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.