Marc Radell
Master Gardener Volunteer, Montgomery County, PA
Dealing with
Bugs & Bunnies
Eco-friendly Pest Control
About Our Sponsor
Address
1015 Bridge Road, Suite H Collegeville, PA 19426-1179 610-489-4315
Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
http://extension.psu.edu/montgomery
The MG Year of the Pollinator
Master Gardener Plant Sale!
• Saturday, May 20, 2017
• 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Extension Office
Where Are the Handouts?
www.marcmradell.com
Agenda
1. Integrated Pest Management
o 5 Steps of Pest Reduction
o Principles of Pest Control
2. Specific Garden Pests
Gardening Is Not Very Natural
• Mostly non-native plants
o Out of synch with local ecosystem
o Often require more
fertilizers, pesticides, soil amendments
• Many non-native pests without natural controls • Subversion of natural
succession and survival • Forced aesthetics
IPM
• Build on natural balances
• Minimize environmental impact of pest
control
• Common-sense approach to pest
control: prevention first
• Spectrum of control alternatives from
eco-friendly to biocides
• Principles apply to pests, diseases, and
weeds. Class focus: pests
5 Steps of Pest Reduction
1. Choose Plants Wisely
2. Plant with Care
3. Promote Plant Health
4. Keep Plants Well-Groomed
5. Monitor Plants and Pests
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
• Use Native Plants
o Adapted to local
growing conditions (less stress)
o More in balance with
local “pests”
o Don’t contribute to
import of alien pests, weeds and diseases
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
• Use Native Plants
o Bonuses
• Generally need less
water and fertilizer • Preserve biodiversity
• More attractive to
beneficial insects and other wildlife
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
• Put the right plant in
the right place
o hardiness
o pH
o moisture
o light
• Buy only healthy plants
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
• Look for pest- and disease-resistant
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
• Avoid high-maintenance plants
• You don’t have to grow
everything yourself!
Step 1: Choose Plants Wisely
• Buy only healthy plants
o Don’t bring pests and diseases home
Step 2: Plant with Care
• Remove damaged plant parts
• Dig right size hole
• Plant at proper depth
• Mulch and water
Step 3: Promote Plant Health
Step 3: Promote Plant Health
• Maintain proper conditions
o Weed
o Amend soil
o Mulch
o Water
o Fertilize if needed
o Trim shade trees
as needed
• Embrace the artifice!
Step 4: Keep Plants
Well-Groomed
• Remove dead plant material
• Prune for air movement
• Control overcrowding
Step 5: Monitor Plants
• Monitor frequently: formally or
informally
• Get to know your plants!
Step 5: Monitor Plants
• Basic Steps
o Read – know what
pests to look for
o Look
o Shake plants – to find
hidden pests
Step 5: Monitor Plants
• Signs of general distress:
discoloration, damage, wilting, death
• Signs of known pests
Step 5: Monitor Plants
Symptom Sign
Plant abnormality Part of pest
Discolored leaves Eggs Dieback Casings Chewed
vegetation Droppings Bore holes Tracks
Step 5: Monitor Plants
• Rule out cultural problems
(no sign of pests)
o Overwatering
o Soil pH or nutritional issues
o Too much/too little sun
Root Rot Chlorosis Sun Scald
Principles of Pest Control
You’ve ruled out cultural problems, and think you have a pest
• Identification
Identification
Secret Relatives!
Identification
True Parents Revealed!
Northern Masked Chafer Japanese Beetle
?
?
Proper Identification Matters!
• Helps you choose the
most effective, eco-friendly control method
• Reduces chances of
killing something beneficial
• Saves time, money, and
the environment
Identification
• Reference books, websites
Identification
• Tips
o Research according to plant
o Narrow results by
• Type of damage
• Time of year (phenology)
o Learn basic insect families
o Think of pest’s life cycle
o Take specimens of both pest & plant
Principles of Pest Control
Assess the Problem
• Is control necessary?
o Fewer 1% of insects
are pests
o Plant health at risk?
o Aesthetic only?
o Seasonal only?
