Guide to Healthier Gardening

In 2001, the EPA removed the broad-spectrum pesticide, Dursban,(which contained Chlorpyrifos, which is related to nerve gas,) from the residential and professional market. In 2004, they phased out Diaznon from the residential market because they found it was more toxic to infants, children and women, than previously understood.

Wean your Garden off the Sauce (Pesticides)!

When you spray your garden with a broad-spectrum pesticide, you’re also killing off sensitive beneficial insects like bees and lady beetles. Once you eliminate the beneficial bugs, surviving pests take hold and freely multiply. Also, historically most pests build up a resistance to the pesticides that used to kill them, so new pesticides have to be created, further contaminating the soil, water and air.

Integrated Pest Management Works

Instead, Master Gardeners and many organic gardening experts now recommend an approach called Intergrated Pest Management or IPM. IPM methods, which are based on extensive scientific research, focus on long-term prevention of pests and their damage through a combination of methods which include cultural (garden design), biological (attracting or purchasing beneficial bugs) and physical control (copper strips, sticky barriers etc.).

Which Plants will Invite the Good Bugs to Come for a Visit?

A garden filled with a diversity of plants will attract beneficial creatures, such as ladybugs, dragonflies, lacewings and miniwasps, all of which feed on pests. One lady bug can devour 5,000 aphids in its short lifetime! Most beneficial bugs perform their best control services and are most useful during their immature stage. However, once they reach the adult stage, these beneficial bugs feed on nectar and pollen. So, you want to have plants in your garden that are rich in pollen and nectar. These are referred to as ‘insectary plants.’ Some “insectary” plants are:Aster, Calendula, California poppy, Lilac, Cosmos, Dill, Rosemary, Rudbekia, Sunflower, Yarrow and Zinnia.

Alway Choose the Right Plant for the Planting Location

Another way to prevent pests is to choose the proper and compatible location for each plant you choose. More experienced gardeners have learned the hard way by repeated failure! Now they select a plant they’ve researched and know will thrive within the sunny or shady section of their yard or in their specific climate zone. Once planted, use a mulch of leaves, bark or compost to provide organic matter and bring nutrients to plants at a slow, steady flow. Mulch also conserves moisture so your plants don’t dry out. A two to four-inch layer of mulch will deter most annual weeds from growing and the ones that do sprout can be pulled out more easily.