Welcome to The Buzz, your go-to pollinator conservation podcast! I'm April Johnson, the NDSU Extension Pollinator Technician, and in today's episode, we're discussing Integrated Pest Management in the pollinator garden, and the biological, mechanical, and cultural controls you can employ to mitigate pest damage while protecting pollinators. 

This podcast is supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Crop Protection and Pest Management - Extension Implementation Program, award number 2021-70006-35330. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the USDA. 

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, uses multiple strategies to minimize pest damage with minimal health risks to humans, beneficial organisms, and the environment. IPM tactics are tailored to specific pest problems and environmental conditions in order to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and support a healthy and biodiverse garden ecosystem.

Biological controls involve utilizing natural predators, parasites, pathogens, or competitors to manage pest populations, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. These methods tap into the natural enemies of pests to regulate their numbers effectively, promoting ecological balance in the garden. The pest-predator cycle is a vital component of biological control, maintaining equilibrium between pests and their natural enemies. As pests like aphids or caterpillars multiply, they attract predators like ladybugs and lacewings, which feed on them, helping to control their populations. 

To implement biological control by supporting the pest-predator cycle, it's crucial to create an environment conducive to attracting and supporting natural predators such as ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory beetles. Some plants, such as cosmos, coreopsis, yarrow, and black-eyed susan, are known to attract multiple species of beneficial insects and predators. Additionally, specific herbs like dill and fennel can attract parasitoid wasps, which lay their eggs inside or on other insect hosts.

Cultural controls utilize agricultural practices and environmental adjustments to prevent or manage pest infestations. These controls encompass various techniques, including crop rotation, companion planting, soil management, proper irrigation, and sanitation measures.

Crop rotation involves systematically altering the types of crops grown in specific areas of the garden each season, disrupting the life cycles of pests that target particular plants. By diversifying crops, this practice reduces pest buildup in the soil over time and enhances soil health and fertility.

Companion planting involves strategic pairing of certain crops to enhance growth, repel pests, or attract beneficial insects. For example, marigolds emit a scent that deters nematodes, and nasturtiums repel squash beetles.

Creating diverse plantings within the garden balances the ecosystem, discouraging the buildup of specific pests. In contrast to simplified monocultures, biodiverse gardens attract beneficial insects, reducing the likelihood of pest outbreaks and fostering a resilient and harmonious garden environment.

Healthy soil serves as the cornerstone of a thriving garden ecosystem, providing essential nutrients, moisture retention, and support for plant growth. Prioritizing soil health through practices such as composting, mulching, and minimal tillage creates an environment conducive to robust plant growth and resilience against pests and diseases. 

Mechanical controls involve physical methods such as barriers, traps, or mechanical removal of pest species. Examples of mechanical controls include installing fences or netting to exclude pests from crops, using sticky traps or pheromone traps to capture insects, using handheld vacuums to remove pests from plants, or employing cultivation practices like hand weeding or mowing to disrupt pest habitats. 
-Handpicking involves manually removing pests such as caterpillars, beetles, or aphids from plants, and requires regular inspection of the garden for pest activity. This method is particularly effective for managing small-scale infestations. 
-Insect traps, such as sticky traps or pheromone traps, provide a non-toxic means of monitoring and capturing flying pests while minimizing harm to beneficial insects like pollinators. 
-Row covers are particularly useful for shielding crops from airborne pests like moths or preventing pests like cucumber beetles from directly accessing plants. 
-Pruning involves selectively removing affected plant parts to eliminate pests and minimize the spread of diseases. Additionally, pruning promotes better air circulation and sunlight penetration, creating less favorable conditions for pests and fungal pathogens to thrive.
-Mulching deters weed growth and creates a barrier that makes it more challenging for pests to reach plants. Plant-based mulches like straw or bark not only suppress weeds but also improve soil moisture retention and regulate soil temperature. 

By combining these biological, cultural, and mechanical control methods, you can create a holistic and effective integrated pest management strategy that protects your garden while safeguarding pollinators and other beneficial insects. Using insecticides in the garden is ultimately a personal choice, influenced by factors such as pest severity, environmental considerations, and individual gardening philosophies. Gardeners may opt to use insecticides as a tool for pest management in the pollinator garden, and still mitigate risk to pollinators by implementing some general practices.
1. Determine what levels of pest damage you are willing to tolerate in your garden. Most of the time, plants will still thrive during and after a limited pest outbreak. Beans produce edible fruit even when their leaves are munched by beetles.
2. Choose selective pesticides that target specific pests while sparing non-target insects.
3. Time pesticide applications during the evening when pollinators are less active reduces the risk of unintentional harm to these important insects.
4. Apply pesticides during non-flowering periods, and avoid spraying blooms at all costs.
5. Minimize chemical drift by directing the application to affected areas and avoid using sprays on windy days. This helps protect non-target plants where pollinators may forage.
6. Dispose of containers and unused chemicals following local regulations.

Remember, minimizing the impact on pollinators starts with thoughtful planning, alternative strategies, and responsible use of chemical products. Always prioritize the health of your garden ecosystem and the well-being of essential pollinators. 

That wraps up our discussion on Integrated Pest Management in the Pollinator Garden. I hope you've gained a deeper understanding of IPM techniques and how they can be used to  minimize harm to our pollinators. 

Be sure to subscribe to The Buzz for future episodes, and follow us on Facebook at NDSU Extension Pollinator Conservation. Until next time, keep buzzing with passion for pollinator conservation, stay curious, and keep exploring the wonders of nature. Thanks for listening.