There are many important elements of eco-gardening that we’ve talked about on the blog before, including incorporating native plants into your landscape and attracting pollinators to your garden.

Today we’re diving into another highly-requested topic: handling pests and diseases without the use of chemicals. First, we’ll talk about the important step of prevention, so that you encounter fewer pests and diseases. Then, we’ll dive into what to do when you do come across pests and diseases, because they are inevitable for every gardener.

Preventing Pests & Diseases

Improve & Nurture Your Soil

We’ve talked a lot about the importance of soil on the blog, from improving its quality with composting to the essential formula you should know. By having healthy soil, your garden has a healthy foundation, making your plants less susceptible to disease and pest pressure.

Get a soil test done to assess the health of your soil, and then you can check out this free guide to learn about improving its quality based on the results of your soil test.

Keep Plants Healthy

This goes hand in hand with having healthy soil, as healthy soil fosters the growth of healthy plants. However, sometimes you’ll still see pests, diseases, and other issues with your plants. Spacing your plants to allow for good air flow will help prevent fungal issues. When you see a diseased leaf, snip it off. If you find pests on a plant, remove them using some of the methods below.

By allowing for good air flow, keeping up with pruning, and removing pests, you’re proactively taking steps to keep the overall plant healthier. Additionally, if your plants aren’t looking their best, assess their needs to see if they’re getting the proper sunlight, water, and nutrients. Heavy feeders such as roses and dahlias may need to be fertilized regularly.

Treating Pests & Diseases

Spray with Soapy Water

Some pests will be killed by soapy water, as it disrupts their thin skin and membranes, causing them to burst. You can use soapy water on aphids, thrips, scale crawlers, spider mites, and mealybugs. Be sure to spray in the early morning or evening, and not when the heat of the sun can burn the leaves. You can also

Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth, or DE, is a natural method of killing pests such as slugs, aphids, and many other bugs. It is made from the fossilized remains of microalgae that have been crumbled into a fine white powder. The sharp and jagged molecular structure of DE damages the outer layer of these soft tissue pests and causes them to dry out and die. We use DE as a preventative measure early in the season to help manage slugs and to kill the larvae of other pests. Make sure to get the food-grade DE (affiliate link) for use in your garden.

There are other organic pesticides you can use in your garden, and we have a few recommendations in our Amazon Storefront that you can take a look at.

Encourage Natural Predators

Attracting toads, birds, and spiders to your garden will help with pest control. According to Fine Gardening, spiders eat more bugs in the garden than birds do!

To attract these helpful predators, try the following:

For toads, offer small, dark places where they can burrow, such as under logs, rocks, or bushes.
To attract birds, provide water with a simple birdbath; add birdhouses to your garden, and be sure there are nearby trees and shrubs where they can safely perch while they scout for bugs.
For spiders, offer native plants in your garden, as these attract other bugs, which attract spiders. Additionally, leave a few spider webs unharmed in your garden.

Trapping

Simple traps can catch a common garden pest: earwigs. Use an empty tuna or cat food can, add a 1/2 inch of vegetable oil, and place the traps around the garden. When the cans fill with earwigs, they can be emptied into the soapy water with the other pests.

Companion Planting for Pest Management

Create a system of companion planting to enhance soil fertility and pest control. Integrate flowers and herbs that work harmoniously together, reducing the need for chemical interventions and promoting a thriving, balanced garden. While there are many different plants that deter pests from your garden, these are a few of our favorites:

Calendula not only repel mosquitoes, but they also attract beneficial bugs that eat aphids, thrips, and other pests. This is why calendula can function well as a “trap crop” to bring in pests like aphids, just to be eaten by the beneficial bugs which the flowers also attract. Borage and Nasturtium also function as trap crops similar to Calendula

Lavender is a powerful repellent, chasing away moths, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes.
Basil repels mosquitoes, flies, and whiteflies, among others, while attracting beneficial pollinators to your garden.
Marigolds can repel pests like aphids and nematodes. They can also deter rabbits and deer from browsing in vegetable gardens.
Chives can protect against cabbage moths, aphids, and spider mites.

Keep Your Tools Clean

Keep any equipment that will be touching plants clean and sterilized, from snips to the buckets you place harvested blooms in. We sterilize our clippers with rubbing alcohol, and you can wash your buckets with soap and water. There’s a saying among gardeners that your buckets should be clean enough to drink out of, and it’s true! Keeping all of your equipment as clean as can be will help to avoid harmful bacteria spreading through your crops.