IPM at CBG

Throughout my first few weeks working in the Gardens, I have already noticed a variety of Integrated Pest Management tactics used. Integrated Pest Management is not necessarily organic or completely eliminating the use of pesticides, it's just a plan to lower to necessary use by taking other measures to control pests.  The first measure is generally to monitor an area for a specific pest.  We have been doing this for a few days in the Gateway Garden looking out for the daunting Japanese Beetle.  This morning, I caught my first glimpse of a few beetles munching away on an Elm tree.  Needless to say, this shiny, actually kind of cool looking insect got the squish.  Japanese Beetles are capable of causing an immense amount of damage to a variety of host plants with their skeletonizing feeding patterns.  In fact, Japanese Beetleswere the inspiration for my final floral design project last Fall in HORT 1013.  I chose to use skeletonized grape leaves, damaged by the Japanese Beetles, to create my design entitled "Tipsy." 

Japanese Beetle

"Tipsy"

Once pests are identified and their biology is understood, it is important to develop a plan of action.  In some cases, the damage may only be cosmetic and is tolerated.  Other cases, which are potentially more severe may require some action.  While working in the Kitchen Garden, I helped Mark remove some brussel sprouts that were infested with aphids.  We repotted the plants and are now taking action to attempt and keep them productive.  In other cases, a simple rinse of the plant will be enough to remove the pest.  Some of our citrus trees have scale and mealybug problems, so we simply blast the branches with a heavy spray of water.  Another IPM tactic is simply using plants that are meant to be lower maintenance.  Our rose garden is planted with a mix of floribunda and grandiflora roses because they are generally more hardy and resistant to diseases than some of the hybrid tea varieties.  The garden also uses sticky traps to monitor and catch some of those pesky pests, too!

Brussel Sprouts with aphid damage

Sticky Traps for monitoring pests

I have been very impressed with the Garden's Integrated Pest Management plan, they seem to having a lot of success because I haven't seen too many outbreaks of any pest that really devistated a lot of plants.  I have also yet to see anyone apply any sort of pesticide to remove a pest from an area.  I look forward to learning even more of their methods on pest control.

Butterfly Garden

I also have an update from last week's work in the butterfly garden.  Plants are flourishing and we finally have butterflies around!  Before this week, I hadn't seen a butterfly at all but thanks to the new plantings and some minor adjustments, we have received some new visitors.