How to Use Integrated Pest Management

Integrated pest management is the application of pest control without causing undesirable health effects to people and the environment. If you grow your own crops or develop your landscape, you can implement IPM techniques to effectively manage your land without hurting other organisms.

Things You'll Need

• Disease-resistant plants
• Biopesticides

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Instructions

• 1

  Identify if you have a pest issue. Many insects are beneficial to plants and crops. Unless you notice a destruction of the roots in plants and crops, avoid using pest control. Cotton insects, aphids, cucumber beetles and army worms are examples of pests.

• 2

  Locate a spot capable of growing crops or plants. Test your soil or create a raised bed for your garden. This can help to keep a potential pest threat to a minimum.

• 3

  Rotate the crops in your garden, as suggested by the North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rotating what you grow in your garden can limit the development of disease-causing organisms.

• 4

  Choose disease-resistant plants to grow. These plants are designed to resist harmful organisms such as fungi and bacteria.

• 5

  Use an approved biopesticide, as noted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Biopesticides contain natural substances. The EPA has a list of regulated and approved biopesticides.