• Implement the least
Control Terminology
• Agent: something released into
the environment
• Selective: targeting specific pests
• Toxic: how poisonous something is
• Persistence: how long something
stays toxic
• Organic: derived from a living
organism
non-More Control Terminology
• Contact pesticide:
toxic on direct contact with pest, dermal or respiratory entry
• Systemic pesticide:
absorbed by plant, oral entry into pest
Basic Control Concepts
• Reduce the attraction
o Alternative plants
o Remove shelters
• Locate vulnerable
plants strategically
• Avoid monocultures
• Minimize area that
needs treatment
Basic Control Concepts
• Not releasing an agent is
usually better than releasing an agent • Selective controls are
usually better than non-selective controls
• Toxicity and persistence of
control are more important to consider than organic vs synthetic
Mechanical Controls
• Generally most eco-friendly
o No agent involved
o Can be selective
or “all-purpose”
o Live trapping
o Barriers
o Hosing
Controls Involving Agents
• Repellants
• Natural enemies
• Non-toxic abiotics
• Toxic pesticides
Repellents
• Commercial or homemade • Deer: smellers
o Garlic, spices, herbs,
rotten eggs
• Rodents & rabbits: tasters
o Red pepper (capsaicin)
• Oil or eggs for binders • Apply sprays regularly
o After rains, on new growth
Natural Enemies
• Attract through enhanced habitat
or release purchased ones
• Selective or non-selective
• Long-term population balance
Natural Enemies of Flying
Insects
Natural Enemies of Caterpillars
Natural Enemies of Grubs &
Slugs
Micro Natural Enemies
• Bactillus thuringiensis (Bt) –
microbial insecticide for larvae (semi-selective)
Attracting Natural Enemies
• Naturalized areas (habitat)
• Nectar plants for beneficial insects
• Ground cover, leaf litter
• Nesting boxes
• Water features
Non-toxic Abiotic Controls
• Horticultural oils for scale, mites, aphids,
whiteflies, leafhoppers, etc.
o “Dormant oils” for overwintering pests and eggs
on woody plants
o “Superior oils” for foliar application o Some also control powdery mildew o Most are petroleum-based
o Some formulations may contain toxic substances
Non-toxic Abiotic Controls
• Insecticidal soap
o Foliar spray for small, soft-bodied
arthropods and some large insects, including Japanese Beetles
o Safe for most, but not all, plants
• Diatomaceous earth
o General insecticide
Toxic Pesticides
• Organic or synthetic
• Toxicity and
persistence are more important than origin
• Generally
non-selective
Toxic Pesticides
• Before you use one
o Have you properly identified the
pest?
o Does the pesticide treat your pest?
o Does the risk outweigh the benefit?
• Always use the least toxic/
persistent formulation
• Always apply as directed!
Reading a Pesticide Label
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Eastern Cottontail
o Resistant plants
o Fencing
• Small mesh
• 3’ high
• 1’ buried or bent
out onto ground
o Repellents
o Live traps
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• White-tailed Deer
o Resistant plants
o Fencing
• 8’ high
• Lower for small
areas
o Repellents, clips
o Gizmos
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Groundhog
o Resistant plants
o Fencing
• 4’ high
• Buried bottom
• Cantilevered top
o Repellents
• On plants
• In burrows
o Live traps
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Meadow Vole
o Mulch 2” deep or less
o Reduce shelter
• Rocks, boards
• Clumps of stems
o Pepper flakes
o Mouse trap in tube
o Keep cats indoors!
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Aphids
o Resistant plants
o Natural predators
• Ladybugs
• Lacewings
o Diverse plantings
o Hose
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Japanese Beetles
o Resistant plants
o Reduce turf grass
o Milky spore for grubs
o Horticultural soaps
o Repellents
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Slugs
o Resistant plants
o Eliminate hiding places o Drip irrigation
o Traps (boards, melon rinds)
o Barriers: copper bands, eggshells
o Nematodes
o Diatomaceous earth, iron phosphate bait
Rogue
’
s Gallery
• Vegetable Pests
o Interplant with perennial and nectar plants o Use row cover in Spring o Use fine mulch
o Fence garden in o Harvest regularly
o Remove dead or diseased vegetation promptly, don’t let it overwinter
o Minimize tillage
Summary
• Right plant, right place
• Take proper care of plants
• Monitor for early detecton
• Correctly identify problem
• Carefully consider control
options
• Apply pesticides only as
directed!
