Chemical-Free Pest Controlling Tips for Your Vegetable Garden
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Growing a vegetable garden in your backyard is a great way to cut back on your grocery bills. Not to mention that there's something about it that makes it rewarding and enjoyable for you and your family to eat.
Of course, growing your own vegetables doesn't come with its own set of challenges. Pest controlling is at the top of the list. The delicious-looking vegetables you have growing here are a favorite treat for different kinds of critters and animals.
This usually means stacking up on pesticides that are readily available in their local home depot or nursery. While it does get the job done, there are also disadvantages to using these pest controlling chemicals.
For starters, these pesticides don't only kill the harmful insects that feast on your prized vegetables. They also end up killing beneficial ones that actually protect your greens and help them grow healthy. What's more, these friendly insects grow more slowly than pests. That
means that these pests will be able to regroup more quickly once the effects of the pesticides wear off, causing further damage.
Since these pesticides are chemical-based, there's always the possibility that pests would develop an immunity to them. That means that you'll have to increase the frequency of treating your vegetables with these pesticides or use something more potent.
More important is the fact that the chemicals in these pesticides are absorbed by the fruits and vegetables you plant. No matter how many times you wash your vegetables, there will still be traces left that you end up ingesting. Over time, these chemicals accumulate in your body, causing a variety of illnesses and diseases.
The good news is that Mother Nature has her pest controlling techniques that are just as effective without all the nasty side effects. Here are ways to apply them in your own vegetable garden.
1.Keep your soil healthy
Pests prefer attacking sickly plants. That said, it's important to make sure to keep the soil rich with nutrients so that they stay healthy. In addition to giving your vegetables enough water and sunlight, topping the soil with organic compost will keep your vegetables in tip-top condition.
You can make your own organic compost by mixing in scraps of vegetables and fruit in a pot of soil and allowing it to decompose. This creates a nutrient-rich soil that your vegetables will love.
2.Companion planting
Some plants contain natural properties that actually protect other plants nearby. Basil, for example, is tomatoes' best friend (and I'm not talking here about Italian cooking). That's because the aroma coming from basil has been found to help deter common pests that attack tomatoes.
Another perfect (but unlikely) pair is garlic and roses. Garlic plants contain pest controlling properties that help get rid of aphids that frequently attack roses.
Check with a professional gardener in your area on what companion plants should you have growing beside the different vegetables in your garden.
3.Opt for natural pest controlling solutions
These solutions help treat pest infestations on your vegetables without posing any risk on the beneficial insects growing on them or your health.
One of my favorite natural pest controlling solution is a Hot Pepper and Garlic pest spray. I found that they help get rid of most pests and nasty critters attacking my vegetables and other plants in my garden.
If you notice fungus or mildew growing on your vegetables, spray these areas using a mixture of baking soda dissolved in water.
