People who practice IPM (integrated pest management) understand that eradicating insect pests and diseases of plants is usually unrealistic. IPM primarily consists of methods used to prevent plant problems from occurring in the first place. To practice IPM in the landscape, choose plants that are well suited to the site. Plant them properly and keep the plants healthy by carefully watering, fertilizing, and pruning them.

Look for pests and diseases and the evidence or signs they leave. Look for symptoms the plant exhibits as a result of pest activity. Examine your plants often. Identify your plants to be sure that the twisted leaves, unusual coloration, or strange-looking structures you see are not a normal part of the plant.

Effective pest management depends on the accurate identification of the pest. Insects and mites often are associated with specific plants, and they follow certain development and behavior patterns as the season progresses. Use reference books from the library or garden center to identify pests. If you can’t find an accurate description there, consult someone in your local extension office. Learn about the insect’s life cycle, behavior, and natural enemies.

Determine if the damage is severe enough to justify a management tactic. Is the damage actually affecting the health of the plant? If not, does it make the plant look bad enough to detract from the appearance of your landscape? You may become alarmed if you notice that caterpillars are making holes in leaves, but if the damage is slight or occurs late in the season, you probably won’t need to control the caterpillars.

You can use traps to catch certain pests, and barriers to protect plants from insect attack or disease infection. One effective method for controlling gypsy moth larvae on small numbers of trees is to put a band of folded burlap around the tree trunk to provide an artificial resting site for the caterpillars, and then destroy the caterpillars that gather there. Applying an anti-transpirant spray to lilac leaves in summer to prevent infection by the spores of powdery mildew is another example of a protective barrier.

Insect pests frequently have natural enemies that are beneficial to the landscape. These beneficial insects often exist in the landscape naturally, but they also can be introduced. "Beneficials" may be predators or parasites. One common example of a beneficial predator is the lady beetle. Both the larvae and adult lady beetles eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Other predators include lacewings, spined soldier bugs, flower flies, and spiders. Parasites live on and often kill another organism, called the host. Some parasitic wasps use caterpillars, whiteflies, aphids, and soft scales as hosts.

In many cases, environmentally safe pesticides such as horticultural oil or insecticidal soap are effective choices.  Again, applications must be timed carefully to have the greatest effect on the pest insect population. Because they have no residual activity after they have dried, soaps and oils are usually the option that is the least disruptive to populations of beneficial organisms.

The label of every pesticide formulation displays a signal word that relates to the pesticide’s level of toxicity. These words, from least toxic to most toxic are: "caution," "warning," and "danger." Use these words as guidelines to help you choose the least hazardous material among the effective alternatives. For most landscape pests, you need to consider pesticides in only the first two categories. Some pesticide formulations can be applied only by applicators with special training and who are certified by the state’s department of agriculture.

A pesticide may be applied only to plants that are listed on the label. Refer to the Woody Ornamental Insect, Mite, and Disease Management Guide, published by Penn State Cooperative Extension, or to another current reference for a list of materials that are registered for use on plants in your state. Read the label to be sure that you have chosen a product that is effective against the pest you have identified, and choose your timing based on professional recommendations.

Follow these procedures for your safety and success:

•Mix pesticides according to label instructions. Do not use more or less concentrate in the mixture than the label recommends. Mix only as much material as you need for the application.
•Wear protective clothing as specified on the label.
•Label a set of mixing and measuring tools that are used only for insecticides and fungicides, and store them with the products. Use a separate set of measuring tools and spray equipment for herbicides.
•Keep pets and people away from the area where you store, mix, and apply pesticides. Stay away from a treated area for as long as the label directs.
•Do not spray on a windy day or when air temperatures will be above 85°F before the spray solution dries.
•Clean equipment and mixing tools as soon as you finish spraying.
•After spraying, change your protective clothing and bathe. Wash the clothes you were wearing separately from your regular laundry.
•Keep records of where and when you sprayed, what pesticide you used, and how much you used. Give the treatment time to work, then evaluate and record your results.

Penn State Cooperative Extension, Delaware Cooperative Extension, and the Southeast Pennsylvania IPM Research Group have been working together to provide information and educational materials on IPM and landscaping.

This fact sheet, "Pest Management Methods," is part of a series of educational fact sheets about understanding and using Integrated Pest Management. Other topics in the series include:

•Creating Healthy Landscapes— Introduction
•Choose Plants Wisely
•Plant With Care
•Promote Plant Health
•Keep Plants Well Groomed
•Monitor Pests and Keep Records

Prepared by:
Stevie Daniels, Penn State master gardener
Gregory Hoover, extension entomologist
Larry Kuhns, professor of horticulture
Gary Moorman, professor of plant pathology
Robert Nuss, professor of horticulture
David Suchanic, Penn State Cooperative Extension agent
Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Cooperative Extension agent
Title illustration by Mary Thompson

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This publication is available from the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For information telephone (814) 865-6713.
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is implied.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature.
T. R. Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
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© The Pennsylvania State University 1998
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