pests and diseases
Integrated pest management
Last reviewed 2026-10-04
Integrated pest management, usually called IPM, is a decision process for managing pests with monitoring, prevention, accurate identification, and the least disruptive effective control. It does not mean never using a pesticide. It means choosing an action based on the pest, plant, damage level, timing, and likely consequences.
What it means
IPM begins by identifying the organism and deciding whether its presence is causing meaningful harm. Beneficial insects, harmless insects, weather damage, and disease symptoms can be mistaken for pests. A threshold helps determine when action is justified rather than treating every observation.
How it affects the garden
Prevention may include selecting a suitable plant, improving spacing, using physical barriers, removing diseased material, or changing irrigation. Monitoring can be as simple as inspecting leaves regularly and recording what changes. If a control is needed, start with the option that fits the pest and site, and follow the product label, protective equipment, harvest interval, and local rules.
The companion planting checker can help with layout questions, but no pairing replaces identification and monitoring. Keep a record so repeated problems can be addressed before damage becomes severe.
Example
A gardener sees a few aphids on a plant but also sees lady beetles. Instead of spraying immediately, the gardener checks whether new growth is being harmed and whether beneficial insects are reducing the population.
Common confusion
IPM is not a single product or an organic-only method. It is a structured way to make pest decisions.
Sources
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources provides the Integrated Pest Management program's identification and management resources.
