How to compare your options and make confident decisions in the garden
Introduction
Welcome back to the IPM series. In Part 1, you learned how to identify what’s really happening in your garden. In Part 2, you explored the full range of control options available to you. Now, in Part 3, we bring it all together.
This is where you learn how to compare your options side by side so you can choose the safest, most effective, and most practical action for your garden.
IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. UC IPM
Why You’ll Want to Read This Now
Those of us who call ourselves gardeners tend to want action — and now. That often means jumping straight to a solution: spray this, prune that, hope for the best. But IPM works differently. This thoughtful method slows you down just enough to make smart, informed choices instead of rushing in with a box full of tools
In this part you’ll learn:
- The four questions every gardener should ask before taking action
- How to use the IPM Decision Grid to compare options
- How to evaluate a real scenario (aphids on kale)
- How to reflect on what worked so you can improve over time
By the end you will have a plan you can use for any pest, any plant and in any season.
📌 What Is the IPM Decision Grid
Why This Step Matters
Choosing and evaluating is the heart of IPM because it:
- Prevents knee‑jerk reactions
- Helps you avoid unnecessary treatments
- Encourages you to try the least‑disruptive option first
- Builds your confidence through structured decision‑making
- Creates a record you can learn from season after season
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress and awareness.
The IPM Decision Grid
The Decision Grid is a simple tool that helps you compare different control options side by side. You look at each option through the same five lenses:
- Effectiveness
- Speed of Results
- Impact on Beneficials
- Environmental Impact
- Your Effort / Cost / Comfort Level
By scoring or describing each option across these categories, the “best fit” usually becomes obvious.
| Control Option | Effectiveness | Speed of Results | Impact on Beneficials | Environmental Impact | Effort / Cost / Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | |||||
| Option 2 | |||||
| Option 3 |
📌 Your Blank Decision Grid
A Real Scenario: Aphids on Kale
Let’s walk through a real example together.
You step into your garden and notice clusters of tiny green insects on the undersides of your kale leaves. They’re aphids — soft‑bodied, fast‑reproducing, and common in warm weather.
Before choosing a control method, you first list your possible options. Here are five realistic choices a home gardener might consider.
IPM GRID TWO: with options included
“Here’s what the grid looks like once you start filling it in with real observations.”
IPM Decision Grid — Aphid Scenario
| Control Option | Will it work | Is it safe | Is it practical | Is it legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand‑picking | ||||
| Water spray | ||||
| Insecticidal soap | ||||
| Neem oil | ||||
| Do nothing |
My Decision: _______________________________________
📌 Aphids on Kale — What Would You Do?
Now let’s apply the four questions to each option. This is where the Decision Grid becomes a powerful tool.
Below is the fully filled‑in example showing how these choices compare.
IPM GRID THREE: filled in for you
IPM Decision Grid — Aphid Scenario (Completed Example)
“Now let’s apply the grid to a real situation you might face in your own garden.”
| Control Option | Effectiveness | Speed of Results | Impact on Beneficials | Environmental Impact | Effort / Cost / Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blast with water | Moderate | Immediate | Very low impact | Very low | Easy, free |
| Hand-squish / remove | Moderate | Immediate | Very low impact | Very low | Mild effort |
| Insecticidal soap | High | Fast | Can harm soft-bodied beneficials | Low | Low cost, easy |
| Neem oil | Moderate | Moderate | Can affect beneficials | Low–moderate | Some effort, low cost |
| Do nothing (monitor) | Low–moderate | Slow | No harm | None | Easiest |
Completed Example- What You Might See if You Have Aphids on Kale
Reflect & Repeat
IPM is a cycle, not a one‑time fix. After you take action, you check back in and ask:
- Did it work
- How well
- Would I do this again
- What would I change next time
Use the reflection grid below to guide your thinking.
📌 Reflect & Repeat
| What I Tried | Did It Work? | What I Noticed | What I’ll Do Next Time |
|---|---|---|---|
To help you apply what you just learned, here’s the worksheet for this part of the series. Download the Worksheet (PDF) Designed for easy printing and note‑taking
By the time you reach this point in the IPM cycle, your garden starts to feel a little different — quieter, more legible, more willing to tell you what it needs. Step Three is where your eyes adjust. You begin to notice the small shifts: the way new leaves unfurl, the pattern of stippling on a frond, the rhythm of who visits your plants and who feeds on them.
This kind of looking is its own practice. It slows you down just enough to see what’s real, not what you fear might be happening. And once you can read those early signs, your choices become steadier and more grounded. You’re no longer reacting to every blemish; you’re evaluating, comparing, and choosing with intention.
Happy Digging,
Jane
What Comes Next?
In IPM Part 4, we’ll take everything you’ve gathered — the patterns, the clues, the quiet details — and turn them into clear, confident actions. This final step closes the circle, helping you choose the right response at the right moment so your garden can thrive with less stress and more ease. It’s where the whole method comes together, and I can’t wait to walk through it with you.
Further Reading, Insects, Observation and Ecological Insight
E.O. Wilson — “The Little Things That Run the World” (1987)
A foundational essay explaining the ecological importance of insects and other invertebrates. Wilson’s perspective reframes insects as essential ecosystem engineers — a mindset that strengthens any gardener’s approach to monitoring and IPM. Key line: “…the little things that run the world.”
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects & Spiders
A trusted identification guide with clear photographs and reliable descriptions. Ideal for gardeners who want to sharpen their observation skills and learn the difference between pests, allies, and neutral visitors.
Dave Goulson — “The Insect Apocalypse, and Why It Matters”
A widely cited, accessible overview of global insect decline and why it matters for gardeners, ecosystems, and food systems. A strong companion to IPM monitoring, emphasizing awareness and ecological balance.