Missouri: Development and Delivery of a Home and Garden IPM Program for Urban Audiences

Missouri homeowners asked for traditional and alternative options for controlling landscape plant pests. University Extension responded with a program on environmentally sound IPM strategies for ornamental, turf, and garden insect and disease problems.

The program was developed with the internationally renowned Missouri Botanical Garden, which has more than 300,000 annual visitors. It includes interior exhibits, an exterior walking tour, instructed training, and video presentation.

The principal exhibit explains IPM philosophy and graphically highlights urban IPM examples. An interpretive walk displays IPM strategies at 25 stations. More than 150,000 people have seen these exhibits.

Master Gardeners received and IPM educational module which supplied the background material needed to communicate IPM to the general public. More than 70 Master Gardeners completed the training with the module receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. As a result, IPM training was added to Master Gardener management practices at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

As a companion to the program, a videotape detailing IPM strategies for solving pest problems was produced. Recently the video was awarded a 1996 Telly Award and received a top award in the Kansas/Missouri Film Festival. Many of the Center's visitors have viewed the video through the use of a continuous-run kiosk in the lobby.

This program is useful for garden clubs, civic groups, 4-H clubs and Master Gardener training as well as being perfect assistance in classroom situations dealing with Vo-Ag and plant science.
- Mel Zielinski, Missouri Extension, Regional Agronomy Specialist