It will contain guidelines on tolerance for weeds and injury from pests. It will help define action thresholds and should include specific management practices for non-chemical control. They will vary with each section of the site. The use of sound cultural practices results in healthy plants better able to ward off pests and pest injury. Biological or cultural strategies can create conditions that are unfavorable for the pest's development and survival.
Most pests are easiest to manage when they are immature and few in number.
Frequent scouting can help determine the stage of pest activity or injury. Treating only the areas where intolerable levels of pests are present reduces the number and costs of chemical applications for pest control. Other factors to record include weather conditions, stage of plant growth, and presence of beneficial or predatory insects. Any use of pesticides should be based on reliable information and recommendations. Chemicals are identified by common and brand names.