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Pesticides carry the suffix “-cides” which
means “killer.” Natural pesticides are cheaper
and safer for your family and are usually “pest-specific.”
The subject of organic, or chemical-free, gardening
can be quite complex. Many articles and books have been
written on the subject. We encourage you to add to what
follows with your own research.
As is the case in nature, your garden is healthiest
when it has a diversity of things growing and living
in it. It is important, therefore, to distinguish between
those pests which are truly detrimental to your garden,
and those little creatures which are actually beneficial.
Lady bird beetles, fly larvae, lace-wing larvae (aphid
lions), praying mantis, dragon flies, predacious mites,
thrips, spiders, toads, garter snakes and birds are
all creatures you should be happy to have in your garden.
Natural Ways to Rid Pests
• Companion planting is the practice of placing
plants which pests dislike around those plants which
pests relish. For instance, aphides hate chives, so
chives are a great companion plant for roses.
• Hand Picking is time-consuming but unbeatable.
Use gloves and remove all visible offending pests.
• Put a cone of birdseed in your garden. Birds
are much more efficient than people at killing bugs.
Flickers, warblers, finches, jays, robins, grackles,
sparrows, cedar waxwings, starlings and many other birds
will consume thousands of insects every day.
• You can also plant flowers that attract birds:
pincherry, white flowering dogwood, honeysuckle, holly,
white pine, Russian olive, sunflowers, marigolds, or
ask your local nursery for other examples. The birds
will come for the berries and seeds, but they’ll
stay for the bugs.
Click
here for some environmentally friendly organic pesticide
recipes!
Greener
Environmentally Friendly Lawn Care Ideas
Organic Gardening Tips & Ideas
Natural
Safe Organic Pesticide Recipes
Environmentally
Friendly ways to deal with Weeds
Environmentally Friendly ways to deal with Outdoor Pests
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