Natural Pest Control

The presence of an insect on a damaged plant does not necessarily point to the culprit. Most insects are beneficial and natural predators can usually control those that aren’t. The goal of organic gardening is to mimic natural conditions with the least environmental damage. The following steps should help your garden thrive without pesticides.

• What’s bugging you?
  • Don’t jump to conclusions. Most plant problems are caused by environmental conditions, not pests. Take a good look: is your plant too dry? Getting too much shade? Too cold?
• Is it Serious?
  • Keep in mind that few problems are life-threatening to the plant. Most damage leaves the plant in the range of “not quite perfect” to “ugly”. Consider the degree of damage before you take action. Can you live with a few chewed leaves?
• First things First
  • For insects, your first line of defense is to simply remove the pest. Hose off insects, like aphids, with a jet of cold water.
  • Cut off tent caterpillars
  • To avoid a recurrence try using traps. Saucers of beer will attract slugs; weevils and earwigs will hide in newspapers that can be disposed of.
  • Give predators a chance. Stand back and let birds, frogs and predatory insects restore the natural balance in your garden. Learn to recognize beneficial insects such as Rove Beetles, Ladybugs and Lacewings.
  • Prune out leaves or branches that show signs of disease. Do not compost.
• An ounce of prevention
  • If pests seem to enjoy your crops, make it hard for them by using barriers. Remay row covers protect vegetables from damage by cabbage moth, flea beetle, or carrot rust flies.
  • Wood ashes, corn starch or diatomaceous earth are barriers against slugs.
  • Tanglefoot Insect barriers on tree trunks prevent moth larvae from climbing up to the leaves.
• Good Weeds, Bad Weeds
  • Not all “weeds” are bad. Some, such as thistles or dandelions, provide food and habitat for bees and butterflies. Be aware of how these weeds spread and control them by not letting them go to seed.
  • Get on top of spring weed blooms by with frequent hoeing, cutting off the green growing tips of weeds at soil level.
  • Be aware of invasive weeds that spread quickly and take over your garden. Remove them promptly by hand.
  • A 2-3″layer of organic mulch, such as compost, over newspapers can prevent the germination and growth of weeds.
• “Do no harm”
  • Remember that any control, biological or chemical, will kill beneficial insects along with pests. If problems are serious and persistent, try organic controls like soapy water or Safers Insecticidal Soap, applying only to problem areas. A general-purpose insecticide you can make at home is a garlic spray.  To a litre of water, add:
    • 2 T garlic powder
    • 2 T onion powder
    • Dash tabasco or cayenne
• Do you Really Want That Plant?
  • Some plants are never happy. Try the tough love approach and if problems persist, replace your problem plant with something better behaved.