While avoiding wildlife is nearly impossible, chemical pesticides are often an effective means of deterring unwanted insects. However, many gardeners are uncomfortable using these harsh chemicals that can leak into water supplies Pest Control Bromley and harm the environment. They also have concerns about using chemicals in the foods they feed their families. Here are some ideas for more organic pest control.
Crop Rotation:
Practising crop rotation every year in your vegetable garden and using companion plants will improve your soil and keep the pests under control. Most insects need time to become established in the soil. They may take two to three seasons to get their life cycle established. By practising vegetable rotation and varying the type of plants grown in a particular area from year to year, you can avoid establishing plant-specific types of garden pests.
Companion Planting:
Certain varieties of garden plants are less attractive to pests. To deter rabbits, plant green onions amongst the lettuce plants. And when planted near each other, cucumbers will prevent raccoons from eating all the sweet corn, while the corn will reciprocate by preventing
Carrots on the other hand are nearly every garden pest’s friend. To control the carrot, fly pest, plant onions, rosemary, or leeks nearby. Potatoes like to be planted near corn, horseradish, broccoli, cabbage, and peas. Avoid planting by tomatoes, melon, and cucumbers.
Some vegetable gardeners plant pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers among the corn. The heavy growth and scratching of the vines and leaves help keep rabbits, raccoons, and other hungry critters at bay.
Tricks of the Trade:
In addition to the planting methods described above, there are several non-pesticide options for organic pest control. Human or dog hair spread around the garden and hung from tree limbs acts as a good pest repellent, as do bars of soap hung from shepherds’ hooks or laid right in the soil. Stir do not like the smell of rotting eggs, so a mixture of 9 eggs with 2.5 gallons of water sprayed on ½ acre of the crop will deter deer from entering the area, but the solution is diluted enough to avoid annoying humans.
Deer tend to be nervous and many of the animals and can be scared off by annoying wind-activated garden fixtures, plastic foil tape, scarecrows, and whirligigs. Those that make noise, such as squeaking, fluttering, or tinkling, work best. You may have to move these items around and rotate selection to keep the deer from getting used to them. Dogs are also a good source to keep watch over the garden and help scare off unwanted wildlife diners.
Tall fences planted firmly in the ground are the best way to keep deer out of the vegetable garden. An inexpensive chicken-wire fence at least 24 inches high is often enough to keep those pesky rabbits out of your garden. Or a solution of cayenne pepper spray on the plants after rain will sometimes deter rabbits from nibbling. The blood meal, which rabbits do not favour, can be sprinkled around when planting. The flavour will absorb through the root system of the vegetables, making them less appetizing. An ongoing garden pest control, blood meal can be added to the soil every two weeks or three weeks if it is heavily affected.