Gardening Know How: Sustainable Pest Control

Welcome to Section 2! In the introduction, we'll talk about:

• Bugs! And why the foundation of any insect control plan starts with knowing more about them
• All the interesting things you'll learn in this section.

It's important to understand that while some insects are pests, others are very, very beneficial to us! 

• The difference between pests, beneficial, and neutral insects
• The many, many ways that insects help us and their environment

A bug ISN'T just a bug, and before you can effectively control the pests, it's smart to understand some basics.

• 3 types of insects you're likely to see in your garden or yard
• What different groups of insects like to eat, and how this can help you ID them

If you want your pest control efforts to work, you need to understand the fascinating changes insects undergo as they mature. 

• Metamorphosis (and its role in pest control)
• The link between pest control and life stage

Oh, invasives. This group of insects demands specialized control methods, and can cause gardeners and homeowners massive headaches.

• The definition of an invasive insect
• The damage and problems they cause
• How you can help fight this worldwide problem

Accurate identification is crucial, and the first step in IPM. So, in the introduction you'll:

• Get an overview of the section 
• Learn why each of the following lessons is important

Some helpful tools that can help you identify insects.

Identifying insects can seem overwhelming, which is why this lesson we'll cover:

• Simple insect characteristics you can use to ID almost any bug
• Practical tips for digging deeper into the ID process
• How you can find help for hard to identify bugs

If you're struggling with an ID, these resources can help! 

It's time to go outside and see which insects call your yard or garden home! In the introduction to this section, we'll cover:

• The important role monitoring plays in effective pest control
• What you can expect to learn in this section

Knowing which kinds of insects are common in your area will give you a big advantage when you start to monitor your yard or garden. So, we'll be talking about:

• Why a pest in my yard may not be a pest in your yard
• Great resources that will help you identify the insects where you live

Just because an insect might be common in the city, town, or general area where you live. . .doesn't mean that it's actually in your yard or garden.  

• Why certain insects (especially beneficials) may NOT be in your yard
• Simple ways to find out if a bug calls your garden home
• Why checking once for an insect isn't enough
• When and where you may be most likely to find insect activity in your yard

Knowing WHERE insects live in your yard or garden is really important, and can tell you a lot about if they're going to be a problem or not! 

• The link between an insect's life cycle and where they're likely to live in your yard
• How to monitor different areas of your yard, without getting overwhelmed

Bugs aren't statues! Their populations are constantly increasing and decreasing depending on many, many factors. 

• The link between pest populations, and the population of their predators (and how this benefits you!)
• Simple steps for monitoring insect populations
• Why seeing a pest in your yard or garden doesn't necessarily mean you have to take action against it.

Recommended methods for safely and effectively monitoring your yard for insects. 

• Sampling methods based on how the insect moves (flying, crawling, etc), and where it lives
• Recommendations for staying safe while you monitor your yard.

There are many, many ways to keep records of the insects you find in your yard or garden! Here are some suggestions so that you can pick one (or two or three) that work best for you.

At some point, if a pest is causing damage, you need to take action and start using control methods. 

• What an action threshold is, and the role it plays in pest control
• Why you need to set an action threshold BEFORE you start noticing damage
• Five important issues you should consider when dealing with pests

When it comes to pest control, you have options! There are a variety of methods that will help you in the fight against the "bad" bugs.

• The middle ground between doing nothing and using pesticides
• The most effective way to use IPM control methods
• Effectively using different levels in pest control, and an overview of the lessons in this section that cover them.

Our attitudes toward insects play a role in the pest control methods we use, and even the effectiveness of our efforts.

• Addressing and acknowledging how we view insects
• Understanding that a "perfect" yard may not be a healthy yard

Creating a garden or yard that's designed to encourage a healthy ecosystem is an extremely effective control method! But, it's also one of the least utilized.

• Why a healthy yard is a pest resistant yard
• Small changes that can make your yard or garden a more balanced ecosystem

Even though there's an ick factor to it, removing insects (or infested plant parts) by hand can be a very effective control method!

• Case Study: Dealing with Japanese Beetles via manual control
• Different methods of manual control

The best kind of insect pest control? When you let OTHER insects do the work for you! Beneficial predators and parasites are an important control method that you encourage.

• Why we don't often notice this kind of control
• The link between prey and predatory population, and why understanding it may keep you from panicking if you notice a increase in the number of pests
• Ways you can encourage more beneficial insects into your yard or garden

The final level in IPM involves using pesticides to control insects. This is a complicated issue, so this lesson will cover:

• What the different terms on pesticide labels mean, and why it's important to understand and follow them
• Best practices when using pesticides
• Four pesticides that are effective and have relatively low toxicity.
• Why "organic" doesn't necessarily mean "non-toxic" or "safe for humans."

Evaluating your control methods and figuring out if they worked is one of the most important steps in any pest control action plan. 

• Selecting criteria that will show if your control methods are working
• Figuring out how long a certain control method should take before you know if it's a success or a failure
• The importance of documenting your efforts (and ways to do it)

What happens if your control methods didn't work? You have to repeat them, or find a new solution!

• Case Study: Caterpillars are eating my lettuce!
• Determining when it's time to try a new control method
• Course conclusion