Organic Pest Control Rigors

It’s actually quite tongue-in-cheek that we speak of Organic Pest Control rigors. There seems little reason for Organic Pest Control to make your life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable.

Pest control in modern gardens has come to mean, for many people, chemical additives, sprays, or powders. Organic Pest Control, however, uses no chemicals.

Organic Pest Control practices stop the distribution of toxins, and provide more healthful, safe food. They are simple to use, and should be used in the following order.

1. Companion Plants

Companion plants are the first line of defense in Organic Pest Control. This is the least toxic method of Organic Pest Control, and should be started at the time of planting. Companion plants are plants that tend to keep organic pests out of the garden in the first place. Placing companion plants, which the pests hate, next to tastier vegetables will send out a “not welcome” message to many organic pests. Garlic, onions, and marigolds are too “stinky” for many pests. Plant them in a border around your organic garden, and pests will smell them instead of the vegetables they crave.

2. Insect Removal

The second line of defense in Organic Pest Control is the physical removal of pests. You will want to know which insects are organic pests - not all of them are. You want to remove only the ones that are. Visit your organic garden early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cool. With your fingers, remove any tomato hookworms, potato bugs, Japanese beetles, slugs, or other insect pests you see. (Use gloves if you are squeamish.)

Another way to physically remove bugs is to spray the plants with the hose and wash the bugs off. They will still be in the garden with this method, however, unless you manage to drown them.

3. Predator Insects

Organic Pest Control can also enlist the help of predator insects. Predator insects are those that eat other insects. Ladybugs, lacewings, and praying mantids are all garden-friendly insects that will destroy pests for you.

Lacewings are voracious carnivores. Their plan of Organic Pest Control is to devour almost any insect of suitable size, especially soft-bodied ones. They are fond of aphids and caterpillars. They also eat insect larvae and eggs.

Ladybugs are commonly known also as ladybirds. Scientists prefer to call them lady beetles. Ladybugs will assist in Organic Pest Control by eating aphids and scale insects.

A praying mantis will eat flies, butterflies, crickets, moths, spiders, and other insects. Large praying mantids will even eat small snakes and rodents in the garden.

Predator insects can be purchased at garden stores, or on the Internet, and released into your organic garden.

4. Organic Pesticides

If you have used the above three methods of Organic Pest Control and still have pests that will not leave, you will want to use organic pesticides. These pesticides are usually made from a plant derivative or minerals.

Since organic pesticides are toxic to insects, some gardeners choose not to use them, believing the toxin may affect their produce in some minute way. Check the toxicity of Organic Pest Control products by reading labels carefully. If there is no warning label, the substance is non-toxic. If the label says “Caution”, it is mildly toxic. “Warning” on the label means it is moderately toxic. “Danger” means the substance is very toxic, though organic. Organic Pest Control products rarely have a “Danger” label.