Those Pesky Pests
Posted by Erica Althans-Schmidt
Yet another blooming season is upon us, the trees are budding, life is bursting forth all around us, the birds are heralding a new season…and your garden pests are hatching anew. But before you reach for those pesticides, let us not forget that we just past Earth Day on our walk through this calendar year. There are many alternative options to explore that not only protect Mother Earth but your family too.
As the popular saying goes, the best line of defense is a good offense. Meaning, in gardening terms, that we need to make our gardens more trouble than they are worth. We can do this in a variety of ways, by planning our gardens carefully, attracting the predators of our pests, and maintaining the health of our plants.
When planning your garden, especially your vegetable garden, try to steer away from monocultures. Vast plantings of one type of vegetable may be more convenient for you but it will also be easier to find and feast upon for pests. They will see your rows of tomatoes and exclaim, “Wow! One stop shopping!” By scatter planting your gardens, you will make each plant harder to find by camouflaging its delicious aroma. While experimenting with your planting, intermingle a few plants that repel pests (see inset).
- Members of the onion family (example, onions and garlic) are loathed by pests. Garlic, especially, repels Japanese beetles, vegetable weevils and spider mites.
- Hyssop, wormwood, thyme and sage all repel cabbage moth.
- Rue and white-flowered geraniums are found repugnant by Japanese beetles.
- Sage is avoided by carrot flies and cabbage moths.
- Borage or Basil wards off tomato hornworm.
- French marigolds are all around winners repelling nematodes, whitefly, tomato hornworms, bean beetles, cucumber beetles, and asparagus beetles.
- Nasturtium is hated by squash bugs and whiteflies.
Now that you have both confused and deterred your garden’s pests. It’s time to step it up a notch. Since we won’t be using any pesticides to destroy those friendly 4, 6 and 8-legged critters, we can, with a free conscience invite them to stay by planting and planning places for them to rest and stay. Ladybugs, renowned for their aphid chomping abilities (and for their lovely spots!), can be attracted to your garden by planting some shade and refuge. They especially like to hang out in the folds of goldenrod, yarrow and morning glory. Toads can eat up to 15,000 bugs a year and they’ll stay if you provide them with a little toad-house - something as simple as a board or a stone propped at an angle in an infrequently traveled region of your garden. Attract birds, some of the most valuable predators, by placing bird houses and by planting densely branched shrubs in your garden or nearby for them to rest and recuperate in while feasting on your pests.
Maintaining the health of your garden is a cornerstone in pest prevention. Like you, plants are susceptible when stressed and thus need good nutrition, ample water, and because they can’t pick up and move, to be planted where their sunlight (and elevation) needs are met. Planting shade plants in the sun, high-elevation plants on the plains or not providing appropriate care can be stressful and probably lead to pest infestations.
Last, but not least, be sure to weed! Weeds, while looking out-of-place in any garden, can also harbor pests and compete with your favorite flowers.
Yet another blooming season is upon us, the trees are budding, life is bursting forth all around us, the birds are heralding a new season…and your garden pests are hatching anew. But before you reach for those pesticides, let us not forget that we just past Earth Day on our walk through this calendar year. There are many alternative options to explore that not only protect Mother Earth but your family too.
As the popular saying goes, the best line of defense is a good offense. Meaning, in gardening terms, that we need to make our gardens more trouble than they are worth. We can do this in a variety of ways, by planning our gardens carefully, attracting the predators of our pests, and maintaining the health of our plants.
When planning your garden, especially your vegetable garden, try to steer away from monocultures. Vast plantings of one type of vegetable may be more convenient for you but it will also be easier to find and feast upon for pests. They will see your rows of tomatoes and exclaim, “Wow! One stop shopping!” By scatter planting your gardens, you will make each plant harder to find by camouflaging its delicious aroma. While experimenting with your planting, intermingle a few plants that repel pests (see inset).
- Members of the onion family (example, onions and garlic) are loathed by pests. Garlic, especially, repels Japanese beetles, vegetable weevils and spider mites.
- Hyssop, wormwood, thyme and sage all repel cabbage moth.
- Rue and white-flowered geraniums are found repugnant by Japanese beetles.
- Sage is avoided by carrot flies and cabbage moths.
- Borage or Basil wards off tomato hornworm.
- French marigolds are all around winners repelling nematodes, whitefly, tomato hornworms, bean beetles, cucumber beetles, and asparagus beetles.
- Nasturtium is hated by squash bugs and whiteflies.
Now that you have both confused and deterred your garden’s pests. It’s time to step it up a notch. Since we won’t be using any pesticides to destroy those friendly 4, 6 and 8-legged critters, we can, with a free conscience invite them to stay by planting and planning places for them to rest and stay. Ladybugs, renowned for their aphid chomping abilities (and for their lovely spots!), can be attracted to your garden by planting some shade and refuge. They especially like to hang out in the folds of goldenrod, yarrow and morning glory. Toads can eat up to 15,000 bugs a year and they’ll stay if you provide them with a little toad-house - something as simple as a board or a stone propped at an angle in an infrequently traveled region of your garden. Attract birds, some of the most valuable predators, by placing bird houses and by planting densely branched shrubs in your garden or nearby for them to rest and recuperate in while feasting on your pests.
Maintaining the health of your garden is a cornerstone in pest prevention. Like you, plants are susceptible when stressed and thus need good nutrition, ample water, and because they can’t pick up and move, to be planted where their sunlight (and elevation) needs are met. Planting shade plants in the sun, high-elevation plants on the plains or not providing appropriate care can be stressful and probably lead to pest infestations.
Last, but not least, be sure to weed! Weeds, while looking out-of-place in any garden, can also harbor pests and compete with your favorite flowers.
A Sensual Delight for Green Thumbs Everywhere!