Organic Pest Control for Your Garden

Organic isn't just a buzzword for trendy urbanites - it can be an important way to maintain a healthy environment in your garden while keeping your body free of toxins from pesticides. But if you're not using pesticides in your garden, how do you keep away the pests? Let's look at some things you need to know in order to keep the bad critters away from your crops.

First off, you want to be aware of which bugs are harmful to your plants. Some common problem-insects the aphid, the Japanese beetle, the squash beetle, the grasshopper, the cabbage worm, the earwig, the mealybug, the birch leaf miner, the gypsy moth, and the spider mite. Look these up so you can know what you're up against. The damages they do include eating your plants, laying eggs that produce more bugs who do the same, and create a generally bad environment for your garden.

Notice that we didn't take the time to list all bugs ever. That's because not all bugs are bad for your garden. The lady beetle, lacewing, praying mantis, ground beetle, spider, rove beetle, hover fly, dragonfly, predatory mite, and parasitic wasp all have a beneficial effect on your garden. When you use pesticides, you kill these guys as well as the bad ones. Alternatively, keep these guys around! They eat the harmful bugs, use your garden as a home, and don't damage it.

Okay, so we want the good bugs, but how do we get them? You have two options: order them from a store or attract them with insectary plants. If you choose the first option, that's fine, but insectary plants also provide an incentive for the beneficial bugs to stay.

So let's grow these insectary plants! Which ones are they and how many should we grow? Examples of insectary plants are cornflower, alyssum, fennel, borage, anise, marigolds, sunflowers, cup plants, golden marguerite, zinnias, and cosmos. These plants provide nectar that the good insects love to eat, thus keeping them around to help out your bug problem. You should grow about 5-10% of your garden with these plants. Also, opting for annual insectary plants ensures that the good bugs stay around for the next growing season.

Another way to keep away pests is to install row covers. Not only do these provide protection from insects, they also shelter your plants from the elements, while allowing air, water, and light to pass through.

Your last option is to use diatomaceous earth (D.E.) on your plants. D.E. is an organic certified powder made of fossilized algae. It feels soft to the touch, but for bugs it is razor sharp and can cause dehydration and death. Apply to leaves while wearing a dust mask and reapply after any rain.

There's the down low on how to keep your plants organic while making the bad bugs stay away. Good luck gardening this season! Check out the infographic for more information.