Green Garden Pest Control

Gardening is a activity which many turn to for stress relief, to provide food for the family or as an activity to share with their children. Not only do we enjoy the food but so do the insects and bugs which live in our gardens. Some turn to organophosphate pesticides which effectively kill the bugs and allow the plants to grow large and healthy.

However, these chemicals are unhealthy for both people and the environment. Several are linked to permanent neurological and kidney disease, reproductive toxicity and death. Although these chemicals have been moved to the garden as a pesticide they were originally developed for use in chemical warfare against people. They work by inhibiting nerve and muscle responses.

Fortunately, organic insecticides are more effective, safer, easier and often more cost effective than chemicals. Disposing of these chemicals can be incredibly tricky since most garbage companies won’t take them as they are hazardous materials. You’ll need to call the city to find the next hazardous waste collection day.

Here are several tips to help you get started with a safe garden, clear of insects.

1. One effective control uses physical barriers to effectively stop specific types of insects from destroying your garden. Large, bottomless cans pushed into the soil around tender young shoots will deter cutworms from destroying the roots. Diatomaceous earth, sprinkled around plants, will keep the slugs away. Netting will shield the garden from hungry grasshoppers and bird netting will keep the birds from pecking at small fruit like strawberries and blackberries.

2. Keeping the garden area clean will help decrease insect homes. Many seek protection in the debris that surrounds the garden. Compost the dead plants away from the garden. Pull out badly infested plants when you spot them and send them to the compost pile too.

3. There are some insects that are beneficial for your garden. Introducing insects that eat other insects and leave the plants alone, such as ladybugs, will help to improve the overall health of the garden. The praying mantis is also a voracious pest controller. You can usually purchase live insects or eggs from garden stores or from the local elementary schools that sometimes use this as a fund raiser in the spring. Release them into the garden and they’ll go to work.

4. Organic gardening also includes using plants that are highly resistant to insects. Most of these plants are native or well-adapted. For instance, plants that grow well in Wisconsin don’t grow well in Texas. Learn what’s native to the area or have been well-adapted to the climate.

5. For the remaining insects you can use some organic soap insect repellent. You can make your own by adding a few drops of organic soap to a cup of water. This works well on aphids and spider mites by completely coating the leaves, flowers, and stems.

6. Daily patrols of the garden can also help to deter insect damage. Look for the offending pests and squish them or drop them in a cup of soapy water. Inspect the underside of the leaves for egg masses and get rid of those too.

7. Use your garden hose to knock off sap-sucking insects such as aphids and injure them. A study from Texas A&M University found that this would reduce the number of spider mites and aphids by 70-90%.

8. Most insects have food preferences. Try planting a few of their preferred foods away from your garden and allow them to have a feast. Or you can also smash the bugs as they find your sacrifice plants. Beetles love radishes and squash plants in pots will attract bugs from your main crop.

9. Mulch preserves moisture, eliminates weeds and keeps the soil cooler for the benefit of earthworms and plant roots. Mulch also confuses pests. After spreading the mulch carefully watch for growth of other plants that come along with the mulch, such as poison ivy.

10. Diversify you planting to take advantage of the natural pest prevention. For instance, a tomato plant, alternated with some greens will help to deter most pests that flourish in a monoculture garden. Planting the mixture will confuse the pests and decrease their ability to get a good foothold in your garden.