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Controlling pests and weeds without using harmful pesticides

As heartbreaking as it may be to see your beautiful garden destroyed by plant pests, banishing bugs with pesticides isn’t the answer.  Why?  Because these chemicals are also toxic to other wildlife, your pets, and your family.

Fortunately, there’s a safer, smarter, and highly effective approach to keeping your garden glorious–integrated pest management (IPM).  With IPM,  you learn to monitor the conditions in your garden, from the health of the soil to the types and numbers of insects living in it, and then adjust them accordingly to fend off destructive bugs and weeds.  Here’s how to get started.

PLANT A PLENTIFUL GARDEN.  Make sure to plant a diverse group of species that grow naturally in your climate.  With a variety of crops, you’ll get more “generalist” garden pests, such as army worms, and fewer “specialist” pests, such as tomato worms.  Generalists will inflict minor, reversible damage and are easier to control; specialists can wipe out your entire crop.

WHACK THOSE WEEDS.  To eliminate weeds without pesticides, first assess the types growing in your garden and map their location.  That will tell you more about the condition of your soil.  For example, goosegrass means the site is too dry.  Sedges mean it’s too wet.  Two more good ways to ward off weeds:  Add a layer of compost, which aids the growth of healthy turfgrass to compete with troublesome plants.  And don’t cut grass too short–longer lawns create shade, so weeds won’t thrive.

THINK AHEAD.  Early in the season, cover rows of plants with a light fabric to discourage aphids, tiny insects that feast on fruit and vegetable plants such as tomatoes and cabbage.

HANDPICKING HELPS.  As long as the pest population isn’t overwhelming, put your fingers to work (wear gardening gloves) and literally pull bugs off plants.

INVEST IN INSECTS.  So-called beneficial insects eat pests but not plants.  They include ladybugs, lacewings, assassin bugs, and a host of other predators.  Make a happy home for them by planting fennel, coriander, and Queen Anne’s lace, which offers both shelter and nectar.

                                     WHEN CHEMICALS ARE THE ONLY ANSWER

If stubborn pests still won’t leave your garden, there are safer pesticides you can choose.  Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps work well on aphids, scales, and mealybugs.  Iron phosphate baits take care of slugs and snails.  You can find these at your local gardening center.  Make sure to test chemicals on a small part of the plant first.  And steer clear of anything containing methiocarb , as it will kill earthworms and all manner of helpful insects.

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Tags: army worms, beautiful garden, beneficial insects, diverse group, fruit and vegetable, garden pests, generalist, generalists, goosegrass, harmful pesticides, integrated pest management, integrated pest management ipm, light fabric, pest population, plant pests, tiny insects, tomato worms, turfgrass, vegetable plants, weeds

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Tags: army worms, beautiful garden, beneficial insects, diverse group, fruit and vegetable, garden pests, generalist, generalists, goosegrass, harmful pesticides, integrated pest management, integrated pest management ipm, light fabric, pest population, plant pests, tiny insects, tomato worms, turfgrass, vegetable plants, weeds