Using Nature to Manage Landscape Pests

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http://ens-news.com/ens/mar2001/2001L-03-05-09.html

USING NATURE TO MANAGE LANDSCAPE PESTS

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, March 5, 2001 (ENS) - By using nature to manage

landscape pests - one of the techniques of integrated pest management -

gardeners can reduce potential harmful water pollution run-off and increase

an area's diversity of plants and animals.

To help people understand this important method, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) has collaborated to create an exhibit for the

Philadelphia Flower Show, running March 4-11. The exhibit demonstrates ways

to limit use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and still have a

successful garden using integrated pest management.

EPA's exhibit, filled with native plants and shrubs, will show that healthy

natural areas have richer diversity of plants, birds, animals and bugs,

which builds ecological stability.

Integrated pest management is pest control for any kind of garden or

landscaping. Three of the EPA's tips on integrated pest management are:

Use native plants - they resist native pests and disease better.

Timing - learn the best time to control pests, and how. Start by diagnosing

the problem, use the least toxic methods of pruning or hand removal first,

and then pesticides as a last resort. Between these options are a range of

actions, including attracting or introducing natural predators, using

natural pesticides, and using insecticidal soaps and oils.

Shelter - put up bat houses or bird houses. Bats eat lots of insects and

help to maintain a balanced insect population. Birds such as Eastern

bluebirds, house wrens, Carolina wrens, chickadees and downy woodpeckers are

among the insect eaters that will use a bird house.

The EPA's part of the main floor exhibit is presented in conjunction with

Temple's University Department of Landscape Architecture. The exhibit shows

the ecological significance of natural resources, including woodlands,

wetlands and streams, and offers ideas that people can apply to their yards

and communities.