PEST CONTROL

There are many strategies for controlling garden pests without unduly upsetting the local ecology of your garden. These strategies include cultural controls (nutrition, resistant varieties, interplanting, timed planting, crop rotation, mulch, trap crops, and cultivation), mechanical controls (handpicking, physical barriers, traps), biological controls (predatory and parasitic insects, microbes), and sprays and dusts. Because information is too varied to make suggestions in this limited space, we refer you to the bibliography at the end of this section, your library, colleges, and extension center for details on integrated and natural pest control.

Pesticides

DO NOT USE: Aldrin, Chlordane, Cyanide, DBCP, DDT, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, Kepone, Lindane, Mirex, Silvex, 2,4,5,-T, Toxaphene, Arsenates, Sodium Arsenite, Creosote, Pentachlorophenol (PCP).

Prevention: Interplanting compatible species and "companion planting" can be effective ways to repel pests and mildew. Get rid of infested plants. Remove ripe vegetables and fruits before they rot and attract insects. Use resistant plant varieties whenever possible.

Hose plants off: Wash insects from outdoor plants with a strong hosing, preferably in the morning.

All-purpose spray: For all-purpose sprays grind together three hot peppers, three large onions and one whole bulb of garlic. Cover the mash with water and let stand overnight. Strain through cheesecloth and add enough water to make a gallon of spray. Use on roses, azaleas, mums and beans three times daily for one or two days during heavy infestation.

Garlic clove: Plant a garlic clove along with your plant. As it grows, simply keep cutting it down so it will not effect the appearance of your plant. Garlic will not harm the plant, but bugs hate it.

Tobacco: Place tobacco on potted plant soil. This helps control indoor infestation of a variety of pests that hatch from eggs deposited when plants are outside.

Tobacco and water spray: Place a large handful of pipe or cigarette tobacco in 4 quarts of warm water. Let stand for 24 hours. Dilute and apply with a spray bottle. Nicotine is deadly to mammals in high concentration: use caution when handling.

Soap and water spray: Mix up a solution of liquid soap and water in a pump-spray bottle at the ratio of 2 1/2 teaspoons per quart. Spray infested leaves with soapy water, then rinse off with plain water after a few minutes.

Row covers: Use floating row covers, these are cheesecloth-like fabrics that act as a barrier to egg-laying adults.

Natural predators: Helpful predators around the home include frogs, spiders, ladybugs, praying mantis, lacewings and dragonflies. Many of these beneficial creatures can be purchased commercially.

Ants

Pennyroyal, Spearmint, Southernwood, and Tansy: Growing these plants around the border of your home will deter ants and the aphids they carry.

Flour and Borax: Mix 1-cup flour and 2 cups borax in a quart jar. Punch holes in the jar lid. Sprinkle the contents around the house foundation. Keep borax out of the reach of children and pets.

Sugar and Borax: Mix 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water to make a syrup. Soak a cloth in the mixture and place it out in a flat dish near the infestation.

Bonemeal or powdered charcoal or lemon: Set up barriers where ants are entering your home. They will generally not cross lines of bonemeal or powdered charcoal. If you can find a hole where ants are entering the house, squeeze the juice of a lemon in the hole or crack. Then slice up the lemon and put the peeling all around the entrance.

Aphids

Prevention: To reduce aphids, water only the soil and roots not the foliage.

Tomato leaf spray: Soak mashed tomato leaves in water and apply as a spray on tress and roses bushes to prevent aphids.

Herbs: Anise and coriander discourage aphids.

Onions and garlic: Onions and garlic will protect your plants from aphids on lettuce and beans.

Cabbage Moth

Herbs: Mint, sage, dill and thyme protect cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts from the cabbage moth.

Cabbage Worms

Salt: A tablespoon of table salt to 2 gallons of water can be used against cabbage worms.

Carrot Flies

Onions and garlic: Onions and garlic will protect your plants from carrot flies on lettuce and beans.

