Resources for proper identification include local experts, periodicals and books, pest management professionals and technical representatives from your local garden centre. Designing an effective treatment program utilizes more than one strategy. It is important to identify timing of the life cycle of the pest and to apply spot treatment as opposed to broadcast treatments that may have other, less desirable effects. Indirect suppression methods are preventative techniques aimed at ensuring healthy, vigorous plants that are less susceptible to pest infestations. These include cultural controls such as plant selection, using proper planting and pruning techniques, mulching, dead-heading, and habitat development.
Native plants are generally more disease resistant than other species.
Direct suppression methods are physical, biological and chemical controls. Biological methods use living organisms such as predatory or parasitic insects to reduce pest populations to acceptable levels. These methods mimic nature and attempt to alter the natural balance in our favour. Chemical methods involve the use of pesticides. Using the Integrated Plant Health Care program, effective and judicious use of pesticides may be the only alternative available if all other strategies have failed.