Lawn and garden care in a way that will not have bugs destroy the plants is not easy, but it should be done in a way that will not harm other beneficial wildlife, and brands like Mama Bear Pest & Outdoor help you with that. Effective pest control measures can be taken through environmentally friendly methods, letting bees, butterflies, birds, and many other beneficial insects and birds into your garden. With this guide, you will discover more about these nature-friendly pest repellents that will help you keep pests away from your green space.
-
Select the Natural Methods of Pest Control
The first thing to consider while developing an environment-friendly garden is natural pest control. Guard microbes might work, but they kill off good insects and other creatures as well. Here are some natural alternatives:
- Neem Oil: Neem oil is a non-toxic insecticide that can safely be used as a pesticide against many pests while protecting beneficial insects if used correctly.
- Diatomaceous Earth: Natural powder obtained from crushed fossilized algae that protects from pests like slugs, ants, and beetles without any harm to birds and bees.
- Soap Sprays: For soft-bodied insects like aphids, water with a biodegradable dishwashing soap mixture can be used for control without affecting the wildlife.
-
Encourage Natural Predators
An organic garden is a very good garden when there is a balance of predator and prey is achieved. It’s also important to let natural enemies such as birds, ladybugs, and spiders take control of the pests.
- Attract Birds: Some birdhouses and birdbaths must be placed in the yard to attract insectivorous birds like bluebirds, wrens, and chickadees, among others. These birds will go a long way in eliminating the bugs such as caterpillars and beetles, which are destructive to crops.
- Ladybugs and Lacewings: Ladybugs feed on aphids, while lacewings feed on mites and other small insects which are pests. These effective insects can be bought from gardening stores or through the internet so that they can be released in the yard.
-
Plant Pest-Repelling Plants
Some plants are by nature insect repellent and it will be most beneficial if they are combined in your garden. Some of these can be integrated with your landscaping to help naturally control pests while maintaining the natural environment for animals.
- Marigolds: Marigolds for instance are known to help fend off aphids, mosquitoes, rabbits, and other such pests thus making them a great addition to every garden.
- Lavender: Lavender attracts bees and butterflies, but it repels mosquitoes and flies, so it can be used in two ways.
- Basil and Mint: These aromatic herbs can prevent flies, mosquitoes, and other minuses common in any garden from attacking the plants.
-
Use Physical Barriers
Physical control is another method of protecting plants from pests while at the same time avoiding the use of chemicals.
- Row Covers: Gardening fabric covers are lightweight and can shield your plants from pests such as caterpillars and beetles while permitting light and rain.
- Netting: Have the netting put around the fruit trees and bushes so that the birds and the squirrels cannot get to them. Select thin mesh netting that prevents capturing or harming other useful insects in the process.
- Mulch: Wood chips and straw or any other organic materials used as mulch reduce risks of pest invasion especially slugs while at the same time improving the general health of the soil for other desirable insects.
-
Practice Smart Gardening Techniques
There are numerous ways of minimizing the number of pests in your garden, one of which is to form a healthy ecosystem.
- Crop Rotation: The technique of annual plant relocation helps to avoid pest infestations due to confusion in plant location.
- Companion Planting: If you have sensitive plants that are more prone to pest attack, then you can intercrop them with pest-resistant plants to overawe them. For example, tomatoes can be planted near basil to reduce the chances of tomatoes contracting tomato diseases; onions planted near carrots will help chase away carrot flies.
- Proper Watering: Even though watering the plants is important, over-watering is dangerous since it attracts pests such as slugs and fungi. When you are watering your garden, it is advisable to water it in the morning so that the soil gets time to dry during the day and also to minimize the increase in the number of pests.
-
Compost Carefully
On the same note, composting is a good way of enriching the soil for plant growth, but it can, however, be an attraction to rodents and bugs if not well controlled.
- Compost Location: Make sure you place your compost bin especially away from your garden to avoid pests invading your plants.
- Turn Your Compost: It prevents constipation of food scraps in a compost pile, hence speeding up the rate of decomposition and at the same time, discouraging pests from invading the area.
- Use a Secure Bin: To minimize large pests such as raccoons and squirrels from accessing your compost bin, always ensure that it is closed by a tight-fitting lid.
-
Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Creating a garden that sustains wildlife is one of the best ways to conserve the environment in a way that would ensure that pests are controlled by their natural predators. If you want your garden to be green and healthy without having to use chemicals, then you should ensure that you encourage bees, butterflies, and beneficial birds.
- Pollinator-Friendly Plants: Plant flowers that bees and butterflies like to feed on such as sunflowers, daisies, and coneflowers among others.
- Water Sources: It seems counterintuitive, but it offers birds a rather shallow dish full of water or some other water source for any bees and other pollinators that might get hungry, so they are inclined to stick around and do their job.
- Native Plants: Growing native species into your garden is an effective way of supporting your local wildlife hence improving on the bio-diversity that can control pests.
-
Monitor and Identify Pests
As much as this is the case, there are several beneficial insects in your garden, and therefore, calling an exterminator does not make sense if you do not know what you are eradicating. Put some time into viewing your garden to identify pest incidences before they become worse.
- Regular Inspection: In going through the initial steps of diagnosing the health of your garden, you should check leaves for colored discoloration, often at the bottom of leaves, stems, and soil, for signs of pest Infestation. Hand-picking of acts such as beetles and caterpillars is an effective, non-toxic way of eliminating pests.
- Use Pest Traps Sparingly: Flypapers are yellow sticky traps that can capture flying insects preferred to be dangerous instead of benefiting the plant.
Final Verdict
Natural enemies of pests are needed in the garden, even if you try to keep off some of the pests in your yard and garden. Thinking more about natural ways of controlling pests, boosting the population of natural predators, and finally creating a wildlife-friendly garden can help you have a pest-free garden full of balance. Brands like Mama Bear Pest & Outdoor will help you do that. The following steps are helpful so that garden flowers and the necessary pollinators and fauna can be supported, yet harm not be caused to your garden.
By applying these techniques, you will grow a naturalistic garden whereby the demands of pest control will be met without compromising the latter’s integrity.
