Year-Round IPM Program Pages
This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of avocados in California. Details on carrying out each practice, example monitoring forms, and information on additional pests can be found in the Avocado Pest Management Guidelines. Track your progress through the year with this annual checklist form. Color photo identification pages and example monitoring forms can be found at forms and photo ID pages.
About Bloom
What should you be doing during this time?
Monitor for diseases and conditions that promote disease development.
- Armillaria root rot
- Bacterial canker
- Branch canker and dieback
- Phytophthora root rot
- Phytophthora trunk canker and crown rot
- Rosellinia root rot
- Sunblotch
Record the date and location of problem trees or sites. Manage if needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
Monitor invertebrate pests, including:
- Avocado thrips (February or March, then regularly from April until fruit exceed 3/4 inch).
- Caterpillars (March through August).
- Greenhouse thrips (late-March through July).
- Persea mite and sixspotted mite (April through October).
Record results. Manage if needed according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
Survey weeds, especially weeds near trunks, during spring through fall.
- Record results (example weed survey form ).
- Manage vegetation if needed, especially weeds near trunks.
Look for vertebrates, especially during spring and summer. Manage if needed.
Promote pollination of flowers:
- Place honey bee hives in groves during bloom.
- Manage pesticides to avoid killing bees.
Provide proper cultural care and good growing conditions to improve fruit yield and control pests. Pay particular attention to young trees and new groves.
Consider applying gibberellic acid, (GA3) at prebloom to increase fruit size and yield.
Apply gypsum and mulch to reduce avocado root rot and improve soil.
- Inspect irrigation systems by late winter.
- Monitor and adjust scheduling to meet trees’ varying water needs.
- Test irrigation water quality.