Once your natural garden is installed and growing beautifully, it’s up to you to keep it that way. Any garden habitat will have all kinds of plants, animals, birds, insects, fungi and bacteria teeming throughout it. Even if they may seem a bit creepy, some insects and microorganisms actually do have a place in your garden. It’s only when things get off balance that problems start to occur, and fighting garden pests becomes an issue.
It’s up to you to keep your natural garden looking great, so keep a constant eye out for pests and diseases, and make sure your plants aren’t stressed by water or nutrient deprivation.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Roll out your garden’s red carpet for beneficial animals, insects and bacteria. Frogs and toads are welcome additions to any garden – eating literally hundreds of pests each day!
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
A healthy, pest- and disease-resistant garden starts with good gardening practices as the first line of defense. A diverse group of plants from the very beginning helps create a pest-resistant garden. The broader your plant list, the more likely your garden will resist invaders. Choosing plants suited to your soil and site also goes a long way in keeping them healthy. And don’t forget to meet your plants’ water and nutrition needs. Stress can make a plant vulnerable to insects and diseases as well.
But even robust plants can sometimes fall ill or become pest-infested. A natural approach to fighting garden pests focuses on early recognition, managing their numbers and limiting their damage. First, learn to identify the pests common in your area, as well as the signs of their damage. If you get stumped, open a book, check online, ask a knowledgeable employee at your local garden center or contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for assistance.
Now remember: No garden is perfect. A certain amount of plant damage caused by insects is normal – and acceptable. Having a few chewed leaves is a fair trade-off for a chemical-free garden. Environmentally friendly gardening practices – manually picking off pests like Japanese beetles, snails and slugs; spraying aphids and spider mites with a strong stream of water instead of chemicals; and using organic pest controls – offer the best control options. If you continually monitor the pest levels in your garden, you’ll be able to control a potential pest problem before it has a chance to cause serious damage.
Making allies of your garden pests’ natural enemies is another good pest-control tactic. Planting species that attract beneficial insects and natural pest predators is a great (and beautiful) technique in fighting garden pests and keeping pesky populations low. And remember that toads, frogs, bats and birds can eat a lot of insects, too! Attract these beneficial creatures to your garden by providing them food and shelter in your garden.
Controlling diseases is trickier. Viral plant diseases are incurable, and sick plants should be destroyed and thrown away – do not add them to the compost pile! Other plant diseases are caused by bacteria and fungi. Good cultural practices are important for controlling these diseases. Avoid overhead watering, which can contribute to the spread of pathogens. Remove infected plants or prune away infected foliage. In fall, remove debris around plants where organisms can overwinter. And always wash your hands and all tools used on an infected plant to avoid spreading the disease.
If damage due to insects or diseases becomes extensive, choose earth-friendly controls whenever possible, including insecticidal soaps, fungicidal soaps, horticultural oils and botanical pesticides derived from plants. These substances, though strong and effective, decompose quickly into harmless compounds. Even so, do use botanical pesticides sparingly and carefully. Though natural and organic, many are broad spectrum in nature. All pesticides may affect birds and wildlife and eliminate the beneficial insects that help keep pest populations in check naturally. So apply them directly to the pest organism or infected foliage only, avoiding broadcast spraying of the garden.
Applying insecticidal soap is a popular control option because it’s relatively harmless to most plants but is deadly to a variety of pests like mites and aphids. These soaps must contact the pest to be effective, and they become harmless when dry. For the best control, monitor your plants for pests and treat them when infestation is first noticed. Avoid indiscriminate spraying of unaffected foliage. To learn how to apply, follow the steps shown in the pictures and described in their captions.
If you must resort to using chemicals when fighting garden pests, choose one that’s targeted for your specific pest for use on your specific plant. Always read and follow all package instructions carefully and completely. And as with using any chemical, always wear protective clothing and eyewear, and properly dispose of empty containers when you’re finished.
By using sound gardening practices, you’ll be able to keep your garden in better balance so you won’t face pest and disease problems as often. And by keeping a close eye on your plantings, you’ll be able to tackle any issues that do arise before they get out of control – making your garden a more enjoyable place to be.
Apply Insecticidal Soap - Step 1
Properly identify the pest. If you’re not exactly sure what your invader is, seek help at your local Cooperative Extension Service. Take a picture of the pest and your plant, describe what it looks like and the damage it’s causing, or collect the insect in a sealed bag (along with part of the damaged plant) and ask for proper identification.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Apply Insecticidal Soap - Step 2
Choose a control that’s specific to your pest and safe for use on your particular plant. Before applying insecticidal soap, carefully read and follow all package instructions exactly when mixing and applying the control. (As with using any chemical, always wear protective clothing, gloves and eye protection.) Test the agent’s effect on a small section of foliage before you apply it to the entire plant to make sure the product doesn’t injure it.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Apply Insecticidal Soap - Step 3
Following label instructions, apply the soap solution directly to the insect pest. Move from the plant stem to the tip of the plant, and cover the top and undersides of leaves and stems where needed.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Apply Insecticidal Soap - Step 4
Carefully dispose of empty containers and unused solution according to package instructions. Rinse all tools, equipment and clothing thoroughly before storing.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
