Let’s talk pest control! There is nothing worse than walking out to the garden one summer morning to find the plants you’ve worked so hard to grow destroyed by pests! Organic pest control in the garden is a natural way of managing pest problems without using synthetic chemicals. It is important to maintain a healthy environment by preserving the balance of nature. I like to think of pests in 3 main categories; insects, rodents, and large animals.
Insect Pests
When it comes to insects, there are so many wonderful little bugs that do miraculous things for our gardens. Others, however, can be quite destructive. Like most other aspects of my garden, I like to take the organic approach not only for the environment but my family will be consuming the harvest! Pest control can begin as early as your garden planning.
Soil: The first place to start is having healthy soil and plants. Pests tend to be more attracted to plants that are sick.
Companion Planting: There are many plants, herbs, and flowers that will naturally deter unwanted bugs or can act as a “trap” plant, attracting them away from your precious veggies. See my post on Companion Planting for more information.
Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is another strategy to keep in mind, as it can prevent pests from returning to the same area of the garden. If your tomatoes, for example, were infested with tomato worms last year, they are going to come back to the same place the following year for a similar feast.
Physical Barriers: Placing insect netting around your plants can be used to keep unwanted insects from your vegetables but you will also be keeping out pollinators and beneficial insects. Consider using netting on plants like cabbage or broccoli but not on plants that need to be pollinated like squash. You can also place obstacles around the base of your plants such as crushed eggshells or a foil ring to deter crawling pests.
Handpicking: It makes me a bit squeamish but handpicking is another method that can work well when done persistently.
Organic Pesticides: Most need to be applied during a dry period but the frequency at which they should be applied varies widely so make sure to check the packaging for dosage. Neem Oil, Diatomaceous Earth, and BT are all great organic options but should still be used sparingly as they could kill beneficial insects as well if overused. While not technically a pesticide, a shallow bowl of beer will attract and kill slugs.
Rodent Pests
Keeping rodents out of your vegetable garden can be a challenging task for many gardeners. Rodents such as mice and rats can cause significant damage to your crops, and they can also carry diseases that can be harmful to humans. They can make themselves very small and squeeze through a seemingly impenetrable fence with ease. They can also come up from below the garden from their underground tunnels.
Keep things clean: Try and locate potential rodent homes and remove them. They love brush piles, wood piles, wooden structures, etc. The farther away these items are from your garden area the better.
Protect from Below: If you have tunneling rodents such as moles, I suggest hardware cloth as the base layer for your garden beds. This method is best suited for raised beds, especially if you are planning on growing any root crops.
Fencing: Fencing is an effective way to keep rodents out of your garden. Use chicken wire or hardware cloth with holes no larger than 1/4 inch to create a barrier around your garden. You can use hardware cloth again to line the bottom portion of your fence and fold it under about a foot if you have a fence to deter some rodents.
Companion Planting: There are several rodent-deterring plants such as marigolds, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and onions.
Larger Animals
Keeping animals out of your garden can be a challenge. Depending on where you live, your animal neighbors will vary. Deer, coyote, fox, and large birds like turkey, geese, and eagles are plentiful here in Minnesota.
Fence: Fencing is one of the most effective ways to keep animals out of your garden. A physical barrier such as a cattle panel, chicken wire, or hardware cloth can prevent animals from entering your garden. Buying all new materials to build a tall fence can get expensive, so get creative! Do you have any scrap material that you could use? I’ve found several items used in our garden on sites like OfferUP, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace.
Repellents: Repellents such as pepper spray, garlic spray, and predator urine can also deter animals from entering your garden. However, these methods may need to be reapplied regularly to be effective. Planting certain herbs such as mint, lavender, and rosemary can deter animals from entering your garden. Additionally, planting marigolds can deter rabbits and deer due to their strong scent.
Scare Tactics: Scare tactics can be effective in deterring birds and small animals from entering your garden. You can use scarecrows, reflective surfaces, or noise-making devices to keep animals away. However, these tactics may not be effective against larger animals such as deer.
Flowers that deter pests
- Tansy- potato beetles and ants on squash
- Petunias- fruiting plants, beans, potatoes
- Nasturtiums- aphids, squash bugs, cabbage
- Marigold- fruiting plants and potatoes, deter deer
- Aromatic herbs
- Geraniums- greens
- Calendula- tomatoes
Happy Growing!
