Garden Pest Control.

Garden Pest Control.

Having a organic garden means that you want to encourage some insects, birds and animals in to your garden as these will do a wonderful job of keeping some of the real pests away from your prized vegetables.

But who wants hundreds of eggs that have been layed by moths on your greens, or watching hungry caterpillars munch their way through your best assets. It's a dilemma, a conundrum as what to do, but think for moment, there are many successful farmers who produce wonderful home grown organic vegetables, so how do they do it? I will try in this article to give you some tips to help you, but what you need to do is accept that organic gardening is a way of life.

This means your garden will become a home for a great many insects, but nature has a way of controlling them through frosts and winter so you will not be on your own in trying to maintain a balance. One method which is both beneficial to your garden aand educational at the same time is to try getting the children involved, by asking them to see how many caterpillars they can see or ask them to point out any snails or slugs.

Slugs can damage some of your crop so action needs to be taken to keep them at bay. Organic garden suppliers have produced an array of specialized collection tapes and jars for this process, so it's worth checking them out if you have a specific problem. They were by either stopping the slug reaching your crop or by enticing them into a recepticle where they can't escape.

Using mother nature.

Some plants have a smell, others have an odd odour, others have prickly leaves, all of these will help you combat and control pests taking over. Learn to diversify mixing other plants in with your vegetables.

Mix up a solution of garlic, soap, chillies and a little oil, water and detergent and blend into a liquid and try spraying with this, you will knock down an army so be-careful !! Do not over spray, you can not win only try to eliminate enough so there not a major problem. As I said previously bees, butterflies and ladybirds you want in plentiful supply so try not to kill them. Fish fertilizer is another favorite this seems to drive caterpillars crazy, this will also kill off most mites as well so use sparingly.

If ants are a problem sprinkle salt around the entrance holes, or spicy pepper that should do the trick and force them to move to another home. Plant rhubarb in with your vegetables, the leaves are semi-poisonous, try making some tea with the leaves, and spraying with it ( do not drink it) it will kill all aphids and white flies. This is best done during a calm evening when no rain is forecast.

Sow garlic in the middle of the vegetable patch, plant empty plant pots with a little newspaper in the bottom- this normally catches earwigs and other small creatures. many insects like ants and even cats do not like citric smells like orange and lemon, so crush up the skins into small pieces and sprinkle around your raised garden bed. This is very useful for scattering around the base of large leafed vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and greens. Caterpillars will run a mile from them.

Remember to constantly mulch around you plot, this will suppress weeds, keep in moisture, stop thriving mites from growing, annoy the pants of ants and make you garden look nice.

Broken egg shells have been known to keep snails and slugs at bay. Plant some beer or vinegar in an old plastic box and check it in the morning for slugs. There are numerous other ways to move or eradicate pests from your garden, your garden centre or local organic supplier will be only to pleased to try and help you out.

Some people give up, but don't without giving it 2-3 years of trying, it takes time an a little knowledge to get thing sorted, but once you have you will not look back. You are trying to live a more healthier life style, your kids will thank you and at least you will know what has gone into their food. The amount of butterflies and bees you entice intoyour garden is paramount. Try planting shrubs or bushes that encourage them to take up residence in your garden. Getting back in touch with nature has so many rewards, besides putting food on your table. An organic gardener understands this and although we would all like "perfect" food, the pleasure you will get of growing your own through organic methods will far out reach anything you can get from the supermarket.