Plant and Garden Reference Information

Standard pest control methods

There are a number of methods that have been employed in standard pest and disease control. The earliest records of insecticides were actually around 2500BC when the Sumerians used sulfur compounds to control insect and mite populations. 1000 years later the manipulation of planting dates was utilized to give advantage to the crops. By 950BC controlled burning had come into fashion. The introduction of pests controlled by pests came about in Chinese citrus groves around 300AD. The late 1800’s saw some plant alterations to help with disease control and the mid 1900’s ushered in plants resistant to pests. Many standard pest and disease control methods are offshoots of these originals.

Insecticides

A number of pesticides have been utilized in the pursuit of better methods of standard pest and disease control. Some insecticides are organic, and others synthetic. What has sometimes been a salvation in one area has been a holy terror in others. However, this is one of the most common methods of pest and disease control.

Manipulation of Planting Cycles and Zones

Growth of plants in different cycles, areas, and groupings are an effective method of pest and disease control. By changing planting dates, what crops are planted together, and even where crops are grown, many of these methods have helped increase the quantity and quality of growing.

Controlled Burning

Many species of plant and tree are not only unaffected, but helped by the use of controlled burning as a standard pest and disease control method. Often, it can be detrimental if the plants are not subjected to the burn.

Pests on Pests

One of the most ingenious of the standard pest and disease control methods is the use of pests to eliminate other pests. Pests have been used to affect disease in plants as well.

Genetic Modification

The first advents in genetic modification of plants were focused on stronger, healthier, and disease resistant plants. Later, standard pest and disease control methods included insect resistant plants.