about IPM

updated Aug 10, 2010 by Maria Mergel

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that utilizes regular monitoring to determine if and when treatments are needed. IPM employs physical, mechanical, cultural, biological, and educational tactics to keep pest numbers low enough to prevent intolerable damage or annoyance. Chemical controls are used as a last resort, and the least-toxic chemicals are preferred. IPM originated in the late 1950s out of research to find predators for introduced agricultural pests. In the intervening years, IPM has evolved and gained acceptance in non-agricultural pest control as well. Now it is widely recognized and utilized in landscaping and structural pest control, as well as in agriculture.

IPM protects the natural enemies that help to keep pests in check and avoids unnecessary chemical use that may endanger human health and the environment. This approach has been gaining acceptance worldwide and is now mandated by many governmental agencies. For example, IPM has dramatically reduced pesticide use in our National Park System, while still maintaining effective pest control. We believe that IPM represents the future for the landscaping industry because it is the best long-term solution to pest management and plant health. Demand for IPM services is increasing as concern over pesticides grows. Companies that can provide IPM services will be in an excellent position to prosper in the future. When a client hires an IPM practitioner, they receive expertise, careful monitoring, and labor-intensive cultural practices instead of just chemicals.

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