Green Pest Control for the Garden
A garden is a wonderful addition to any home that can provide a touch of beauty along with a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, keeping a garden free of pests can be a challenge once planting season is in full swing. With a small, home garden, it doesn’t always make sense to hire a pest control company to treat it; instead, some do-it-yourself, green pest prevention techniques fit the bill. Whether a person has a flower bed or a complete working food garden, the following tips will offer a natural way to control pests while protecting the environment.
Creative Garden Planning
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, many pests can be controlled in the garden by using some creative planning. This can be done by placing plants that a pest finds undesirable around their favorite food. For example, basil can be planted near tomato plants to repel mosquitoes, flies and aphids. Additionally, rotating the crops can prevent pests that survive the winter from returning to a specific plant.
Try Red Pepper Spray
According to National Geographic, red peppers are a reliable way to rid a garden of pests. This method works especially well on many New England garden pests that include aphids, cabbage maggots and cutworms. To make red pepper spray at home, all a person needs to do is combine one-half cup of chopped red peppers with two cups of water before blending. After straining the liquid, it can be placed in a spray bottle and applied to any plants in need of attention. Red pepper is also effective for deterring non-insect pests such as rodents and rabbits.
Manual Methods
In addition to planning your garden wisely and using natural pesticides, it may be necessary to manually remove certain pests. For example, avid gardeners often find that handpicking horn-worms off their plants is the best defense. When tending the garden, it is also helpful to add row covers and other protective devices that are designed to keep pests away. Using a strong garden spray hose on hardy plants can also help to wash pests away. Finding the right natural pest control method will depend upon the types of plants that a person has in their garden. However, it is also important to note that gardening requires a vigilant eye when it comes to pest control. By experimenting with plant placement, natural pest deterrents and manually removing pests, a person can keep their garden healthy throughout the planting season.