My garden is a sacred place to me. It is a place where I can go to get away from the world and forget my worries. The plants within, whether large or small, are all precious to me. That's why, when it comes to invading pests, whether they be creeping or crawling, my first reaction is usually to “seek and destroy.” Fortunately, I’ve come to understand that these invasions do not always call for extreme measures. In fact, you might be surprised to know that Mother Nature has a battle plan of her own (even if her ground troops sometimes have a face that only a mother could love). So before you drag out the heavy artillery and go “Rambo” on your garden, why not try a few of these organic gardening tips? Not only can your plants and their protectors prosper as a result of this, but your budget might as well!

1. Do Some Spring Cleaning: In early spring, when the weather begins to warm up, remove debris and last year’s mulch from around the base of your plants. The larvae of many destructive insects often over-winter there and will simply climb back up the host plant, hungrier than ever, when the weather warms up.

2. Hold Your Fire! Keep in mind that pesticides cannot differentiate between the good and the bad guys, so quite often beneficial insects, like mantids and honey bees, fall victim to your good intentions. What’s more, the lack of predators will open up the door for an even greater number of pests. To avoid this scenario, try using an organic insecticidal soap. They are sold commercially, or you can make it right in your own kitchen. They’re proven to do the job, and “good bugs” everywhere will be thanking you.

3. Slug Suds: Slugs are a major destructive force in the garden. They will eat just about anything and are very prolific breeders. Although slug-pellets are very effective, they are also very toxic and are a danger to your children and pets. A very easy and effective solution is to use beer as bait. Bury a small dish in the infested area and fill it up to the rim with any beer (slugs are cheap drunks!). Clean your trap regularly for maximum effectiveness. Another easy solution is to create a hiding place for slugs and then remove them during the day. An old over-turned pot will usually do the trick. Collect the slugs and then dispose of, or release them, far away from your garden.

4. What’s That Smell? Grow herbaceous plants that naturally repel pests. One of my favorite solutions is to grow garlic around roses. Aphids hate the stuff, and it will go a long way in deterring them. Other insect deterrents that you might try are marigolds and citronella. You can also grow “sacrificial plants” such as Nicotiana and Vinca to lure aphids and white files away from roses.

5. Create a Bird Sanctuary: Use feeders, baths, and nest boxes to attract birds into your yard. Not only will garden pests diminish, but you’ll also have the pleasure of enjoying the beauty of these welcome visitors.

6. Invite Some Bugs Over for Dinner: Mail-order beneficial insects like ladybugs, mantids and the “always hungry” lacewing. There are several companies from which you can order these guys, and they usually have very handy charts to help you determine just how many you need.

7. Diatomeous WHAT? Diatomeous earth comes from the bottom of the ocean and is actually made up of the skeletons of a type of algae. The good thing about this stuff is that not only does it enrich garden soil, but it also helps to deter several different species, including grubs, fleas, and slugs.

8. Mildew Be Gone! Powdery Mildew is a very common garden illness. It will often damage plants such as roses and Bee Balm. It results in dead leaves and plants that become pale shadows of their former glory. Here is a simple recipe to deter this: 1.) Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 1/2 teaspoons of light oil, and mix with one gallon of water. Spray this mixture evenly over the affected plants for 7-10 days, and water only when necessary.

9. Subterranean Sap-Suckers: Not only do you have to worry about hungry critters above the ground but under the ground as well. Grubs can destroy tender roots and cause plants to die unexpectedly. One of the best defenses against this problem is to let beneficial nematodes (a microscopic predator) do the fighting for you. They can be purchased dehydrated within a sponge. To reconstitute them, simply add water and spray over your lawn or any other areas where grubs might be hiding. Nematodes are invisible to the naked eye, but the results certainly aren’t.

10. Vinegar to the Rescue: There are a lot of chemicals on the market that will kill unwanted weeds as they spring up, but did you know that you probably have an extremely effective one in your pantry right now? Common white vinegar is quite potent when it comes to destroying sprouting dandelions or other volunteers in your lawn. Fill a spray bottle, and apply just as you would any other weed killer. The good news is that studies have shown that this doesn’t damage your soil’s pH balance and is completely safe to use.

Clay Bolt is a nature photographer and writer based out of Greenville, SC. His goal is to educate others about the unseen beauty and wonder that exists in God’s creation. For questions concerning this article, or to inquire about photographic services, please write to Clay at cbnatphoto@yahoo.com.

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