Organic Pest Control for the Garden

One of the healthiest things you can do for your family, and your wallet, is to grow your own food. Not only does this give you some control over the quality of the food you eat, an edible garden will help lower your overall food bill. After all, a small packet of seeds generally costs only a dollar or two and will produce more than enough food for your family, your neighbors and anyone else who will take a basket of goodies from you. That is, if you use organic pest control methods to prevent the bugs and animals from destroying your crops.

One of the major drawbacks to owning a fruit or vegetable garden is that it can quickly be overrun by insects and animals wanting to snack on the fruits of your labor. It can be tempting to want to use pesticides or other harsh, but effective, chemicals to manage them. However, not only does that harm the environment but pesticide residue will end up on your vegetables and eventually your plate. The side effects from ingesting these chemicals are unpleasant so it is just better to stick with organic pest control to keep your garden bug free.

Tips for Garden Organic Pest Control

Prevention

The best offense is a good defense. Here are a few organic methods for pest control that will stop a problem before it becomes one.

Educate Yourself – This is key to winning the war on bugs. Take the time to research bugs and plant diseases so you can recognize both and use the appropriate organic pest control option to deal with it.

Assemble a Bug Army – Some bugs are actually beneficial to have in the garden because they eat the bugs you don’t want. For example, Lady Bugs eat aphids, mites, and whiteflies. Therefore a form of natural pest control would be to attract these beneficial bugs by adding plants that attract them to your garden. You can also purchase eggs through mail order or local garden centers.

Clear Out Habitats – Before planting your garden, go through and remove weeds and debris which tend to provide breeding grounds for unwanted pests.

Maintain Healthy Soil – Keeping the soil healthy and rich will produce plants with strong immune systems capable of resisting disease and repelling pests. Use a good all-natural fertilizer and mulch.

Use All Natural Pest Control Products – Some bugs are repelled by certain odors. Therefore creating or purchasing all natural sprays can repel or kill bugs. For example, a basic oil and water spray will kill most soft bodied pests. Strong smelling odors and spices repel most bugs, so a mixture of water and hot pepper juice is a good concoction to have on hand.

Dealing With Infestations

If you find holes in your plants or your garden seems to be dying for no reason, then there is a good chance you have an infestation. Inspect plants to determine what kind of bugs you have and then use the appropriate organic pest control method to deal with them.

Ants – Some species of ants are beneficial but most will undermine your garden if they get out of control. The problem with controlling an ant problem is that they adapt somewhat quickly to whatever methods you use. This means you may have to use a mix of organic pest control methods to rid yourself of an ant problem. One method is to combine a little bit of Borax with a sweet substance, like sugar, and sprinkle it around ant trails. Ants will take the poisoned mix back to their home for the other ants to eat. Eventually, they will die off.

Slugs – You will actually have to inspect your garden at dusk or after rainy weather to source out slugs. If you find they are terrorizing your garden, then they must go. A humane way would be to use an old spoon to scoop them into a container and release them far away from your garden. Crushing egg shells and sprinkling it around the garden provides a physical barrier for them. Salt is a natural pest control product for them because it kills them.

Aphids – Make a rhubarb spray by pouring boiling hot water over rhubarb leaves and letting them soak for 3-4 days. Strain and then pour mixture into a bottle. Add a few drops of detergent and enough water to make it look like a weak tea. Spray over infested plants every 10 days until the infestation is gone.

Using organic pest control methods is a human and environmentally-friendly way to keep your garden healthy and bug free.

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