Product Description

Since the publication of Silent Spring in 1962, interest in alternative pest-management strategies has increased dramatically. As a way to reduce the use of pesticides and keep plants healthy, integrated pest management (IPM) has evolved to emphasize prevention, early diagnosis (or "scouting"), and long-term control strategies — not quick fixes. Many nurseries, land-use agencies, and public gardens now require the use of IPM as an intelligent, real-world system to raise plants in an environmentally responsible manner. Despite a plethora of technical IPM training manuals, no book until now has distilled its core philosophy for the home gardener, so that he or she can learn to manage plant health as the professionals do, based on scientific principles. In IPM for Gardeners, a team of experts explains how any gardener can use IPM techniques for success at home. Authoritative, well-illustrated, and packed with case studies, this volume promises to change the way we see our gardens.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #786177 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 252 pages

From Booklist
Gardeners are increasingly converting to a "green" frame of mind, and once that happens, all the familiar toxic pesticides are thrown away, and something else must take their place. Consequently, botanical gardens across the country are now offering classes on integrated pest management. This guide sounds the trumpet, giving those gardeners hungry for information about how to improve the conditions in their gardens a sound underpinning in methods aimed at using chemicals only when deemed absolutely necessary. The case for IPM is clearly set forth in a framework that describes what plants need to be healthy, what can cause diseases, and how insects function in our gardens. Cloyd and his coauthors offer advice on how to recognize and assess pest problems as they occur, discuss plant culture and selection, and outline physical means of control. Their explanations of pest-control products are extremely helpful; the book's many photographs will aid in identifying infestations and diseases, and the appendixes provide a wealth of additional information. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"An excellent textbook for those who want a practical foundation in IPM."
—July Hays, Northwest Garden News, July 2006 (Northwest Garden News )

"Packed with information and photographs, this volume explains the biology behind plant and insect population dynamics, covers important strategies for keeping plants healthy, and describes creative, holistic first-aid strategies when infestations do occur. Whether you are a novice gardener or a full-time farmer, IPM for Gardeners will do you and your garden a world of good."
—E, the Environmental Magazine, July/August 2005 (E, The Environmental Magazine )

"This book ... will empower any gardener who desires to use IPM techniques successfully at home."
—Deborah Smith-Fiola, American Gardener, January/February 2005 (American Gardener )

An excellent textbook for those who want a practical foundation in IPM. July Hays, Northwest Garden News, July 2006 (Northwest Garden News )

Packed with information and photographs, this volume explains the biology behind plant and insect population dynamics, covers important strategies for keeping plants healthy, and describes creative, holistic first-aid strategies when infestations do occur. Whether you are a novice gardener or a full-time farmer, IPM for Gardeners will do you and your garden a world of good. E, the Environmental Magazine, July/August 2005 (E, The Environmental Magazine )

This book ... will empower any gardener who desires to use IPM techniques successfully at home. Deborah Smith-Fiola, American Gardener, January/February 2005 (American Gardener )

From the Author
Nancy R. Pataky is plant clinic director and extension specialist in plant pathology in the Department of Crop Sciences, at the University of Illinois, Urbana.

Customer Reviews

Responsible gardening guide
This book has been recommended in many Master Gardener training course throughout the country. For gardeners who want to conduct their hobby in a responsible, sustainable manner, this book provides a middle ground between two polar-opposite gardening philosophies--organic vs conventional practices (insecticides, herbicides, fungacides)