Jump start your cold-weather IPM...

Starting to close things up for the winter? Pulling all your tender babes indoors? Don’t forget to start your cold weather IPM (Integrated Pest Management) now.

During the growing season when plants are luxuriating outdoors, we tend not to think about beneficials—predators and parasites that help control pest populations. Naturally occurring, they work quietly and efficiently to help keep the bad boys at bay.

BUT…bring plants in, cram them close together in their winter quarters…and watch the marauding horde explode, splattering your plants with mealybug, scale, white fly and other less-than-desirable freeloaders.

I’m not waiting until things get out of hand. I’ve made my call. Experience tells me what to expect. In my case the worst offenders are long-tail mealybug, silverleaf whitefly and soft brown scale. It’s important to know who’s-who. Most predators and parasites are very specific about which pest they’ll take on. If your IPM supplier isn’t asking which white fly or scale you have…find another supplier.

The white-hatted army? Lacewing larvae, tiny wasps and other critters fearsome to pests—but nearly invisible to the naked eye.

They work…but don’t expect a quick fix. That’s why I start before the problems get out of hand. Most providers will put you on a six-eight week program with new batches coming regularly to be released. It will take that long for populations to establish and for noticeable reductions in pest numbers to be noticeable.

Once things stabilize, control can be long term. As long as there are pest populations available, the beneficials will continue to thrive. And we all know that you NEVER get completely rid of the bad guys.

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