Garden pests
For many gardeners the war on bugs got harder to fight when the Environmental Protection Agency banned the continued production of two popular pesticides, Dursban and Diazinon. Though very effective in the control of garden and household pests, the insecticides have been found to be toxic to humans and particularly harmful to children. When the restrictions were announced in 2000, the agency did not require the immediate removal of the two pesticides from store shelves. However, with the halt in production it’s expected that existing supplies soon will be exhausted.
Without the heavy artillery how does a beleaguered gardener keep the bugs at bay? Some entomologists and environmentalists think there are subtler ways to wage war against pests in gardens and lawns. Instead of going for total eradication experts suggest that gardeners think in terms of pest “management.” When they decide the level of insect damage they can tolerate in their gardens, growers can then determine which of a variety of natural techniques and resources would be practical to employ in their pest control efforts.
For example, instead of spraying poisonous chemicals consider picking the worms off tomato plants. Rather than insist on planting flowers bugs love to eat, select varieties that insects native to our area don’t favor. Introduce useful insects into your garden environment such as ladybugs that eat aphids and nematodes that kill harmful beetles. Look for pesticides that are formulated from natural products such as citrus peel, cottonseed oil or chrysanthemum flowers.
If you do use a chemical pesticide it’s suggested that you do so judiciously. For example, if you have grubs in your yard, rather than simply blitzing the entire yard with spray, first determine the extent of the problem, then treat only the infested areas. Alice would also suggest that, before you use any pest control product, it’s best to consult the professionals at your local garden center for advice on effective use and proper application.
Source: © Alice Dahlgren's AtHome Newsletter
