Controlling Pests With Organic Gardening

The idea of organic gardening pest control is not a new theory, and in fact is as old as agriculture. The problem is that since World War II organic pest control has been replaced in civilized countries with man-made pesticides that are detrimental to both the environment and to the people who consume the plants on which the products are sprayed. Today people are returning to organic gardening pest control and choosing to reject, or at least restrict, the use of man-made pesticides. There are varying beliefs on the use of these products, with some people opposing their use only on food crops, whereas others simply try to reduce their use as much as possible.

There are a variety of sensible reasons that appeal to logic for using organic gardening pest control methods. Most importantly, if pesty insects are left alone, free of pesticides, they ae less likely to become resistant "super bugs". Organic methods tend to be less polluting and blend into the ecosystem around it instead of disrupting it. In addition, because many of the pesticides that are available are derivatives of petrochemicals, their costs are higher, thus making alternatives more attractive. Whatever the reasons may be for avoiding their use, the organic gardener has to be prepared to work in order to make up for the loss of those chemical products that he chooses to abstain from using.

Natural gardeners have a number of valuable, non-chemical methods that they can use to manage garden vermin. Using a method known as varietal selection, where pest and disease resistant seeds are used, is one of the easiest ways to avoid pest problems. The cultural control method of organic gardening pest control involves changing your gardening methods in order to reduce the hospitality that your garden offers to pests. This may mean removing or burning diseased plant material and destroying weeds and plan debris that provide hiding places for insects. Using stakes to keep fruits off the ground as well as pruning to remove diseased limbs, removing sickly plants, proper building of the soil, and making sure the plants are in raised areas in rainy seasons also help control diseases and pests. Crop rotation can also help in the prevention of disease and in pest control.

Pesticides show quick results as compared to the methods which are used in non-pesticide pest control, but in the long run non pesticide methods are more advantageous as they are not only safer but their effect is far reaching too. They repel the insects during the season they are used and prevent them from appearing again in other crops. Organic gardening pest control may be a longer process, but it is well worth the effort.