Two months ago, I was walking the garden with my daughter observing the flowers that were growing when she noticed that one of the taller flowering plants was covered with aphids.

Every inch of stem was covered with the tiny insects sucking the juice out of the plant. The plant was Heliopsis helianthoides, or Summer Sun,’ which grows about two feet tall and has bright yellow flowers in midsummer.

Since the plant was a volunteer – it grew from a seed from another plant in another part of the garden – I wasn’t too concerned about having it expire. I decided to let it be and check the status periodically with my daughter.

After two weeks the plant was taller and still covered from top to bottom with aphids, but the plant’s vigor didn’t seem to be affected. At the third week we noticed two ladybird beetles feasting on the aphids. Within a month there wasn’t an aphid to be found on the plants.

If you monitor pest situations such as this one, you can let nature try to cure the problem and only step in if the problem gets out of hand. That type of awareness is the main approach to integrated pest management.

IPM approach uses common-sense practices that take into account the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. IPM is a conglomeration of appropriate pest management options that may include the judicious use of pesticides.

Since I’ve had children, I have limited the use of chemicals on the property. I may have more white clover in my lawn than I would like, but when the kids make me a bouquet of white clover flowers, I don’t have to worry about any chemical residue.

Some of the techniques that are used in the suppression of pests in the IPM program are biological control which uses beneficial organisms such as ladybird beetles, praying mantises and nematodes are a few examples that manage and or eliminate harmful pests.

Cultural control helps reduce pest problems by practicing good sanitation, rotation of crops and proper sighting of plant material. Watering during early morning hours and never at night will reduce the spread of diseases due to wet conditions.

Mechanical and physical control, like traps and the manual removal of pests from plants, will reduce the pest population with minimum impact on the environment. Japanese beetle traps are a popular mechanical means of reducing the beetle population.

Chemical control uses pesticides sparingly to control pests. Instead of spraying your whole lawn for weeds, why not spot treat problem areas with a hand held sprayer.

Genetic control is a selection of plant material that has been breed for pest resistance. All of my roses on my property have been bred to resist black spot. I get a beautiful show of color without the leaf drop associated with most tea roses.

These are just a few examples of Integrated Pest Management sustainable practices that are worth a try. For more examples and technical explanation of further approaches to managing pest the IPM way, visit your state extension service or do a Web search for Integrated Pest Management programs.

Craig Dupee is a garden-design consultant. He resides in Ewing with his wife and children. Reach him by e-mail at hort1014u@aol.com.