Introduction to Integrated Pest Management

IPM-Based Landscape Design Intro & Contents

Landscape Design for IPM & Low Maintenance

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Comparison of Chemical Use Before and After IPM

The benefits of pesticide use reductions and favorable changes in product selection by applying IPM principles in an urban landscape management program are illustrated below. This table indicates the change in pesticide use (an average decrease of 78% in conventional pesticides) when an IPM program was implemented on a 1,000 acre conservation/ornamental landscape, of which 350 is intensively managed as horticultural display gardens and conservatories that attract more than 700,000 people each year (Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania).

Noteworthy in this instance is that a requirement of the shift to IPM was that no reduction in the horticultural excellence of the displays was acceptable. The stated goal was decreased use of conventional pesticides while maintaining or improving the quality of the garden displays. To accomplish this, Longwood Gardens discovered it was necessary to find a person trained in the principles of IPM and familiar with the practices of pest control. This manager provided hands-on review of pest problems, developed pest management plans, coordinated implementation, and ensured follow-up of all pest control procedures.

`Product`	`1984` `(Pre IPM)`	`1985`	`Volume Difference`	`Percent Difference`	*`Ave % Decrease`**
`Insecticide A`	`120 lb.`	`0`	`- 120 lb.`	`- 100%`	`- 78%`
`Insecticide B`	`83 gal.`	`17 gal.`	`- 66 gal.`	`- 80%`
`Fungicide A`	`126 lb.`	`45 lb.`	`- 81 lb.`	`- 64 %`
`Miticide A`	`50 gal.`	`5 gal.`	`- 45 gal.`	`- 90%`
`Insecticide C`	`28 lb.`	`0 lb.`	`- 28 lb.`	`- 100%`
`Insecticide D`	`19 gal.`	`5 gal.`	`- 14 gal.`	`- 74%`
`Insecticide E`	`34 gal.`	`21 gal.`	`- 13 gal`	`- 38%`
`Insecticidal Soap`	`0`	`75 gal.`	`+ 75 gal.`	`NA`	`NA`
`Horticultural Oil (Dormant & Summer)`	`285 gal.`	`973 gal.`	`+ 688 gal.`	`+ 341%`	`NA`

* Average percent decrease in "conventional" (i.e. synthetic organic) pesticide use.

Prior to the IPM program, pest control treatments consisted of cover-sprays applied on a calendar basis supplemented by general plant inspections to determine when additional applications would be applied (i.e., a conventional pesticide-based, calendar driven, cover-spray operation).

Donald Buma, Horticulturalist at Longwood Gardens, reported that following implementation of IPM, conventional pesticide use decreased in favor of more environmentally sound materials, quality of the landscape improved due to more timely and specific pest control treatments, pest management needs decreased due to an increase in natural predators, and that the costs of implementing IPM have been recovered by the improvement in landscape quality. Similar results from the implementation of IPM can be expected in most landscape management programs.

I ntroduction to Integrated Pest Management IPM-Based Landscape Design Intro & Contents Landscape Design for IPM & Low Maintenance IPM Access Key Documents | Home Page

Last modified: September 22, 1999

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