Pest Control in Organic Gardening? No need to worry

If you see a bug, it’s not the end of the world, or in this case your garden. A bug doesn’t mean you have a problem. A pest in organic gardening is only normal. But there are times that one bug becomes a pair, and then more bugs join in forming a small group, and then eventually the population of the insects will grow beyond your control. At this point, be calm, carefully observe the insects, look at the damage they cause, and then properly consider your course of action.

Among the most common pests that will bug your garden are ants, aphids, armyworms, cabbageworms, grasshoppers, slugs and snails, pillbugs, spider mites, whitefly, thrips, and all sorts of beetles.

Controlling your pests the organic way has a number of benefits. First, the use of chemical pesticides can cause a number of diseases and other health problems. Aside from that, chemical based pesticides can damage the water, soil, air, and other animals as well.

Pesticides can be quite costly. There are cheaper alternatives which you can easily get from your kitchen.

You can manage your organic garden by paying particular attention to your plants. Try to understand how specific insects affect different plants. The asparagus beetle for instance can be quite damaging to your cultivated asparagus vegetables so you need to watch out for those earlier on.

Also, a tip that most organic farmers give is to plant native varieties as much as possible. Native plant species usually have their own systems to repel common pests. By planting local varieties, you will have a bigger success rate when harvest time comes to an end.

It is a good thing to mix plants species among other varieties. Each plant has their own unique abilities to protect themselves from the onslaught of pests. By placing them in the same area, they will be able to help each other when pests start invading their town.

A healthy soil is important as well. It has been determined that healthy soils attract fewer pests. You can achieve and maintain a healthy soil by crop rotation, adding composts or other animal or plant based fertilizers like manure.



You can also time your planting season to avoid the weeks or months where bugs are at their peak.

Be aware that there are friendly bugs that will help control other pests. Ladybugs and ground beetles are some insects that are very helpful. If you use chemical fertilizers, the good bugs will also get caught in the crossfire.

Again, a pest in organic gardening is a natural phenomenon that cannot be totally avoided. You will eventually come across pests and therefore should be prepared to address the situation. Be prepared to do the dirty jobs as well. If you see one bug, just pick it off your plant. Its crude, but it still remains an effective means to eliminate pests in your garden.