An excellent way to to minimize "ag/urban interface" problems is to grow a protective border planting between housing and agricultural production fields. Border plantings increase the aesthetic value of agricultural open spaces and screen out unwanted agricultural activities for those living adjacent to production areas. An ideal protective barrier planting consists of plants that:

• grow quickly and are easy to maintain
• provide a good physical barrier to dust, spray drift, and noise
• are inexpensive and aesthetically pleasing
• do not harbor insect pests that would damage crops or surrounding landscaping plantings;  -and-
• support beneficial insects which prey on crop insects pests.

Border Plantings Research Project

     In the fall of 1994, protective border barriers were established at three sites in commercial floriculture and strawberry fields in San Diego, California. These border plantings were used to provide a physical barrier between agricultural fields and adjacent urban development, and to evaluate the effects of border plantings on insect populations and crop/barriers interactions. Border plantings consisted of native plants of overlapping flowering periods to provide nectar and pollen to beneficial insects throughout the year. Yellow sticky traps were used to monitor insect populations and water sensitive paper strips were used to monitor spray drift.

Results indicate that protective border plantings:

1. can form attractive physical barriers that help to reduce dust, noise, visual pollution, and spray drift;
   
2. provide habitat for beneficial insects and pests;
   
3. support beneficial insects that may help reduce the population peaks of pest insects during spring and summer months; and
4. have no negative impact on adjacent crop fields