buds, and note what you see.
3. Identify the pest or disease correctly before acting; use your extension service or a diagnostic guide.
4. Decide whether the damage is tolerable. A few holes in leaves rarely justify treatment.
5. Use physical and biological controls first: row covers to exclude insects (noting NC State's warning that pests already present can be trapped underneath), hand-picking, traps, and flowering plants that support natural enemies.
6. If a pesticide is justified, choose the most selective, least harmful product and follow the label exactly.
7. Evaluate the result and record what worked.

Safety: Pesticide labels are legal documents in many countries. Wear the protective equipment listed, respect harvest intervals, and store products locked away from children and animals.

Sources

1. What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?. University of California Statewide IPM Program, accessed 2026-11
2. Extension Gardener Handbook, Appendix E: Season Extenders and Greenhouses. NC State Extension, accessed 2026-11
3. Gardening with Companion Plants (Home Garden Series). Washington State University Extension, accessed 2026-11

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