Dealing With Pests the Organic Way
Written for beginners, here are some of my top tips for dealing with pests:
Having a healthy organic garden is as much about the wildlife as it is about the plants. In order for one to not get to downtrodden about pests, it is important to realise the importance of all creatures in your little ecosystem. As well sometimes being a nuisance, all organisms play a vital part in the overall health of the environment. The best tool we have against problematic pests is observation. Spending time in the garden and spotting the problem before it gets out of hand will keep you ahead of the game. Learning what pests will be an issue at what time of year will also give you the knowledge to know what to look for, when. Pest problems can also be very localised. The blackfly that is troubling your beans may not be a problem for your friend down the road. Over time, you will acquire a good knowledge of what to look out for and the armoury methods to prevent invasion.
Companion planting is growing crops in proximity of others to increase diversity, aid pollination and to help with pest control by providing alternative habitat for predatory insects. Some companion plants are grown as a sacrificial crop. Nasturtiums are irresistible to aphid and caterpillars, so by growing them in conjunction with your veg, the pests will be attracted by the companion plant and should leave your precious crops well alone. It’s worth doing some research into different companion plants and how they can help you.
Direct sowing seeds straight into your organic garden comes with risk. Young seedlings poking through the soil are far more likely to become lunch for a slug than a strong plant approaching maturity. Propagating your own plants and planting out once the young risky stage has passed will give them a much better chance of survival. Strong healthy plants have a much better ability to recover from the odd nibble or inclement weather and will perform much better than plants that have been through the wars.
Creating unique environments in your garden, such as a pond, can provide habitat for beneficial wildlife. Frogs and toads are brilliant slug catchers and can really help with infestations. Introducing predatory insects such as ladybirds, nematodes and parasitic wasps can help with specific problems too. These can be purchased online and can be very effective in some situations.
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There is a seemingly endless list of pests that can thwart your quest for produce perfection, so here are a few of the most common, and ways to manage them.
Aphid
Don’t overuse nitrogen rich liquid feed, as it can encourage soft fleshy growth which is very attractive to aphid. Encourage natural predators by growing companion plants and leave a wilder area of your garden to encourage ladybirds and lacewings which will predate aphid. Inspect plants regularly, rub off infestations and wash plants in a soft soap and water solution. A strong jet of water can also dislodge them too.
Caterpillars
Removing egg clusters from the underside of leaves before they hatch is the most efficient way of preventing infestation. Companion planting with Nasturtium and Calendula can lure the butterflies away from your crops. Netting can prevent butterflies from landing but make sure the net is suspended away from the plants.
Mammals
Rabbits are one of the most devastating of all garden pests, particularly affecting rural areas. Rabbit fencing is essential to prevent clear felling of your young seedlings. Growing in raised beds can prevent rabbits from having a munch too.
Birds
Songbirds take a particular liking to soft fruit. Growing fruit in a cage is the most surefire way to stop them. Pigeons can be a nuisance as well. Netting your crops can prevent them from nibbling the kale.
Slugs and snails
Keeping the garden tidy can dramatically reduce habitat for slugs and snails. It’s advisable to pick up piles of weeds and keep edges tidy. In my experience physical barriers are usually ineffective but beer traps can work. When you dig over a bed make sure you knock out the clods and rake over to prevent slugs from crawling in and laying eggs. If all else fails, you can use organically approved slug pellets sparingly. And sometimes, simply picking them off works wonders.
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Diversity plays the most vital role in organic pest control. A garden teeming with life will provide a natural balance. Using chemical control upsets the delicate nature of your microclimate and will cost you money too! Sometimes it seems like the easiest option to spray a of pesticide or weed killer around, but its not only the troublesome beasties you are destroying, it’s all the good stuff too.
This post was written as a blog for Organic UK.