As every gardener knows to his regret, some destructive bugs will destroy his vegetables and flowers. One report says that "lost crop yields has nearly doubled due to insects" since 1945. Toxic chemical sprays have been used by many, but there are many disadvantages to them. They are expensive and the costs continue to rise. They are dangerous and kill the good bugs along with the harmful bugs...

Basic biological control is the use of natural enemies to control other pests in a given situation, such as the growing of crops.  Conservation biological control is the method of getting the environment to favor the natural enemies of pests. One of the biggest benefits of biological control is the effect it has on regulating crop-destroying and environmental pests.   Chemicals cannot ...

Are you one of those people that think all bugs are bad? You just want to kill them all because they bother you or scare you. Or have you seen too many sci-fi movies with giant bugs or swarms that try to wipe out the human race? If so, keep reading on because some insects can be extremely helpful to us, especially to gardeners. Entomologists (bug scientists) have found that predator, parasite...

Organic pest control is an environmentally friendly, low-cost alternative to chemical pesticides. One way to kill unwanted garden pests is with predatory insects that feed on many vegetable menaces. The lady bug is an aggressive predator of aphids, and eats many kinds of caterpillar and beetle eggs as well. Lacewing and hoverfly larvae eat almost any soft bodied insects, eating as much as 800 a...

Now is the time to start thinking about how to deal with invasive weeds, insects, animals and diseases in your garden, before you even start planting.  Nature is your best ally against pests, starting with the soil.  Plants that are grown in rich, organic soil are hardier and more resistant to depredations by insects and invasion by weeds or disease.Find out what pest problems are common...

Along with pollinators like bees and butterflies, it's important to attract beneficial insects like ladybugs to your garden to help provide organic pest management.  Ladybugs are harmless to humans, plants and animals, but they hunt and devour the aphids, mites and small caterpillars that are so destructive in a garden.  Another beneficial flying insect for the organic garden is the para...

OPM is an action plan that includes organic soil building, proper plant care and preventive measures to create a diverse natural system that regulates pests naturally.  OPM relies heavily on the steps you can take to make your garden less inviting to pests, such as choosing disease-resistant cultivars, cleaning disease or insect infested plant material out of your garden, using barriers and t...

Hands-off methods of pest management include mating disruption via pheromones, barriers and repellents.Pheromones are useful against insects that attack some kinds of fruit trees and grapes.  Mating disruption products, which look like twist ties, should be applied just as buds begin to swell in the spring.  This will flood the area with pheromones from the specific pest you are targetin...

Another organic way of managing pests is with traps.  These come in all shapes, sizes and colors.  Most have to components; a lure and a detaining device.  Lures may work by sight - color/shape or light - and/or smell, such as a food scent or pheromones.  Detaining devices may be sticky surfaces, one-way or triggered doors or triggered killing mechanisms.  Sticky band trap...

OPM is largely preventative in nature.  Keeping records of the kinds of problems you experience in your garden can go a long way towards helping you to prevent recurrences in future seasons.  Write down what insects or diseases attacked each plant, or at least what they looked like.  Once you've identified the problem pests, do some detective work.  Learn about their life cycle...

Starting with healthy plants and soil will give your food crops a fighting chance to stay healthy against insects, weeds and diseases.  A good site is the first step; it should have full or almost full sun, good drainage and sufficient water.It pays to try to improve your soil every year by testing it to see what nutrients are lacking or in excess so you can make the appropriate amendments.&n...

Sometimes there's nothing for it but to get in there and fight your battles hand-to-pest.  If you're squeamish about picking bugs off your plants and squishing them with your fingers, even if gloved, just drop them into a can of soapy water.  Other good candidates for hand removal are moldy or rotten fruit, to keep the mold from spreading to other fruits, or pulling up and destroying dis...

Organic gardening is becoming a more popular way of life. It is gardening without using any artificial substances for pesticides or weeds. You would only use things that are natural in your garden. You can have an organic vegetable or flower garden.  Or better yet, both!Gardening using the organic method is safer for the environment and safer for our health. Organic gardening produces bette...