1. Use the physical pest control process.
This may be accomplished through picking grubs
off by hand, creating barriers and traps and
plugging holes. Snails can be found hiding in
damp places under rocks and towrds the base of
those plants with straplike foliage.
2. Apply biological pest control.
Encourage predatory insects such as green
lacewings and dragonflies to feed on aphids and
other pests that attack your plants. You can do
this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the
garden. Dragonflies especially will hover around
water. Bacterial insecticides such as B.
thuringiensis could also be used against
caterpillars.
3. Only as a last resort should we turn to
chemical pest control.
Organic pest control methods can be successful
and the ingredients for many of the recipes can
be found in the kitchen cupboards. If chemical
sprays are really necessary, try and find the
least-toxic. These include insecticidal soaps,
horticultural oils, dehydrating dusts, etc.
4. Consider the use of safer pest control
substitutes.
Recipes for alternative pest control include the
following:
Against Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1
tablespoon of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable
oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup
of water and spray on aphids and mites.
Against Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be
applied to cracks or entry points of these
insects. Bay leaves on pantry shelves could also
help in warding off these critters.
Make sure that the chemicals you use are made
specifically for the insects you are targeting. |
