Control
Insects Without Pesticides
Simple organic solutions for pest problems.
We certainly understand that many
gardeners become anxious when they see pests on their plants and want to react
decisively when they see their plants damaged. But we must remind you of the
central principle of organic gardening: growing plants in harmony with Nature.
And insects, even those that eat your plants, are a crucial part of that
system.
When you see insects in your garden, take some time to really watch
what they're doing. Are they actually destroying the plant or just nibbling it
a bit? Many plants can outgrow minor damage. Also, in many cases, insects
attack stressed out plants. Do you have enough healthy plants to spare the
sickly ones? Can you restore sickly plants to robust health so they can resist
insect attack? The best defenses against insect attack are preventative
measures. Grow plants suited to the site and they'll be less stressed out.
Don't let them be too wet, too dry or too shaded. Design a diverse garden, so
that pests of a particular plant won't decimate an entire section of the
garden.
Most importantly, encourage the natural predators of
pest insects to hunt in your garden—beneficial insects (such as the common
ladybug), birds, frogs and lizards control pests by eating them. You can make
your garden hospitable for your natural allies by keeping a water source (just
a dish-full, if that's all you've got) nearby for them and by not wiping out
the entire pest population with a pesticide, sending the beneficials elsewhere
in search of food. Also, grow plants with small blossoms like sweet alyssum and
dill, which attract predatory insects who feed on flowers' nectar between
attacks on pests.
Barriers such as row covers, netting and plant collars
very effectively protect crops from pests. Sticky traps and pheromone lures are
another way to minimize your pest problems without harming other living things
in your garden. You'll find row covers (the best-known brand is Reemay) and
other barriers, along with traps and the like at your local garden center and
in mail-order catalogs.
Finally, if you need to react quickly to an acute pest
invasion you can choose from several natural products that affect specific
insects, won't harm humans, pets or wildlife, and that degrade quickly in the
environment. Among the best of those products is Bacillus thuringiensis,
a naturally occurring bacteria that you apply to your plants to disrupt the
digestion of caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. Be sure to identify the pest positively
before you buy this product because each strain of Bt affects specific kinds of
insects. Horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps and garlic and/or hot pepper
sprays also work well against many pests.