Organic Pest Control
Pests may include weeds that you don't want in your garden, insects that eat the plants, or diseases that damage the plant or garden planter. Pesticide use, in addition to introducing hazardous chemicals into your environment, also are not very selective. They can kill the plants, bugs, and disease organisms, as well as plants that you want to keep. Continuous use of pesticides can also harm your children and family members. Natural pest control methods are much less toxic to family members, and your local eco-system, and can be just as effective.
To follow are some general organic guidelines on how you can manage your pest problem.
- Enlist predatory allies by encouraging beneficial bugs and animals that eat the pests.
- Carefully destroy any nests you find and limit the number of places where they might build homes.
- Use companion planting, place plants that are insect-resistant beside plants that insects love. This will help protect the plants that are vulnerable.
- Apply chemicals to your lawn that are non-toxic to humans, such as a non-toxic insecticide like pyrethrum.
- Block the access of animals by putting up physical barriers such as nets or wire-covered frames.
- Kill pests using old-fashioned traps, a fly swatter, or boiling water.
Organic Pest Control – Aphid Problems
- There are many species of aphids, and they feed on all types of vegetation.
- Aphid colonies may be found on young leaves, new succulent shoots, and twigs or branches. Many vegetables and fruit trees, as well as ornamental plants, are attacked. Aphid feeding often causes leaves to curl and become deformed.
- Remove aphids by splashing soapy water onto the affected plant, followed by cold clean water.
- Protect plants that are troubled by aphids by companion-planting them with orange nasturtiums, catnip, catmint, and garlic.
- A single ladybug can eat 400 aphids in one week. Encourage the growth of ladybugs – they are your friends.
Organic Pest Control – Ant Problems
- Ants are not much of a problem, but they will protect aphids (because they produce a sweet substance); aphids can destroy plants. Sprinkle the ground with bone meal to keep ants away, and plant vulnerable seedlings in sawn-off milk cartons for protection. Plant ant-deterrant Geraniums, Southernwood, and Pennyroyal plants near the aphids.
Organic Pest Control – Birds
- Birds are both a friend and a foe. Although they can make a mess of seedlings, they also eat alot of common garden pests.
- Add a bird-bath to your garden so that you can enlist their help in pest control.
- Protect fruit and vegetables and hang computer CDs in fruit trees to deter the birds from the fruit.
Organic Pest Control – Caterpillars
- Caterpillars feed on leaves and young plant growth and, due to their huge appetites, are capable of massive damage to plants. Young caterpillars are unable to chew, so they graze on the underside of leaves but as they get larger the damage they cause increases, when they eat flowers, fruits and growing tips.
- Sprinkle finely ground pepper onto dampened plants that are threatened by caterpillars.
Organic Pest Control – Flies
- Flies spread disease and vermin.
- They can be deterred by placing pots of basil, tansy, pyrethrum, and eau-de-cologne mint plants around the home and garden.
Organic Pest Control – Mosquitos
- Mosquito bites are irritating, and they can spread West Nile Virus.
- Drain still pools of water that may have gathered in pots, bins, or containers around the garden.
- Change the water in pet bowls and birdbaths twice a week.
- Ensure that all rain barrels have screens.
- Keep your pond pump and garden fountain or statue running in your garden ponds. Keep native fish in the pond to prevent mosquitos from breeding.
Organic Pest Control – Slugs and Snails
- Slugs and snails damage seeds, seedlings, underground tubers, leaves and fruit. Damage to seedlings often results in the death of the plant leading to major losses.
- Slugs and snails have delicate bodies and don't like rough ground. Sprinkling lime or wood ash around garden beds will deter them.
- Use bark as a ground cover. They don't like crawling over bark.
- Salt can kill slugs and snails. Sprinkle salt over your garden beds.
- Leave partially-buried saucers of beer around your garden. They will drown in beer.