Skip to content Skip to navigation
UMass Collegiate M The University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Search UMass.edu
Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment
UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program
  • Floriculture Home
  • About
    • About Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture
    • Contact Information
  • Fact Sheets
  • Greenhouse Updates
    • Latest updates & Archive
    • Greenhouse Update Photo Library
    • E-Mail List
  • Publications & Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Greenhouse Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual
    • New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide
    • Biological Control/Organic Information
    • Pesticide Information (Labels, MSDS, WPS)
    • Pesticide Licensing (Certification, Exams, Workshops)
    • Resources for Garden Retailers
    • Useful Links
    • Nutrient Management
    • Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing and Diagnostics
  • Education & Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Northeast Greenhouse Conference
    • Webinars
  • Make a Gift

Greenhouse Updates: March 26, 2019

Keeping Things Clean: Weeds, Rodents and Sanitation
March 26, 2019

Some issues that come up in the greenhouse are not necessarily first on the priority list, but can have significant implications for crop production and Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

As benches begin to fill up and conditions get warmer, weed germination has been observed to be well underway in some facilities. When working in the greenhouse, be sure to a look under benches and in those tucked-away corners to assess the weed situation. Uncontrolled weeds can be great reservoirs for insect infestations and disease inoculum. Tough pests such as aphids, mites, thrips and whiteflies can become established on weeds in the greenhouse. If weeds are not managed properly and in a timely fashion, it is also likely that such insect populations will go unnoticed and untreated. Now is a great time to do some scouting and develop a plan to get on top of any weeds that may be present… these efforts will pay dividends in the form of a cleaner and healthier crop later. Remember that when using herbicides in the greenhouse it is critical to follow all label directions and to take the utmost care for application due to the risk of damaging crop plants.

https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/managing-weeds-in-around-greenhouse

Check out recent research by Bryan Brown and Brian Eshenaur at Cornell that investigated the use of rice hull much and solarization for greenhouse and nursery weed control: https://hdl.handle.net/1813/64540

Another problem that may be overlooked is rodents, such as mice and rats. Impacts from rodents can range from a nuisance, such as chewing on plastic pots, to a significant concern in the case of feeding on seeds or seedlings, to even a potential food safety matter in the case of edible crops. Baits and traps are effective means of control when executed properly, as well as physical barriers to prevent entry, especially into sensitive areas.

https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/preventing-rodent-damage-in-greenhouses

Finally, the importance of keeping growing areas clean and using good common sense cannot be overemphasized. This means regular cleaning of benches and floors, pots and trays, and potting areas. Specific tools should be designated for cleaning of the floor, and others reserved for bench tops. This goes a long way to preventing the spread of disease and contaminants. Keeping the hose end off the floor is particularly important too, for the same reasons.

https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/cleaning-disinfecting-greenhouse
 

- Jim Mussoni, Private IPM Scout, and Jason Lanier, UMass Extension

Image
Weeds under a greenhouse bench (photo by Jim Mussoni)
Image
A baited mouse trap placed in a seedling tray (photo by Jim Mussoni)
Image
An irrigation wand hung properly off of the floor (photo by Jim Mussoni)

Greenhouse Updates

  • Latest updates & Archive
  • Greenhouse Update Photo Library
  • E-Mail List

Connect with UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops & Floriculture Program:

Facebook  Follow Us on Instagram  YouTube

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment

 

Stockbridge Hall,
80 Campus Center Way
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9246
Phone: (413) 545-4800
Fax: (413) 545-6555
ag [at] cns [dot] umass [dot] edu (ag[at]cns[dot]umass[dot]edu)

 

Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Information

College of Natural Sciences

Login for faculty and staff

CAFE Units

Mass. Agricultural Experiment Station

UMass Extension

UMass Research and Education Center Farms

UMass Cranberry Station

Water Resources Research Center

Interest Areas

Agriculture

Commercial Horticulture

Energy

Environmental Conservation

Food Science

Nutrition

Water

Youth Development & 4-H

Services

Pesticide Education

Plant Diagnostics Laboratory

Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory

Hot Water Seed Treatment

Water Testing / Environmental Analysis Laboratory

Projects

Conservation Assessment Prioritization System (CAPS)

Extension Risk Management/Crop Insurance Education

Mass. Envirothon

Mass. Herp Atlas

Mass. Keystone

MassWoods

North American Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative

RiverSmart

UMass Design Center in Springfield

Resources

Extension Sales Portal

Agriculture & Commercial Horticulture Resources

Community & Economic Vitality

Disaster Preparedness

Food Safety

Home Lawn & Garden

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Land Conservation Tools

Pollinators

Tick testing

Resources for Faculty and Staff

Extension Programs

4-H Youth Development

Agriculture

Crops, Dairy, Livestock and Equine

Fruit

Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture

Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry

Pesticide Education

Turf

Vegetable

Clean Energy

Climate Change

Food Science

Nutrition Education

Value-Added Food

Seal of The University of Massachusetts Amherst - 1863
©2025 University of Massachusetts Amherst · Site Policies · Accessibility