Vol. 121 (2008): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Ornamental, Garden & Landscape

Natural solutions for your gardening life

Gary K. England
UF/IFAS

Published 2008-12-01

Abstract

There are a number of tactics available to enable homeowners to manage pests in the landscape with minimal use of synthetic pesticides. Utilization of this concept can result in a healthy landscape while reducing the potential to harm oneself and the environment that is associated with some synthetic pesticides available to homeowners. Taking all the measures possible to grow healthy landscape plants is the first step. Putting the right plant in the right place and following good horticultural practices help to achieve the goal of healthy and pest free plants. Taking steps to identify and eliminate pests will help keep populations low. To do this it is necessary to learn the key pests to expect with the plants you are growing. If pest populations begin to expand in the landscape, there is an array of tactics that may be employed. Pests can be managed by mechanical means such as picking, washing and trapping. Enhancing and augmenting natural pest managing organisms, such as insect predators and parasites, help to maintain pest populations within an acceptable range. There are some non-synthetic products available to homeowners that may assist in managing damaging pests of the landscape.