Drew University
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

The Grounds Department practices conscientious and environmentally sound chemical applications according to its Integrated Pest Management Program, which incorporates different cultural and natural protections against pests and careful monitoring to determine the level of severity. Pesticide applications are made only when necessary, and herbicide and insecticide applications are made only as spot treatments in problem areas, not in blanket applications. This, along with the elimination of preventive pesticide applications, reduces the amount of pesticide use. Cultural and natural practices include over seeding with pest-resistant grass varieties, fertilization and liming per soil test results, soil aeration, proper mowing height, and irrigation, where possible. Our goal is to maintain a healthy stand of turf and ornamental plantings that will withstand occasional pest infestations and require only limited use of pesticides. Tree, extermination, and horticultural professionals are also called on in certain situations to provide expert evaluations and recommendations. A-L services, our landscape management provider, helps monitor the campus and reports to us when insect and/or disease thresholds reach a point that need to be addressed. Depending on the situation and level, the problem may be controlled via mechanical means,chemical etc. Pesticides and fungicides are rarely used in circumstances where an environmental threshold is surpassed. An example of one of these circumstances was a gypsy moth infestation which threatened the loss of many ancient trees on campus.