One of the biggest challenges for vegetable gardeners is pest
control. Anyone who has tried to keep a determined deer from eating the
sweet corn knows how difficult it can be to deter animals, including
insects, birds, rabbits and other wildlife from what, for them is a
natural smorgasbord. From their perspective, there sit these wonderful
veggies, all neat and weeded, almost as if you placed the plants there
just for them. And so animals that we might otherwise enjoy can become
a nuisance when it comes to the garden.
While avoiding wildlife is nearly impossible, chemical pesticides are
often an effective means of deterring unwanted insects. However, many
gardeners are uncomfortable using these harsh chemicals that can leak
into water supplies and harm the environment. They also have concerns
about using chemicals in the foods they feed their families. Here are
some ideas for more organic pest control.
Crop Rotation
Practicing crop rotation every year in your vegetable garden and using
companion plants will improve your soil and keep the pests under
control. Most insects need time to become established in the soil. They
may take two to three seasons to get their life cycle established. By
practicing vegetable rotation and varying the type of plants grown in a
particular area from year to year, you can avoid establishing plant
specific types of garden pests.
Companion Planting
Certain varieties of garden plants are less attractive to pests. To
deter rabbits, plant green onions amongst the lettuce plants. Plant
several radish seeds in each hill of cucumber seeds to protect against
the cucumber beetle. And when planted near each other, cucumbers will
prevent raccoons from eating all the sweet corn, while the corn will
reciprocate by preventing cucumber wilt.
Tomatoes like to be near chives, parsley, marigolds, garlic bulbs,
nasturtiums, gooseberries, asparagus, and carrots. Tomatoes have a
natural defense for pest control against the asparagus beetle and are
also effective in keeping insects away from gooseberries. Carrots on
the other hand are nearly every garden pests friend. To control the
carrot fly pest, plant onions, rosemary, or leeks nearby. Potatoes like
to be planted near corn, horseradish, broccoli, cabbage and peas. Avoid
planting by tomatoes, melon, and cucumbers.
Some vegetable gardeners plant pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers among
the corn. The heavy growth and scratching of the vines and leaves helps
keep rabbits, raccoons and other hungry critters at bay.
Tricks of the Trade
In addition to the planting methods described above, there are a number
of non-pesticide options for organic pest control. Human or dog hair
spread around the garden and hung from tree limbs acts as a good pest
repellent, as do bars of soap hung from shepherds hooks or laid right
in the soil. Deer do not like the smell of rotting eggs, so a mixture
of 9 eggs with 2.5 gallons of water sprayed on ½ acre of
crop
will deter deer from entering the area, but the solution is diluted
enough to avoid annoying humans.
Deer tend to be nervous and wary animals and can be scared off by
annoying wind activated garden fixtures, plastic foil tape, scarecrows
and whirligigs. Those that make noise, such squeaking, fluttering, or
tinkling, work best. You may have to move these items around and rotate
selection to keep the deer from getting use to them. Dogs are also a
good source to keep watch over the garden and help scare off unwanted
wildlife diners.
Tall fences (9 to 10 feet high) planted firmly in the ground are the
best way to keep deer out of the vegetable garden. An inexpensive
chicken-wire fence at least 24 inches high is often enough to keep
those pesky rabbits out of your garden. Or a solution of cayenne pepper
spray on the plants after a rain will sometimes deter rabbits from
nibbling. Dried blood meal, which rabbits do not favor, can be
sprinkled around when planting. The flavor will absorb though the root
system of the vegetables, making them less appetizing. As an ongoing
garden pest control, blood meal can be added to the soil every two
weeks.
Live traps can be used for smaller rodents and rabbits. Bait the traps
with a small amount of peanut butter, check them regularly, and
transport any captured animals to another location immediately. Wear
plastic gloves when handling live traps to prevent exposure to diseases
carried by rodents and their parasites. Sticky insect traps and lures
are another good pest control. Paint a thick piece of cardboard a
bright color to attract the pest, and coat with a sticky substance such
as Stick-em or Tanglefoot.
Electronic Pest Control
There are several electronic pest control devices available on the
market as well, including electric fences, motion detecting water
sprayers, and ultrasonic noisemakers that humans cant hear, but that
garden pests find annoying. There are some units on the market that
allow you to adjust the unit to the pest you are trying to drive away,
without bothering the other critters you would like to have around.
Electric fencing can be installed around the perimeter of the yard.
Some of these products claim to be strong enough to deter deer from
entering the garden, but weak enough that they do not hurt family pets.
Moles feed on earthworms and grubs, not plants, which can make them a
benefit to gardens, but as part of their natural activity, moles tunnel
through the soil, causing damage to delicate plant roots. Battery or
solar operated devices can be placed in the ground to help deter moles
from burrowing in your garden. Place a few around the garden to prevent
these pests from making paths in a new area.
Beneficial Bugs
Insects that prey upon garden pests are called beneficial insects. In
nature these insects keep the garden pests under control. Encourage
beneficial bugs by avoiding the use of commercial pesticides as these
are usually non-discriminatory and will kill good and bad bugs alike. A
small number of pests in the garden will encourage those beneficial
bugs to stick around and multiply, making your work easier.
Ladybugs are natural enemies of aphids. Green lacewing in larvae stage
feeds on thrips, mites, aphids, and various other insect eggs.
Trichogramma wasps are effective against corn earworm, tomato hornworm,
and loopers. The tiny wasps are also a parasite to many kinds of
caterpillars.
Sprays and Soaps
There are many organic pest control sprays you can make at home, as
well as purchasing less harmful insecticidal soaps. Many of the
homemade sprays include ingredients such as garlic, onion, or cayenne
pepper. A word of caution when using sprays intended to go directly on
the plants. Never apply sprays in the heat of the afternoon sun. The
water can heat up very quickly and cause brown spots to appear on the
leaves.
Most gardeners have a connection with the earth and enjoy the wildlife
and insects nature has provided…just not in the garden! For
those who prefer to practice organic pest control, there are many
options. They may not work as well as pesticides in some cases, but
they are a lot less harmful and can even add fun and beauty to your
garden.
Karen Gross is a professional gardener and design consultant. She provides valuable tips and advice about seed companies, container gardening and other vegetable gardening topics.
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