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We’re all in favor of sustainable landscapes. But often come out of favor of continuing that commitment when we see garden pests wreak havoc on our gorgeous blooms and curated vegetable gardens. Fear not: Organic pest control is your solution.
Organic pest control really does work, but it may require more than a single strategy or one-time spray application in a season. The extra effort is worth it, though, as you watch happy pollinators landing from bloom to bloom or when you watch your happy canine or feline companions safely nibbling away on tender lawn shoots.
Here are seven proven ways to control pests organically and without any toxic side effects.
There are so many benefits to using native plants in your landscape plan. The plants that thrive in our Bay Area climate are perfectly suited to our soil conditions and climate. In addition to being drought tolerant, they’ve also adapted to the majority of the pests we experience in this region.
The more you work to design a sustainable landscape specific to our geography and climate, the more naturally pest-resistant the landscape will be.
The healthier your plants are the more resistant they are to pests, fungus, and other diseases. The quality of your soil plays a large role in the health of your plants, shrubs, and trees. Visit your local nurseries and speak to them about soil sampling. They’ll provide you with instructions on how to take the samples. Dedicated landscape enthusiasts test their soil every year, or at least every other year, to ensure nutrient and pH levels are balanced.
Learning the type of soil you have and the amendments that are needed gives you the information you need to create healthy, micro-organism-rich soil that grows strong, vibrant, and healthy plants that can stand pest attacks without negative impact. Click Here to read the USDA’s page on the importance of soil health.
Follow plant instructions to the letter when it comes to watering, fertilizing, sun exposure needs, and pruning. If any of these are not being adhered to it can cause plants to weaken and that makes them more susceptible to pests.
If a seemingly healthy plant seems overrun by pests, pick it out of the ground and bury it deep in the compost pile or yard waste container to prevent the pests from spreading to other plants.
The fewer pests there are the fewer there will be because they can’t procreate. Larger pests such as slugs, snails, caterpillars/larva, and other insects such as Japanese beetles or squash bugs can be handpicked right from the leaves or blooms. Snails and slugs can be frozen in a container for a handful of hours and then thrown into the compost pile or in with the chicken feed. Bugs and beetles can be drowned in a container with soapy water and then tossed out somewhere far away from garden beds.
The more time you spend outside and in your garden, the more familiar you’ll become with the pests that do the most damage and need control. That knowledge allows you to learn from professionals, strategically repelling or fighting specific pests more efficiently.
There are plenty of trusted brands out there that manufacture earth-friendly and organic pest repellants. Always adhere to their instructions when it comes to dilution, application methods, and timing. Even the most “eco-friendly” options out there can devastate healthy insect and animal populations (or your plants!!!) when they aren’t used as directed.
There are also plenty of homemade or DIY pesticide/repellent solutions or tricks such as:
Most nurseries and garden supply stores sell containers that have natural pest predators inside. Once distributed into your yard, they’ll take up residence on plants, shrubs, and blooms as they happily chomp away on harmful pests.
Check out this list of 14 Beneficial Insects for Pest Control and then try to source them from local garden supply stores. The list includes pictures of the helpful critters, the pests they attack, and the plants that the beneficial insects prefer. This can help you design a more cooperative garden and landscape.
The top beneficial contenders are:
Knowing and recognizing beneficial garden insects is also essential to make sure you aren’t removing or killing the wrong “so-called pests.”
The Farmer’s Almanac has been a trusted guide for gardeners since it launched in 1818. They define companion planting as:
...the practice of growing different plants together. Certain combinations of plants make them more productive—often because some plants have complementary characteristics, such as their nutrient requirements, growth habits, or pest-repelling abilities.
It involves planting things that repel pests, like garlic or marigolds, with plants that serve as attractive hosts to beneficial insects (as stated above). Beyond pest control, companion planting methods offer other benefits such as:
There is a lot of folklore-based evidence online, but we prefer almanac.com’s companion planting guide because all of the companion planting recommendations are backed by scientific research.
Having a hard time getting ahead of harmful garden pests in your landscape? Contact Bay Area Landscapes and we’ll take a look. A professional consultation with a landscape professional is a great way to learn how to improve your garden design so it promotes natural systems for controlling garden pests organically.