In last workweek ’s mail , I discuss a couple of excellent pest - prevention technique you may easily employ in your own garden . Here are a few more of my darling :
1 . Kaolin ClayA white , powdery clay , kaolin is mixed with piss and sprayed onto plant . When dry , it take form a dusty coating on plant leaves and fruits . worm do n’t like landing on the powder , nor do they like how it clings to their legs and flank . In the vegetable plot , it works to deter flea beetles on eggplants and radishes , as well as leafhoppers on other crop . These products are very in effect in the organic woodlet , where they preclude both codling moth and plum curculio .
Kaolin remains needs to be reapplied every 14 to 21 days to remain effective , and the plant life will be cover with a white powder . It ’s easy to lave off of harvest crop and is completely safe . ( In fact , it ’s an element in many toothpastes and Kaopectate . ) One commonly found marque of kaolin clay is Surround WP .
2 . PredatorsBeneficial insects and razzing consume voluminous amounts of garden pest , and encouraging them to call your garden rest home prevents a lot of terms . Situate a bird tub and feeder in the essence of the garden . works helianthus , amaranth and other favorite ejaculate rootage among the vegetables . To appeal good insects , such as ladybeetle , lacewings , parasitic WASP ( do n’t care , they ’re petite and they ca n’t sting ) and hoverflies , plant plenty of herb in the veg patch and take into account them to blossom . The adult will feast on the nectar of these small flush while the larva ( and sometimes the adults , too ) banquet on aphid , hornworms , jot , gritty bugs and other assorted nasties .
3 . YouIt ’s not the decent thought , but sometimes your actions may be the causal agent of a pest problem . Perhaps you applied too much nitrogen fertilizer and now your tomato has put out a lot of tender growth that is peculiarly appeal to aphids . Maybe you walked through the garden when the soil was slopped , compacting it , thereby reduce the overall vigor of your plants and making them more prone to insect attempt . Did you leave rubble in the garden , providing a safe concealing place for slugs and earwigs ? Perhaps you miss to pull out your spent plants last time of year , helping over - wintering pests to return . Take a flavor at what you do in your garden and verify you are sustain right cultural practice . This is an gentle , and often overlook , method of preventing pestis job .
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