Year-Round IPM Program Pages
This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of plums in California.
Dormancy/delayed-dormancy (leaf fall to bud swell)
- Why is this season important in an IPM program?
- Special issues of concern related to water quality: dormant sprays, drift, and rain runoff.
What should you be doing during this time?
Survey weeds. Survey weeds after first rains and complete a late-fall weed survey form .
- Let resident vegetation grow between rows.
- Manage weeds in rows with pre- or postemergent herbicides or nonchemically in organic orchards.
If aphids are a chronic problem, treat in early November.
During pruning, look for dead wood caused by shothole borer and Pacific flatheaded borer. Prune and burn infested branches.
Knock off and destroy mummy fruit in cultivars susceptible to brown rot.
Take a spur sample for San Jose scale, mites, and aphids (if not treated in November).
- Keep records on a monitoring form .
- Treat if needed according to Plum Pest Management Guidelines.
Delay treatment for peach twig borer until bloom time.
Keep records of other pests you may see:
- American plum borer
- Fruittree leafroller egg masses
- Italian pear scale
- Peach twig borer hibernacula
- Pocket gophers
- Voles