Integrated Pest Management

Most commercial growers would have an Integrated Pest Management Plan in place. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally friendly, common sense approach to controlling pests. The IPM principles and benefits described below apply to any type of structure and landscaping.
Traditional pest control involves the routine application of pesticides, IPM, in contrast focuses on pest prevention, and uses pesticides only as needed. This provides a more effective, environmentally sensitive approach. IPM is not a single pest control method but rather involves integrating multiple control methods based on site information obtained through: inspection, monitoring, and reports, so every IPM programme is designed based on the pest prevention goals

Using predators of problem insects, or beneficial insects is a highly successful way to control insect pests. Keeping the orchard floor clear of weeds and fallen fruit will keep away larger pests such as deer, mice and rats, and keeping it as clear as possible of fallen fruit will also lessen the chance that infected fruit will spread pest and disease to healthy

It spreads along water courses, transport routes and infested waste areas. It has branched, hollow, bamboo like canes that can grow to over 3 metres in height. It can invade natural habitats and out compete native plants, and can block wildlife routes along rivers, hedgerows, roadsides and railways. It can also seriously damage buildings, hard surfaces and infrastructure. If it is growing in gardens, parks or on waste land it should be reported to the local authority, as it requires specialists to remove and dispose of it.
Weeds can be spread by wind dispersal, where the wind can blow the seeds a great distance from the parent plant; water dispersal, if the weed is situated near a river or stream the seeds can be carried from the parent plant by the water; animal or bird dispersal, where the seeds can be eaten by animals or birds and excreted away from the parent plant, or the seeds can be sticky and stick to an animal’s coat; or human dispersal where seeds can stick to the clothes or shoes of people as they pass the weed, and can then be carried to different