What type of pest control practice involves growing plants that resist insects?

The practice of growing plants that resist insects falls under the category of prevention. This approach is proactive, focusing on creating growing conditions that deter pests before they become an issue. By selecting and cultivating plant varieties that are naturally resistant to certain insect pests, gardeners and landscape professionals can significantly reduce the likelihood of pest problems.

This method emphasizes the importance of integrating pest management strategies that rely on biological resistance, rather than solely on chemical control methods. As a result, prevention not only helps maintain plant health but also enhances the overall ecosystem by reducing reliance on pesticides.

Control, suppression, and elimination are more reactive strategies that come into play once pests have been identified or have already established themselves in an area. Control involves managing pest populations through various techniques, suppression aims to reduce the pest numbers to tolerable levels, and elimination seeks to completely eradicate pests. Each of these strategies is important in pest management, but they are fundamentally different from the prevention-focused approach of utilizing resistant plant varieties.