Controlling pests the

natural way
 There ARE 2 KEYS TO
SUCCESSFUL PEST CONTROL
• 1 - GROW A HEALTHY
PLANT
2 - DEVELOP BIODIVERSITY IN
YOUR GARDEN
GROW A HEALTHY PLANT

• DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A

HEALTHY SOIL FOOD WEB
• OPTIMIZE NUTRIENTS
AVAILABLE TO THE PLANTS
• 1- DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY SOIL FOOD WEB
• DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY SOIL FOOD WEB

- COMPOST
- MULCHES
- COVER CROPS

Herbicides and pesticides kill soil microorganisms

• OPTIMIZE NUTRIENTS
AVAILABLE TO THE PLANTS
- GET A SOIL TEST

- GARDENING IS AN
EXTRACTIVE PROCESS.
REPLACE NUTRIENTS
REMOVED BY HARVESTING
DEVELOP BIODIVERSITY IN
THE GARDEN

• BUGSCAPING
• BUILD WILDLIFE HABITAT
• BUGSCAPING
- PLANT SPECIFIC PLANTS THAT
ATTRACT BENEFICIAL INSECTS

- ALLOW SOME CROP PLANTS

TO FLOWER

- MANY “WEEDS” ARE GOOD

BENEFICIAL INSECT
ATTRACTORS
• EXAMPLES OF GOOD BUGSCAPING PLANTS

Smartweed Cilantro Yarrow

Parsley Chives Ground Ivy

• POLLINATORS
• PREDATORS
• BUILD WILDLIFE HABITAT

- SHRUBS PROVIDE HOMES FOR

BIRDS AND PREYING MANTIS

- ROCKS PROVIDE HOMES FOR

TOADS, SNAKES AND LIZARDS

- LOGS PROVIDE HOMES FOR

BEETLES
 A STRATEGY FOR
MINIMIZING PEST DAMAGE
IN THE GARDEN
•AVOID PESTS AND DISEASES
•ATTRACT BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS TO HELP US
•ANTICIPATE POTENTIAL DISEASE AND INSECT
PROBLEMS
•OBSERVE THE GARDEN FOR SIGNS
•INTERVENE USING METHODS THAT ARE LEAST
HARMFUL TO US AND THE ENVIRONMENT
•AVOID PESTS AND DISEASES
- PLANT DISEASE AND INSECT
RESISTANT VARIETIES

•ATTRACT BENEFICIAL
INSECTS TO HELP US
- PRACTICE BUGSCAPING
•ANTICIPATE POTENTIAL
DISEASE AND INSECT
PROBLEMS
- TIME PLANTINGS TO AVOID PESTS

- USE YELLOW STICKY TRAPS TO

MONITOR FOR PESTS

- USE ROW COVERS TO EXCLUDE

PESTS
•OBSERVE THE GARDEN FOR
SIGNS

SQUASH BUG EGGS SQUASH BUG LARVAE ADULT SQUASH BUG

LADY BUG EGGS LADY BUG LARVAE ADULT LADY BUG

•OBSERVE THE GARDEN FOR
SIGNS

SQUASH LADY TRICHOGRAMMA WASP COCOONS

LADY BUG ON TOMATO HORN WORM
BEETLE

APHIDS APHID MIDGES MEALYBUG DESTROYER

•OBSERVE THE GARDEN FOR
SIGNS

COLORADO POTATO COLORADO POTATO BEETLE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE

BEETLE EGGS LARVA ADULT

BLACK SWALLOWTAIL
GOLDEN TORTOISE BEETLE ASSASSIN BUG BUTTERFLY LARVA
•OBSERVE THE GARDEN FOR
SIGNS

UNKNOWN EGGS UNKNOWN INSECT UNKNOWN INSECT

MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY IN
SOUTHERN BLIGHT ON TOMATO EARLY BLIGHT ON TOMATO SQUASH
•INTERVENE USING METHODS THAT ARE LEAST
HARMFUL TO US AND THE ENVIRONMENT
- INTERPLANT CROPS TO CONFUSE
INSECT PESTS
- HAND PICKING
- INSECTICIDAL SOAPS, NEEM OIL
- BIOCONTROLS - BT, NEMATODES, B.
SUBTILIS
- ORGANIC-APPROVED CHEMICALS
- USE BRASSICAS IN A ROTATION TO HELP
W/ DISEASE CONTROL
- SURRENDER
 WEED MANAGEMENT
•REDEFINE “WEEDS”- SOME WILD PLANTS HELP US
BY ACCUMULATING NUTRIENTS OR ATTRACTING
BENEFICIALS
•MINIMIZE TILLAGE
•DO NOT LET WEEDS GO TO SEED
•USE MULCHES TO SUPPRESS WEEDS
•USE COVER CROPS TO SUPPRESS WEEDS