Maintaining a garden is a favorite pastime of many homeowners in Chandler, AZ. However, keeping your garden pest-free can be challenging without using harsh chemicals. As natural pest control experts, we know all the best sustainable ways to keep your garden pest-free. Here are 10 of our most effective tips for doing so.
1. Amend and Fertilize Your Soil
The first step in any sustainable garden pest control strategy is to make your soil as healthy as possible. Rich, nutrient-filled soil will help your plants thrive, making them capable of withstanding common garden pests. For starters, you can begin each growing season with a thorough, 8 to 12-inch-deep tilling. Then, add organic matter like compost, plant matter, or peat moss to a depth of two or three inches. Till your soil again and water thoroughly. After planting your garden, follow up with monthly organic fertilizer treatments. That will keep the microbes in the soil active and healthy. It will also give your plants everything they need to thrive.
2. Apply Beneficial Nematodes
One of the most natural ways you can control pests in your garden is to introduce predators that hunt them. Regarding pests in your garden soil, beneficial nematodes work well as a pest control measure. They’re a microscopic roundworm that feeds on grubs of all kinds. You can apply them using a garden hose sprayer, and they will control pests for up to two years. Remember, however, that nematodes can’t kill pests that already emerged from your soil. So, you’ll have to plan ahead to make them part of your yearly garden pest control strategy.
3. Attract Predatory Insects
For above-ground pests in your garden, you can use a variety of plants that attract helpful pest predators. For example, you could grow cilantro, fennel, calendula, or marigolds to attract ladybugs. They feed on aphids and do a great job of eliminating them from your garden. Or, you could plant coreopsis, verbena, or daisies to attract green lacewings. They’ll also control aphids, as well as caterpillars. You can also plant bushes and perennials to attract wolf spiders. They’ll stand guard over your garden and eat almost any pest that comes their way.
4. Plant Pest-Repelling Plants
Certain types of plants keep pests from frequenting your garden. Almost any plant with a strong scent works well for that purpose. You can use them as garden edging, forming an invisible barrier to pests. Garlic, chives, thyme, and coriander are perfect for the job. They’re edible, so they won’t waste space in your garden. And if you’re growing a primarily floral garden, lavender, petunias, and chrysanthemums repel pests and look good doing it.
5. Interplant Your Garden
You may think it’s good garden planning to create separate sections for differing plant types. However, doing that can lure pests into your garden. Garden pests look for plentiful food when they search for a place to settle down. However, they only check a limited radius when doing so. Mixing and matching different plants within your garden confuses them and can prevent large infestations.
6. Always Rotate Plants
Whether you’re planting edible crops or ornamental plants, rotating your plantings every year will minimize pests. Plenty of garden pests will form large colonies that try to stay in one place for generations. Rotating what you plant ensures that when the next generation of pests emerges, they’ll have nothing to eat. That forces them to relocate, reducing pest concentrations in your garden.
7. Watch Where You Walk
You may not realize it, but simply walking through your garden can devastate populations of beneficial insects. To avoid that, you should install defined paths through your garden and stick to them. Use mulch or another visible natural overlay to mark your pathways if possible. You can use pavers or stones, too, but only if you’re concerned about ground stability. Their added weight can be almost as destructive as your footsteps. However, your insect populations will learn to adapt since pavers won’t move once you place them.
8. Promptly Clear Weeds and Debris
Keeping your garden free of weeds and debris at all times will also help keep it pest-free. Multiple pests feed on weeds, drawing them to your garden. The same applies to downed tree branches and other detritus. You must be vigilant in removing weeds and debris as soon as you see them. That will deny the pests a habitat and make spotting threats to your garden’s plants easier.
9. Prune or Remove Damaged Plants
Believe it or not, most garden pests can tell when a plant becomes distressed or weakened. Then, they’ll flock to the plant to feed on it. Diseased or damaged plants are easier for pests to digest. Plus, some plants defend themselves from pests by releasing natural repellant compounds when attacked. A weakened plant is less likely to protect itself, making it an appealing target. Sap-feeding insects are the only significant exception to that behavior. They prefer healthy plants because they’ll always have plentiful sap. Removing or pruning any distressed plants to isolate healthy sections is essential. Doing so eliminates a significant attractor of garden pests.
10. Maintain Proper Nitrogen Levels
Finally, it’s a good idea to test the nitrogen levels in your garden’s soil periodically. Then, find the ideal soil nitrogen content for the plants in your garden. You want to meet those needs but not exceed them. Gardeners often apply extra nitrogen because it functions as a plant growth booster. Unfortunately, it will also turbocharge pest activity in your garden. Plants with excess nitrogen prioritize growth over their health. That weakens them and makes them a target for pests.
If you find excess nitrogen in your garden soil, there are a few ways to reduce it naturally. One is to skip your next fertilizer application. If that’s not enough, you can plant nitrogen-binding plants. Effective options include leafy greens, corn, and broccoli. They love nitrogen-rich soil and will lower your soil nitrogen levels fast. Alternatively, you can add a layer of inexpensive mulch to your garden. Mulch absorbs nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down. However, be careful to buy clean mulch, or you may accidentally introduce new pests to your garden.
Natural Pest Control Solutions
Managing the pests in your garden is one thing, but controlling them in your home is something else. For that, Green Home Pest Control offers affordable pest control solutions in Chandler. We can take care of everything from scorpions to rodents and pigeons. We also provide termite control services. Our team of highly trained pest control experts have the skills to help you defend your home from unwanted guests. They’ll investigate your pest problem and devise a plan with an upfront estimate to solve it. Plus, we use natural and organic products to safeguard the health and well-being of everyone in your home. We also offer commercial services should you own a business in the area.
If you need pest control services in Chandler, call our professionals at Green Home Pest Control today.
