Integrated Pest Management

Diverse plantings make integrated pest management easy.

• Register for upcoming trainings or see past presentations & videos at Training & Certification. También en español.
• See the IPM fact sheets at right for pest & disease identification, life cycle, monitoring, damage threshold, and least-toxic treatments.
• See links at bottom of this page for more IPM solutions, or for questions email the Garden Hotline or call (206) 633-0224.

What is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses regular monitoring to determine if and when treatments are needed to control weed, insect, or disease pests. IPM employs physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and educational tactics to keep pest numbers low enough to prevent unacceptable damage or annoyance. Chemical controls are used as a last resort, and least-toxic chemicals are preferred. IPM originated in agricultural research in the 1950s, but now is preferred in structural pest control as well as landscaping.

IPM focuses on designing, installing, and maintaining healthy pest-resistant landscapes.

IPM Steps

1. Correctly identify the pest (weed, insect, disease, etc.) and understand its life cycle.
2. Establish tolerance/action thresholds: accept some pests, weeds etc.
3. Monitor regularly to detect pest problems.
4. Modify maintenance program to promote plant health and discourage pests. Gradually replace pest-prone plants.
5. If pests exceed tolerance/action threshold, use cultural, physical, mechanical or biological controls first. If those prove insufficient, use the least-toxic chemical control and application method with least non-target impact, at the most effective time.
6. Evaluate & record effectiveness of control, and modify maintenance or plant choices to support recovery and prevent recurrence.

IPM Questions? Call the experts!

Email the Garden Hotline or call (206) 633-0224, or the UW Miller Library Plant Answer Line (206) 897-5268. Both are free. They accept emailed photos of problems and will research the most effective, least-toxic solutions for landscape professionals and homeowners.

Related links

• Natural Pest, Weed & Disease Control and Lawn Care, and other Natural Yard Care information for homeowners
• Lawns, Plants & Trees resources for professionals, and Training & Certification opportunities
• Ecologically Sound Lawn Care Manual (pdf) - for professionals, 90 pages
  • Sustainable Lawn Care for NW Professionals (pdf) - 8 page summary
  • Cuidado sostenible del césped para profesionales (pdf) - in Spanish
• Natural Landscaping: Design, Build, Maintain (pdf) - 8 page overview of all landscape best practices
  • Paisajismo natural: Diseño, Construcción, Mantenimiento (pdf) - in Spanish
• Turfgrass IPM and Best Practices (video, 48 min.) From WSU and OSU, best cultural practices for high-use turf areas, including mowing, fertilization, irrigation, cultivation, and managing weeds, pests and diseases in turf.

Additional IPM resources

• Grow Smart Grow Safe - safer products and solutions for landscapes, science-based and tested for the Northwest. Or download the free smart phone app.
• Local Waste Management Program - safe disposal information for pesticides and other hazardous products 
• UPEST - Washington State University information on indoor and outdoor integrated pest management for schools and households.
• WSU IPM - Resources and fact sheets for both agricultural and urban IPM, indoors and in landscapes
• UC IPM - University of California integrated pest management solutions for landscapes and agriculture.
• WSDA Pesticide Certification is required for professionals who apply pesticides
• King County Noxious Weed Control
• King Conservation District - including soil testing
• WSU Cooperative Extension, King County - Master Gardener information
• Tilth Alliance
• Toxic-Free Future
• Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides