Integrated Pesticide Management. Chemical Trespass/Herbicide, 1995

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CHAPTER 4: SHRUBS, FLOWER BEDS AND DISPLAY GARDENS: THE APPLICATION OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Over 400 varieties of roses totaling 4,000 plants in a nine -acre tourist garden: how much pesticides will be needed to control the mildew, the rust and the aphids? None? Gardeners of this site in Eugene, Oregon used to apply more pesticide than all other applicators combined in their Parks Division. Since 1987, however, there has been no need for insecticide or fungicide applications because the gardeners have combined a variety of techniques to prevent and control insects and diseases. The George E. Owen Municipal Rose Garden provides visitors with the beauty of formal plantings. The aesthetic standards are very high and the nature of the Garden requires planting some rose varieties known to be susceptible to diseases. So how could they reduce pesticide use to almost nothing? Consistent with the Parks Division policy, the I.P.M. program was introduced on a small scale around 1980 and later expanded to other areas of the Garden. Predatory insects, soap applications and a better irrigation system were introduced to keep the aphids off the foliage. Disease control was achieved by keeping the plants healthy and improving the transplanting techniques. The disease -prone varieties were grouped together to limit the scope of fungicide applications, or planted downwind to inhibit the spread of the disease. The field staff are trained and encouraged to use creativity in applying I.P.M. principles on the site. in the first years of the program, the number of "growing season" treatments was reduced by a preventive program of "dormant season" applications of lime - sulfur and dormant oil. But the gardeners noticed some damage to the buds and shoots resulting from accumulations of dormant spray materials. In 1986, they decided to do without pre - emptive fungicide applications, and have maintained this practice ever since.