The Intro to Plant Health Care/IPM module will provide an in-depth study of modern plant health care and integrated pest management. It is guided by the principal that the best way to manage insect and disease problems (pests) is a mixture of cultural, biological, chemical, mechanical, and sometimes regulatory means. The goal is to reduce pest populations or maintain them at a point where they cause minimal damage. It is an attempt to develop a more holistic approach, one that focuses on total plant health care and less on pest management. During the class, attendees will learn: 1) cultural practices that can be implemented to improve plant health; 2) how to monitor for pests and apply timely treatments; 3) how to use growing degree days, plant phenology, pheromone traps, and different tools and techniques for applying treatment. Materials will be covered through power point slides and field demonstrations. A 20- question multiple choice quiz will be given at the end of class.
Recommended Reading
IPM for Midwest Landscapes is available online and can be downloaded for free at http:// www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/ipmbook.htm
A second optional but recommended book is Coincide: The Orton System of Pest and Disease Management by Donald Orton http://laborofloveconservatory.com
Provided Equipment
Shovel, Kelway pH/moisture meter, pocketknife, 10-15X hand lens, soil compaction tester, cordless electric drill, hand pruners, pruning saws, pole pruners and various small soil probing tools.
Day One
Begin the morning session discussing PHC and IPM and how each plays a part in pest control. Discuss various methods available to manage and reduce disease and insect (pest) populations. Discuss the importance of key plants, monitoring and record keeping in a PHC program. We will review common site problems that lead to tree decline. An afternoon field trip will involve several “hands-on” cultural practices to reduce pest populations. I will demonstrate various tools and techniques to aid in the diagnosis of pest problems. We will study various planting sites and examine whether smart planning was involved (“right plant, right place”). We will also become familiar with various Illinois Plant Clinics and proper methods of submitting plant specimens for lab analysis.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the Introduction to PHC/IPM module, each participant will gain knowledge of the following:
