Behmerwald Nursery's IPM Policy

IPM- Integrated Pest Management. This phrase is currently a hot topic in agricultural and horticultural industries. The practice of dumping chemical pesticides on agricultural crops including ornamental plants has
thankfully become outdated.

IPM is a combination of methods to control insects and diseases that utilizes non-chemical and chemical treatments in order to protect our environment. Chemicals are utilized only when essential. We strongly believe this is the way to do things. Through monitoring pest populations and using physical and biological controls, we have almost completely stopped using chemical pesticides. Some of the methods that we have integrated into our production include:

• Selecting plants that are not prone to problems

• Releasing beneficial insects such as predator mites, ladybugs, and praying mantis

• Using insecticidal soap to control outbreaks of specific pests

• We keep our plants well-watered and maintained so that they have natural resistance to pests

If you would like more information on this topic please see our IPM Information Sheet