Q: How can I fight pests in the garden without using chemicals? A: Natural remedies for reducing pest problems include the following:
- Use a hose to blast away pests with water.
- Mix a tablespoon of corn oil and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a pump-action spray bottle of water. Spray the solution on the plants, completely covering all sides of the leaves.
- Hang sticky whitefly traps in the garden to capture pesky airborne bugs. The color attracts bugs and the tacky substance on its surface keeps bugs from escaping. These are sold in most nurseries.
- Attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs to the garden; these insects eat mites and aphids. Ladybugs can be bought in containers, or they can be attracted to the garden naturally by planting fennel or other plants the bugs favor.
- A magnifying glass and a flashlight are two invaluable bug-hunting tools. The magnifying glass can be used to identify bugs, making it easier to determine the next course of action. Use the flashlight at night to look in crevices to find where snails hide, then remove them.
--Kathleen Brenzel, Senior Editor, SunsetMagazine
Guests Kathleen Brenzel
Senior Editor,
Sunset Magazine
80 Willow Rd.
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3591
Phone: 650-321-3600
Toll-free: 800-227-7346
Fax: 650-327-7537
Website:
www.sunsetmagazine.com
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