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Organic pest control
is a topic of hot debate among organic gardeners.
The biological pest controls that are available are
supported by some (particularly larger growers) as
a way of growing organic food for a price that puts
this healthy option within the reach of a larger number
of people.
Others are against any method of killing bugs, rodents
or other pest. Some organic gardeners prefer not to
kill for religious or moral reasons. Others think
it is simply unnecessary and unsound ecologically
to interfere with the natural food chain in this way.
Generally, in a small garden, it is not necessary
to use biological pesticides unless you are tormented
by invasions of a particular pest. Even then, if this
occurs on a regular basis you may decide to change
the crops in your vegetable plot rather than using
pesticides.
In the past, of course, and even today in many developing
countries, it would be a disaster if a whole crop
was lost. Families or whole townships could starve.
However, for most of us choosing organic gardening
today, a swarm of bugs or even a disease such as potato
blight is an annoyance rather than a life-threatening
catastrophe. We do not have to protect our crops at
all cost. We have the luxury of limiting ourselves
to methods of control that are friendly to the environment
and the ecosystem, both in our own garden and beyond
it.
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Most pests can often be controlled by encouraging their predators
to inhabit your garden. If you have space for a pond, introduce
frogs to your garden. They love to eat slugs.
Setting up a bird feeder and bird bath to attract more
birds can help keep down your pest population too. Try to
attract as many different bird species as possible, because
different birds feed on different pests. Some eat grown
flying insects, others eat grubs, and others will eat snails
and even slugs.
You can also encourage or even introduce 'friendly bugs'
in your garden. These are insects that feed on other insects
or their grubs or eggs. One example is the ladybug. This
is a great friend to gardeners because it preys on aphids
in particular, which can be very damaging to many popular
flowering plants. These and other 'friendly bugs' can be
sourced as grubs from many organic garden supply stores
and introduced into your garden.
As well as predators, you may find parasites that will
kill either grown insects or their grubs. You will want
to be careful of course not to upset the ecological balance
in your garden or introduce a creature that could spread
out of control and cause problems of its own. However, provided
you are only bringing in more of a species that is already
present in your neighborhood, you should be fine.
Slugs should be kept away from young plants with traps
or copper rings around your plants, covering the plants
with cloches or plastic, or by creating a 'slugbreak' such
as an area of gravel that will be uncomfortable for them
to cross. Similarly, protect strawberry beds and other berries
with nets, to keep the birds from getting them.
Rabbits can be kept out with wire fencing dug down into
the ground at an angle that will discourage them from burrowing
beneath it. Don't forget to take your fencing underground
below any gates.
There are many methods of organic pest
control that you will become skilled at as your garden
grows and blossoms.
Learn the secrets behind growing healthy organic food at
home and eliminate harmful chemicals from your diet by visiting
this My
Organic Food Garden website.
Further reading ...
Organic
Gardening Fertilizer
Organic
Garden Raised Bed
Organic
Garden Spring
Organic
Herb Gardening
Organic
Pest Control
Organic
Rose Gardening
Organic
Vegetable Garden Supplies
Indoor
Organic Gardening
Growing
Organic Tomatoes
Permaculture
Garden
Hydroponics
Gardening
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