Maintaining a garden is a demanding task. However, once you get into the field, you realize that the reward is much more significant. One is always more motivated when she/he can see the results of their labor, and there are only a few fields where such results can be seen in such a short time. Gardening, if done properly, tends to produce a harvest in approximately 4-5 months.
The reason why I got into gardening in the first place was that I had gained a lot of weight, and I wanted to start eating healthy. While I did try the easier options, in the beginning, it was quite costly, and I found out that it’s hard to keep up. I would end up buying McDonald’s just because it costs way less than a good steak or a fresh bowl of fruit salad. Gardening changed my life, but there were a few pest problems along the way. If you have an indoor pest problem, click here to check out the best mosquito traps.
7 STEPS TO PREVENTING GARDEN PESTS
Here mentioned below are seven steps to prevent your garden from pests.
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Keep Your Soil Healthy
The first rule of gardening is to keep your soil healthy; you can’t expect plants to flourish in a soil that doesn’t have the right nutrients. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants. If the soil is rich in nutrients, it gives the microbes a healthy environment to grow in. This leads to a healthy and active immune system. Not only does it result in pest-resistant plants, but it also fights off other diseases.
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Neem Oil and Red Chili Flakes
This is an ancient remedy to keep pests away from plants. All you have to do is take neem oil and add red chili flakes in it. Bring the solution to boil, let it cool down, dilute it with water and spray it in your garden. The neem oil will be beneficial for the plants, and the smell will force the pests to stay away. Most of the pests are attracted to the smell of a healthy and ripe garden, once they start smelling a pungent smell, they won’t be interested.
Though this is an untraditional way to fight pests, I guarantee that it will surely work.
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Pets
Pets are another way to get rid of pests. Cats and ducks are ideal pets if you have a big backyard. They act as deterring agents. Once the pests find out that your garden is dangerous territory, you are going to be free of the pest problem.
Make sure you are ready to take care of the pet if you go for this option. It should be loved and cared for properly.
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Use the Food Chain to Your Benefit
You should also use nature to your benefit. There is always prey and a predator, so if your plants are prey for the insects, there is undoubtedly a predator that would scare the insects away. All you have to do is take out your phone and start researching.
There are beneficial insects such as ladybugs, praying mantis and ground beetles, which can be dangerous to the pests in your garden, try to grow certain plants in the garden that will attract these insects so that they can feed on the pests.
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Companion Planting
While you can make your own pest repellent or buy it at the supermarket, Mother Nature has got you covered, not only will it keep the pests away, it will surely keep the plants healthy. For example, if you plant garlic or basil in-between plants, they will act as pest repellents.
Companion planting is a rather new, but effective way to get rid of pests without spending too much money. All you have to do is grow plants that complement each other and can benefit from one another.
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Rotate Your Crops
Another way to get rid of pests is to rotate your crops every season. Alternate flowering plants with vegetables so that the pests can be tricked into leaving the garden. Pests tend to develop a taste for certain types of plants, and if their food source is eliminated, they will be eradicated.
Rotating crops will also help with plant health and soil preservation. If the same crop is planted in the same area for a long time, the natural equilibrium of the soil is disturbed. Microbes need time to nourish and regain their natural capability to fight for the plants. If they are in constant use, they will be depleted and result in a barren land. You should consult a soil specialist that can assess the level of nutrients present in the soil and provide you with an alternative planting chart to keep the soil healthy.
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Pesticides
While this is a viable way to get rid of pests, it should not be your first option. Make sure that you have tried every natural remedy before you use a pesticide. While there are some eco-friendly brands on the market, their chemical content can ruin the purpose of 100% organic eating. Call it paranoia, but I tend not to trust big corporations that sell organic pesticides.
If you want to maintain an organic farm, you should be ready for some losses. The soil has a natural balance that takes time to get used to the planted crop and then defend it against pests. If you introduce the field to a pesticide before the system has come into action, there is a risk that you might be weakening the plant’s natural defense system.
RELATED ARTICLE: Organic Gardening: 5 Easy-to-Make Natural Sprays
The above-mentioned steps worked wonders for me. Not only did I lose a lot of weight, but I also saw a change in my personality. If you follow the tips that I have mentioned above, you will never have to face a pest problem again.
I lost a lot of weight and started gaining muscle due to gardening. I saw a significant difference in my stamina and in my psychological health. While eating healthy is treated as a privilege, I think it should become a lifestyle. If you think I’ve missed out on any noteworthy pest control ways, feel free to mention in the comments below.
About the Author:
Cora James is a blogger who loves to write about home improvement as well as its maintenance. She is an extrovert, believes in creativity and loves to re-model almost everything! You can read more of her posts on garden pests at https://www.pestwiki.com/category/blog/.
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificates in Natural Health and Herbology from accredited programs. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
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