Transitioning to more environmentally friendly methods takes thought and effort, but reaps benefits in the long run. By designing and planting a landscape with certain principles in mind, you can create a garden where the use of pesticides will almost never be called for.
To Control Pests Naturally
Here are some basic tactics and strategies you can use to create landscape that can resist pests on its own, thereby reducing your need for pesticides. Try to use INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) to control pests. “With IPM, the focus is on preventing pest problems through healthy gardening practices and avoiding the use of chemicals when they are not really needed”. Many pesticides are very toxic to our water supplies. Less toxic chemicals include boric acid, diatomaceous earth (DE), soaps, and botanical oils.
Utilize Local Plant Life
Seek out plants that adapt well to your conditions. If you have clay soil in a hot area, you need to plant a tree that is adapted to clay soil in a hot area. Insects do recognize imbalance. They know the plant is suffering or is otherwise off balance, and they attack.
Encourage Biodiversity
Cultivating only one type of plant species, not only makes gardens more vulnerable to diseases, but also makes them more susceptible to attacks from insects. As a consequence, “We feel like there are a lot of pests out there because we’re planting things in a way that encourages pests".
To prevent your landscape from succumbing to a multitude of pests, layer your gardens with trees, shrubs, vines, perennials and annuals. Utilize plants with diverse leaf textures, different heights. You should also strive to have pollen and nectar available throughout the season by planting flowers that peak at different times.
Reduce Lawn Space
Here’s a disconcerting fact: Three times as much pesticide is used on lawn per acre than on agricultural crops. The greater the lawn, the more pesticides you will need to use. Steer your clients away from large lawns by positioning smaller ones as more environmentally—and economically—friendly. Watering lawns utilizes between 30 percent and 60 percent of urban water resources.
Pesticide Free Gardening
Creating a garden that has little to no reliance on pesticides for pest control will take some effort. If you are committed to creating an environmentally friendly landscape, understand that it can take up to a year to wean a garden or yard from heavy chemical use, but the eventual benefits usually outweigh the cost. After you’ve done this for a while you just get this wonderful garden where you’re not doing the work of controlling pests anymore. You have all these little garden allies doing it for you.
Professional Pest Control
And when you need to utilize a professional pest control service, call Lady Bug – Eco Friendly Pest Control. Our products are National Organic Program Compliant made with thyme oil, guava fruit, clove oil, chrysanthemums and other natural and botanical substances.
Contact Lady Bug Pest Control Specialists for a Free Home Inspection for Termites, Eco-Friendly Pest Control, Home Seal Service, Bed Bug Eco-Heat, and Rodent Control. We perform Complete Home Inspections. Lady Bug also will do a free inspection if you already are under contract with another company and take over your existing termite warranty policy.
Please feel free to contact Lady Bug Pest Control Specialists to answer
any of your pest control questions or for a free inspection at 480-833-1111.
