What About Natural Pest Control

Many gardeners new to the organic gardening world get confused and frustrated with, pests control. They stress over naturally controlling and figuring out the best method to control garden pests and bugs. This does not apply only gardens growing vegetables but annuals, roses, trees, and everything in between. That is nature. Plants make a great home for bugs which like to feed on plant leaves and stems, and flowers.

Picking bugs off by hand is the most natural method and the most time consuming. If your garden is large, controlling pests will become a pest in itself. Fortunately, you do have some options at your disposal to handle the garden pests problem naturally.

The first step begins with weed control. In the nursery we have a saying. “No weeds for no seeds for no weeds.” To put it another way is to say, “If you do not have weeds you will have less foliage for bugs to be attracted too.” Leave plenty of space to access areas to pull weeds or use a hoe to get them out. Many vegetable gardeners do this by planting in wide rows. If you remove weeds when they are small the change of them seedlings and attracting bugs is greatly reduced.

Another natural pests control method is by planting certain herbs and flowers around in your garden. Some plants naturally repel a wide variety of garden pests to make control as simple as planting.

For example, planting chives around apple trees can help prevent scab. Planting chives around roses can help prevent black spot.

Elderberry is planted to get rid of garden moles. Sticking branches or leaves from Elderberry down into the mole holes forces then to find a new home. Try making a tea or spray from the leaves to help repel aphids, carrot root fly, peach tree borers, and cucumber beetles too.

Garlic is another wonderful, all natural repellent for members of the opposite sex and for your garden. The garlic flavor can be absorbed by other plants though, so do not plant garlic near vegetables you plan on eating unless you want a possible hint of garlic flavor in them.

Lemon Balm is another all natural herb which can work as an excellent repellent for a variety of things. Sprinkle lemon balm leaves throughout your garden to chase, repel or keep away a number of different bugs and pests. You can even rub the crushed leaves on your skin to prevent mosquitoes bites as you are working outside.

Organic pests control does not need to be upsetting or difficult, it just takes time to find out what works and it is much better than handling chemicals.