Controlling Garden Insect Pest the Natural Way
What I love about nature is that nature was design to take care of itself. Have you ever notice how beautiful plants are that grows in the wild or in an uncontrolled environment that is not touched by human hands
This photo shows a ladybug that is beneficial feeding on a host of mealy bugs that is the bad bugs.
this truly is nature working at its best. Nature offers a safe way in which these plants are maintained, by following what nature has taught us can also help us to maintain beautiful landscapes and gardens in a safe way.
In this article, we will be focusing on insect biological control that offers such great help for garden success.
Biological Control
Biological control is using beneficial or good bugs to eliminate bad bugs. The bad bugs feed on our gardens and landscape plants, but the good news is the good bugs feed on the bad bugs and help to maintain our plants by protecting them.
Many of them we can find in our garden areas such as the ladybugs, praying mantis, assassin bugs, and so on. But what if you decide to introduce more of these bugs in your garden area?
How do you get more of them and keep them there?
Releasing and keeping Beneficial’s in your gardens and landscapes
Beneficial insects can be purchased from your nursery, garden center or can be ordered through the mail. On receiving your package inspect first of all to make sure that there are the right insects you ordered.
Secondly, make sure that beneficial insects are alive and not dead or even sickly. If bugs are active on inspection that’s a good sign they are ready to go to work for you besides getting a free meal.
Setting your Beneficial insects free
The photo shows a beneficial insect attacking a bad bug
Follow directions on the package about how and when to release beneficial insects. For example, The best time to release beneficial insects is early in the morning or late in the evening
just when the sun is about to rise or set because the low light will help them not to be so active as to fly away but cause them to settle in their new home which is your garden.
Release beneficial insects in that part of your garden area where the bad bugs are most active so they can get to work and begin feeding. Just remember to follow directions on the package on how to release them.
Ordering the eggs of many of these beneficial insects has proven to be so beneficial. Simply sprinkle some of the eggs on and around the infected plant.
Attract beneficial insects to your garden and landscapes
An effective method also of introducing beneficial insects into your garden and landscapes is installing plants that attract them. For example, the use of plants such as Anise, Parsnips, Parsley, Dill, Coriander, Tansy Lemon gem, are just a few among hundreds that can be used to attract these insects.
Plants that repel bad bugs
To further win the war on bad bug invasion you can install these plants in your garden and landscape.
By using some of these plants you get the best of both worlds because some of them that are used to repel the bad bugs can also be eaten. For example, planting garlic, basils, chives, thyme, rosemary, mint, onion, and spinach can prove very effective while providing herbs for your consumption.
The final word
Not all insects are bad, many of them are hard at work in our gardens protecting and keeping our plants safe and introducing them into our garden is a safe way to keep the bad guys under control so the next time you take a walk in your garden area take a closer look.
You may just see some of the good guys that are hard at work for you ensuring that your plants are healthy and pest-free.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.