An Integrated Approach To Successful Gardening

Excerpt from Chapter 1, Gardener's Handbook

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Related links...

An Integrated Approach To Successful Gardening

The Gardener's Handbook An Integrated Approach to Insect and Disease Control is an easy reference guide to the most common pest problems you are likely to encounter in the home garden. It provides a discussion of damage and disease processes, descriptions of plant pests, details of control options, and broader information on maintaining the health of your garden. Much of the general information, as well as a detailed look at how damage is done, is found at the front of the manual, and we recommend that you read these sections first.
The remainder of the publication is divided into four commodity sections: vegetables, fruit, ornamental plants (trees, shrubs, and flowers) and lawns. In the vegetable and fruit sections, host plants are listed alphabetically, followed by detailed information about corresponding pests and diseases. In the lawn and ornamental sections, it is the disease and pest problems that are listed alphabetically.
Throughout this manual, emphasis is placed on non chemical means of pest control. These will at times include mention of horticultural practices, and some guidelines are provided here. For more detailed information, however, you are advised to consult any one of the many excellent garden reference books available today. Unproven control methods based on folklore or hearsay are not included in this manual.
Cultural control strategies are not guaranteed to be fully effective. However, they are often sufficient to keep pests to an acceptable level.
The mini environment of the garden is important and should be protected. For this reason, the use of pesticides is recommended only when other measures prove inadequate. It is also up to you to decide if chemical controls are really necessary. A few aphids on a flowering crab or a gall from the maple gall mite on a silver maple will not cause serious harm, though they may disfigure the plant. Wherever possible, an integrated approach that combines cultural, chemical and other control practices is recommended.

Related Links

• Crops
• Master Gardeners
• Landscape Ontario

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