Year-Round IPM Program Pages
This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of plums in California.
Bloom (green tip to petal fall)
- Why is this season important in an IPM program?
- Special issues of concern related to water quality: drift.
What should you be doing during this time?
Mow ground cover down to a maximum height of 2 inches.
Monitor success of dormant weed management program:
- Note plants escaping treatment and their location in the field.
- Pay particular attention to plants escaping control with glyphosate, which might be an indication of resistance.
On cultivars susceptible to brown rot, apply protective fungicide treatment as a delayed-bloom application.
Place omnivorous leafroller pheromone traps in the orchard at bloom.
- Check twice weekly to establish biofix for the first flight.
- Keep records on a degree-day monitoring form.
- Put up pheromone traps to monitor male flight.
- Keep records on a degree-day monitoring form.
Monitor peach twig borer larvae:
- Time bloom treatments according to the plum Pest Management Guidelines.
- Keep records on a degree-day monitoring form.
Monitor codling moth in orchards with a history of codling moth problems.
Look for spider mites and predatory mites weekly on first emerging basal leaves of scaffolds. Map areas of concern for future monitoring.
During long, cool bloom periods, monitor for western flower thrips.
Keep records of other pests you may see:
- Armillaria root rot
- Bacterial canker
- Ground squirrels
- Pocket gophers
- Phytophthora root and crown rot
- Voles