Caterpillars

Prevention: Remove from plants by hand. Many caterpillars hide during the day and feed only at night. Night hunting with a flashlight may prove useful.

Do nothing: Accept low levels of damage; is perfect fruit necessary?

Natural predators: Encourage natural predators: build birdhouses and set up birdbaths to attract swallows and other allies.

Flea Beetles

Talcum powder: Just dust a little on the ground or around the plants; it works like a charm in repelling flea beetles. When the rain washes it away add more.

Flies

Prevention: Keep kitchen garbage tightly closed. Sprinkle dry soap or borax into garbage cans after they've been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a repellent.

Orange: Scratch the skin of an orange and leave it out; the citrus acts as a repellent.

Cloves: Hang clusters of cloves to repel flies.

Mint or Basil: Mint planted around the home repels flies. A pot of basil set on the windowsill or table helps to repel flies. Keep basil well watered from the bottom so that it produces a stronger scent. Dried ground leaves left in small bowls or hung in muslin bags are also effective.

Fly Swatters, FlyTraps, or FlyPaper: Use according to label directions.

Sugar and Corn Syrup: Make your own flypaper by boiling sugar, corn syrup, and water together. Place mixture onto brown paper and hang or set out.

Egg, Molasses, and Black Pepper: Beat the yolk of an egg with a tablespoon each of molasses and finely ground black pepper. Set it about in shallow plates. Flies will be rapidly killed.

Japanese Beetles

Onions and garlic: Onions and garlic will protect your plants from Japanese beetles on lettuce and beans.

Maggots

Radishes: Radishes planted near cabbage repels maggots.

Mice

To ensure that accidental contamination of children or pets does not occur, use extreme care if putting out chemical poisons in your home. Consult warnings.

Mashed potato powder or buds: Place instant mashed potato powder or buds in strategic places with a dish of water close by. After eating the powder or buds mice will need water. This causes fatal bloating.

Mouse Traps: Use according to label directions.

Moles

Castor Oil and Liquid Detergent: Whip together 1 tablespoon caster oil and 2 tablespoons liquid detergent in a blender until the mixture is like shaving cream. Add 6 tablespoons water and whip again. Keep this mixture out of the reach of your children and pets. Take a garden sprinkling can and fill with warm water. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil mixture and stir. Sprinkle immediately over the areas of greatest mole infestation. For best results, apply after a rain or thorough watering. If moles are drawn to your lawn because of the grubs feeding in the soil, you may be able to rid yourself of both pests by spreading milky spore disease to kill the grubs.

Mosquitoes

Prevention: Encourage natural predators such as dragonflies or praying mantises. Eliminate pools of stagnant water. Avoid wearing perfume, bright colors, flowery prints, and bright jewelry as these items attract mosquitoes.

Citronella: Burn citronella candles to repel insects.

Tansy or Basil: Plant tansy or basil around the patio and house to repel mosquitoes.

Potato Beetle

Horseradish: Plant horseradish near potatoes. The potato beetle hates horseradish.

Rabbits

Talcum powder: Rabbits hate talcum powder. Just dust a little on the ground or around the plants. Rain will wash it away, so add more.

Red Spider Mites

Salt: Solutions of an ounce of table salt to a gallon of water can be used against red spider mites.

Slugs and Snails

Natural Predators: Garter snakes, grass snakes, ground beetles, box turtles, salamanders, ducks, and larvae of lightning bugs all feed on snails.

Clay Pots: Place overturned clay flower pots near the shady side of a plant. Rest one edge on a small twig or make sure that the ground is irregular enough for the slugs and snails to crawl under the rim. They will collect there during the warmest part of the day. Remove slugs and snails regularly and drop in a bucket of soapy water.

Beer: Set out saucers or jars full of stale beer, placed below ground level near the gardens. The fermented liquid draws them and they drown.

Sand, Lime, or Ashes: Snails avoid protective borders of sand, lime, or ashes.

Tin Can: Protect young plants by encircling them with a tin can with both ends removed. Put the bottom end of the can into the soil.