Organic Gardening: Ditch Pesticides for Good

Braconid Wasp cocoons latch onto a Tomato Horn Worm. The wasps feed on this garden pest. Photo: Flickr/Cindy Funk

3. Know your pests

So, you’re taking your daily walk through the garden, and you notice some unfamiliar creepy-crawlers on the leaves of your veggies. Now what?

“The next step is to make a proper identification,” Pleasant says. “Because most garden pests are well-known, if you can use the Internet you can do that pretty quickly.”

While searching out your pest’s identity, keep in mind that pests only attack particular plants. So, a Web search with the words “beetles on my potatoes” will yield better results than simply searching “garden beetles.”

“The ‘enemies list’ for most people turns out to be somewhat short, but you do have to get to know them because two pests are not managed the same way,” Pleasant says.

For the most accurate information about your pests, consult a local university extension service, Pleasant suggests. Most will provide a complete directory of insects likely to appear in your garden and ways to get rid of them.

Want More Tips?: Making Your Dreams a Reality: Organic Garden