Safe Pest Control Tips
Pest control must be done with utmost
consideration to safety; safety in terms of the plants, animals and
humans. This holds especially true for those with vegetable and
organic gardens.
The main purpose of growing vegetables organically will be defeated
if they become tainted with pest control chemicals.
Here are a few long-term maintenance tips to make pest control less
damaging and more environmentally friendly.
1. Use the physical pest control process.
This may be accomplished through picking grubs off by hand, creating
barriers and traps and plugging holes. Snails can be found hiding in
damp places under rocks and towards the base of those plants with
strap-like foliage.
2. Apply biological pest control.
Encourage predatory insects such as green lacewings and dragonflies
to feed on aphids and other pests that attack your plants. You can
do this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden.
Dragonflies especially will hover around water. Bacterial
insecticides such as B. thuringiensis could also be used against
caterpillars.
3. Only as a last resort should we turn to chemical pest control.
Organic pest control methods can be successful and the ingredients
for many of the recipes can be found in the kitchen cupboards. If
chemical sprays are really necessary, try and find the least-toxic.
These include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, dehydrating
dusts, etc.
4. Consider the use of safer pest control substitutes.
Recipes for alternative pest control include the following:
Against Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and
a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup
of water and spray on aphids and mites.
Against Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be applied to cracks
or entry points of these insects. Bay leaves on pantry shelves could
also help in warding off these critters.
Make sure that the chemicals you use are made specifically for the
insects you are targeting.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
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generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
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