Flower Gardens
garden pests
- Cottage_Garden
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» Cottage_Garden - home remedy pest repellents
In response to home remedy pest repelents posted by zspirit:
According to modern IPM or Integrated Pest Management practices, you would wait until you see a problem. Then you identify the problem and figure out if it actually needs to be controlled and then decide on the least toxic way of dealing with it.
You may be pleasantly surprised with how FEW problems your garden has. (Not all bugs are bad.) And, many pests can be tolerated at low levels as long as the plant damage is not significant.
Mechanical means are the least toxic. For example, aphids can be knocked off the plants with a spray of water from the garden hose. Usually, they don't find their way back. Lady bugs will control aphids for you if the aphid population is high enough.
Caterpillars and egg masses and larger pests can be hand picked -- and by golly you have four little helpers!!!!
Certain pests can be excluded by covering the plants with a summer weight garden row cover fabric.
Your local county extension should be able to give you a heads up on which pests tend to be more prevalent in your local area. They can help you identify any that you might find, too. Or you can certainly ask here, I can give it a try.
Your best defense against pests is to grow healthy plants. Prepare the soil with organic matter, plant varieties suited to your local conditions, keep them adequately watered, keep them weeded, use compost and organic mulch to help feed the soil.
Enjoy your new garden!
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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