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Controlling pests in the garden

Most beginning gardeners have lot of questions about controlling pests in garden – and very little tolerance of most insects.

But more experienced gardeners know that it's impossible – and not at all desirable – to have an insect-free garden.

Unfortunately, the most troublesome pests have given all insects a bad rap, but experts say that only a small percentage are truly bad news.

Insects in the garden - the good and the bad

Most insects do little harm to plants and are essential as pollinators, consumers of pests and decomposing plant material, and vital as food for fish, birds and other wildlife.

Fortunately for flower gardeners, most pests leave healthy plants alone and tend to zoom in on stressed plants.

Poor gardening practices – for example, choosing plants not suited to your soil or garden conditions – can lead to stressed plants, which can lead to pest invasions.

Controlling pests organically

With evidence of increased pest resistance to chemicals, worries about environmental problems and growing public opposition to pesticide use, there's more incentive than ever to care for our own gardens more naturally.

To control pests, always choose the least toxic product

When you need to spray, choose from the less toxic organic pest-control products now available. Most of them break down quickly and leave no residual toxic effects.

More tips:

Follow package directions, and spot-treat only the problem area to avoid killing beneficial insects. In most cases, the product has to actually hit the insects to be effective.

Use dormant oil sprays in early spring to smother over-wintering pests on woody plants. Be sure to read instructions, as some plants should not be sprayed with dormant oil. A newer dormant oil product that won't burn plants is Oil-Away Supreme Insecticidal Oil.

Insecticidal soap destroys soft-bodied pests such as aphids, mites and whiteflies. To work, the spray must hit the insects. For bad infestations, spray every three days over a two-week period. Some plants are injured by insecticidal soap, so check label before using.

Pyrethrin dusts or sprays, derived from flowers of pyrethrum daisies, attack insects' central nervous systems, and break down quickly in air, light and heat. They are effective against many flying, chewing and sucking insect pests, but toxic to fish, so avoid using near ponds or streams. A new product that promises to be very effective is Pyola® Insect Spray, which combines pyrethrin with canola oil.

Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacterium, disrupts digestion in caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. Know the pest before buying this product – different strains of the bacterium are used for specific insects. Stop caterpillar damage with Green Step Caterpillar Control. One form Bt (Bti) is very effective for controlling mosquitoes in their larvae stage, preventing the adults from hatching: No-Squito! Mosquito Bioinsecticide.

Related information:

How to control mosquitoes in the garden

How to deal with a gypsy moth infestation

How to control Japanese beetles

How to control slugs on hostas

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