So you’ve decided to go chemical-free on your garden, which is great for yourself and for the earth. But, organic gardening often means more insects, diseases, and weeds harming your plants. Here are several techniques which will help reduce pest problems in your organic garden:
A. Plant natives. Native plants have developed a resistance to the insects and diseases common to the area and so will maintain health without our intervention.
B. Buy varieties with resistance or tolerance to disease – our seed packages and individual plant markers will indicate any disease resistance/tolerance, as will the Sunset Garden Book and other garden manuals.
C. Rotate vegetable families. Pests and disease-causing organisms often increase when the same type of plant is continuously grown in the same location, and rotating your crops can reduce insect and disease damage.
D. Companion planting, planting other plants to lure insects away from your crop plants, often reduces insect damage. Planting a scented plant next to your crop plants can mask or hide the crop plants from insect pests; good choices include alyssum, scented marigold, mint, basil, rosemary, garlic, and lavender. These plants also create habitat for the development of large beneficial insect populations such as lacewings and ladybugs. Companion plants can also be used as trap crops in the garden, by offering insects an alternate food source. These trap crops are rarely harvested, planted instead as a “sacrificial' plant at the edges of the vegetable garden. Nasturtiums are popular trap crops.
E. Keep your garden tidy. Remove diseased plants promptly to prevent the disease from spreading. Keep gardens weed-free, since weeds often serve as a reservoir of insect and disease problems.
F. Avoid overhead irrigation. Wet leaves can help increase plant infections
G. Go by the spacing recommendations: placing plants too closely results in slower air movement through plant foliage, slower leaf drying and often greater disease problems.
H. Mulch. Mulching helps stop the spread of fungal spores onto the undersides of leaves, the starting point for many fungal infections.
I. Buy healthy, high quality plants as you’ll find at Marin Ace.
Marin Ace is one of only 14 stores in the state participating in an EPA grant called “Greener Pesticides for Cleaner Waterways”. Please join us on Sunday, May 19, 11-2 and meet our resident expert IPM Advocate Anne Rogers who works on behalf of the grant and helps you troubleshoot your pest problems the least toxic way. Cosponsored locally by Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP ) – the people who bring you the “Our Water Our World” labels throughout Marin Ace, highlighting the least toxic choices in pest management.
For more gardening tips or detailed advice on home improvement, visit Marin Ace or log on to www.acehardware.com and click “Tips & Advice”. This section provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on common home improvement projects for do-it-yourselfers. You’ll find many greener pesticides and fertilizer options throughout Marin Ace Hardware, San Rafael’s new-ish mom & pop hardware store since 12/11. Marin Ace is located at 180 Merrydale Road in San Rafael, the former Sizzler location, and is open daily, M-F 7-7, S-S 8-6. For more information, visit the store at www.MarinAce.com or call 415/479-9393. Marin Ace was proud to be selected as one of only 14 stores in the state participating in an EPA grant titled “Greener Pesticides for Cleaner Waterways”. Visit Marin Ace 5/19 and 6/15 to get your integrated pest management questions answered by our resident expert from the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program.
