If organic gardening if for you, then your main problem will be dealing with pests. Most organic gardeners claim that the health and strength of plants ward off any pests. Although creating healthy plants is quite important to organic pest control, it will not guarantee a pest-free zone. If you want to stick with organic gardening principles, then you need to ensure you have a plan in place for protecting your plants from getting ruined by the pests.
Common Pests in Yards
Various pests are common in the US. Depending on where you are living, you are likely to find these invaders.
- Slugs – These are quite common, and they can destroy your plants if you allow them
- Aphids – They are common, but it is easy to deal with them
- Squash bugs – These bugs are known to eat any form of squash in the winter and summer
- Japanese beetles – They love the moderate climate and cannot cope with extremes of temperature
- Grasshoppers – They love areas with a lot of rainfall
If you have any of these unwelcome pests in your garden, you need to deal with them accordingly. However, you need to ensure you doing so whilst maintaining the organic gardening principles. There are different tips that can help you.
Use Beneficial Insects
You need to understand that not each insect that gets into your garden is the best. Some insects such as damsel and ladybugs eat creatures that attack your plants. Attracting beneficial insects into the garden is an important form of pest control. You can also use some birds such as ducks and chickens to eat pests such as snails and slugs.
Choose Right Plants
It is a good idea to choose plants that are resistant to pests. For instance, if you want to grow squash, then you should consider royal acorn and butternut. Although these plants do not eradicate all pest problems, it is a good start. You can have fewer problems that may end up with healthier crops.
Use Barriers
One of the appropriate ways of protecting plants from the pests is to create a physical barrier. That is the same as protecting yourself from the mosquitoes by wearing only long clothing. It is advisable to try floating covers as they are excellent forms of protection. The good thing about covering is that it protects your plants, especially young ones as they grow.