Duke
University
Landscape
Services
Integrated
Pest
Management
Guiding Principals
1. A diverse plant population reduces the impact of diseases and insect pests
2. Planting resistant varieties reduces the need to treat with chemicals
3. Damage tolerance thresholds are established for each species. Treatment does not occur until that
tolerance threshold is passed
4. Removal of contaminated material and sanitation of equipment prevents the spread of disease
5. Reducing plant stress helps to increase resistance to insect pests and diseases
6. Regular scouting for plant stressors and pests helps to identify potential problems
7. Monitoring of potential problems helps to identify when the damage tolerance threshold is reached
to begin treatment
8. Treating on an as needed basis reduces the use of chemicals
9. Timing of insect pest treatments reduces the impact on beneficial insects
10. Release of beneficial insects reduces the need for chemical control
11. Proper identification of insect pests and diseases helps to ensure the correct treatment is used
12. Soil Tests determine nutrient availability and fertilizers, if any, that need to be applied.
Yearly Treatment Cycles
Month
January
Main Activities
Pruning
Mulching
Installation of new plants
Scouting for Pests
Principles
Pruning and installing new
plants during winter dormancy
reduces plant stress and
susceptibility to insect pests and
diseases
Mulching and removal of
contaminated plant material
decreases presence of plant
February
Continue January Activities
Cut back grasses
Preventive Maintenance on
irrigation systems
Pre-emergent Weed Control
Scouting for pests and diseases
March
Continue January and February
Activities
Prune back roses
Scouting for pests and diseases
Scout for diseases and insect
pests
Apply plant growth regulators
to fast growing plant species
Preventive Maintenance on
irrigation systems
April
May
June-August
Fertilize plants with slow
release fertilizers per soil test
Scout and treat pest outbreaks
Continue May Activities
Irrigate as needed
Scouting for pests and diseases
September- October
Mulch
Application of fall pre-emergent
herbicide
Scouting for pests and diseases
November- December
Compost leaves
January Activities
pests and diseases
Mulching increases soil
moisture retention
Weed Control reduces
secondary hosts of pest insects
and diseases thereby reducing
chemical usage
Checking irrigation increases
efficiency of water use on
campus
Pruning roses during this time
removes dead or diseased wood
and promotes new growth,
increasing plant vigor
Scouting helps to identify the
problem to aid in determining
the proper treatment
Plant Growth Regulators reduce
stress on plants by reducing the
number of times pruning is
needed
Proper/ efficient irrigation
reduces plant stress
Using slow release fertilizers
reduces the potential of storm
water contamination
Water and soil fertility
management reduces stress and
increases plants resistance to
pests and diseases
Mulching and removal of
contaminated plant material
decreases presence of plant
pests and diseases
Mulching increases soil
moisture retention
Pre-emergent reduces chemical
use on campus by reducing the
presence of weeds
Composting leaves allows for
recycling of nutrients
Scouting for pests and diseases