How to protect your garden organically
Protecting your garden from creatures big and small is never an easy task. Some animals and insects can bring vital nourishment to your plants, but others only hinder their progress.
In the fight against aphids, slugs, snails and other unwanted visitors, gardeners all too often turn to artificial chemical treatments. These may solve the issue of pests, but your garden ecosystem and plants are likely to suffer too.
Why use organic methods to protect your garden?
Your garden is a natural ecosystem that tends to regulate itself. The introduction of chemical compounds found in pesticides can throw off the balance of this system and lead to widespread damage up and down the food chain.
Chemical pesticides can reduce the quality of soil, hindering plant growth and nourishment. Residue left on plants can impact wildlife greatly. Bees are so important for garden pollination, but they can be killed if exposed to harsh chemicals. Other animals and insects can be poisoned or forced to relocate because of a lack of uncontaminated food.
In contrast, natural protective measures maintain the balance of your garden ecosystem and can much more effectively protect your plants from specific pests. The health of your plants, soil and surrounding wildlife will surely benefit.
With sustainability being such a focus across society, making your gardening practices more environmentally conscious is a great approach, as Deborah Wood from Premier Polytunnels notes:
“Growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs not only reduces your yearly food bill and puts you in control of how much pesticide is used. It also allows you to feed your family healthy, delicious meals straight from your garden. Sustainable gardening is food for the soul too – spending time outside can take you away from daily stresses and help you express your creativity, and it’s also a great form of exercise!”
How to protect your garden with organic methods
Netting and polytunnels
Putting physical barriers between plants and pests is one of the most common methods of organic pest control. You can protect your plants without harming wildlife in the process.
Netting over cloches and tunnels look more natural and exposes the plants growing within, whereas polytunnels provide more shade and almost act like a greenhouse to optimise growing conditions.
Managing wildlife
Your ecosystem may need a little helping hand to manage pests from time to time. By attracting certain kinds of predators and wildlife, you can control pests more naturally. Ladybirds, frogs, hedgehogs and birds are all great at doing your pest control for you!
Beekeeping
Incorporating beekeeping into your gardening practices not only enhances the health of your plants but also supports the broader ecosystem. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating a wide variety of plants, ensuring that flowers, fruits, and vegetables thrive. By maintaining a beehive in your garden, you create a symbiotic relationship where the bees have a safe habitat and ample food sources while your plants receive the essential pollination they need to produce robust yields. Providing bee syrup as a supplementary food source can help sustain your bee colonies, especially during times when nectar is scarce, ensuring they remain active and healthy.
This natural pollination method is far more effective and sustainable than relying on artificial means. Additionally, beekeeping encourages biodiversity and helps combat the decline in bee populations, which is critical for maintaining ecological balance. Thus, integrating beekeeping into your organic gardening strategy not only protects your garden but also promotes environmental health.
Deterrents
It is possible to recycle and repurpose things such as eggshells, copper piping, plastic bottles and straw to deter pests. Slugs don’t like eggshells or copper piping, for example. Surrounding the base of plants with straw and bottles can act as another barrier to pests.
Companion planting
Positioning certain kinds of plants close together can be mutually beneficial. Some strong-scented plants such as lavender and rosemary can repel pests just from smell, while others can attract predators to help keep pest populations under control.
