Flower gardens are a great way to enjoy nature and beautify your yard at the same time. When it comes to pest control, going organic is best as it will help keep the environment safe. Luckily organic pest control for your flower garden is easy and sometimes a lot less expensive then it’s chemical counterpart.
One great method of organic pest control is using a combination of baking soda and water. The mixture will help rid your plants of certain fungal diseases. Just mix a quart of water with two tablespoons of baking soda and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the infected area of that plant every few days till the fungal disease is gone.
Another type of organic pest control that will keep bugs away is a garlic spray. Just combine 3 to 4 ounces of chopped garlic bulbs with about 2 tablespoons of mineral oil and rub on your plants. This will deter certain pests such as mosquitoes, aphids, and onion flies. Other items like tobacco and fish, which have a strong smell, will help to keep bugs away without needing to do anything harmful to the garden.
One simple solution that deters a lot of pests is soapy water. Just spray it on your plants like you would any other type of pest control. Your plants won’t be harmed but it can keep a lot of bugs at bay.
A paper barrier is another option to help keep creatures out of your garden. With things like waxed cardboard from household items like as milk cartons, will keep bugs from being able to lay their eggs at the foot of the plants. To let the plant grow an opening should be cut in the middle of the cardboard – that way the plant can grow up but the egg laying bugs can’t get to the foot of the plant.
Another method of organic pest control for your flower garden is to be sure to keep a neat garden. An accumulation of dead leaves, flower heads and branches is an invitation to bugs and fungus so make sure you tend to your garden regularly. Also, if you find any diseased plants, be sure to cut them out and remove them right away.
Adding things like mulches and compost to your garden will also help keep the plants healthy and healthy plants are less susceptible to disease. By using mulches and compost in a garden will help keep the dirt from overheating and to help keep diseases from breaking out.
When it comes to bugs in the flower garden, not all of them are harmful Ladybugs are a good example of a helpful bug because they eat other insects such as mites, whiteflies and aphids that could harm your plants. The Praying Mantis is another creature that is good for a garden. They, like Ladybugs, will eat many garden pest that try to destroy a garden. The insects that are more helpful can either be attracted to a garden by the right plants or bought through a catalogue.
These are just a few of the ways to help keep your flower garden healthy and beautiful without resorting to environmentally harmful chemicals. Apply a few of these techniques and you will be able to have a great garden and the knowledge that you are helping the planet too!
