An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pest control products

The best way to control pest problems in the garden is to prevent them! This may sound like closing the barn door after the horse runs away. But it’s not! This bit of wisdom is the root of most organic gardening methods used today. Because the best pest control products aren’t sprays, powders, pellets—or even organic pesticides. They’re planning, forethought, observation, improvisation and vigilance!

So, stop trying to control the plant pests, control the soil—before you plant! Over-doses of plant food actually make the plant succulent and more appealing to pests. Organic pest control depends on a healthy soil. Treat your soil with an organic diet of garden compost rather than using fast-food products made to feed only the plant. Feeding the soil causes stronger growth and better resistance to any pests or diseases that slip through.

You’re in control. "Just say no-- to slugs!"

Slugs are an organic gardens worst enemy. They can suck a plant dry. Anything sharp and gritty that they can’t slither over can protect your tender plants. Get them to drink beer and eat bran. It’s good for us (bran, that is) but it dehydrates them. Another essential pest control that you must practice, that also makes the soil more fertile-- crop rotation!

Barriers are a common sense way of controlling pest damage. Simply by covering your plants with a fine mesh will stop them being attacked by flying pests. If the pests are the creepy crawler kind, cut plastic soda bottles in half and put over the entire plant. Grease bands brushed around plant stalks, sticky coils hung from branches, beer can traps for moths. Finally, have good hygiene! After gardening, you don’t have to be reminded to wash your hands—but you’d better wash those tools too!

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