photo credit: James Jordan

People are either for or against the use of natural insecticides.  These decisions are often decided by circumstances.  How advanced is the insect infestation?  What are you allergic to?  What will harm your plants?  What will be safe to use around your children pets or livestock?  What is available and accessible to you and how fast can you get it?  Do you need to use more than one method of control and removal? And with today’s economy, what is cost effective?

To get the most benefit from natural insecticides, you’ll need to understand the best way to use them.  What will work best for the type of insect you’re trying to control? But even with natural mixes you need to be careful what you mix.  Certain combinations of substances are unsafe or toxic.

One of the biggest benefits of a natural insecticide is that it comes from nature in some form.  That doesn’t mean it’s problem-free.  It just means you’re benefiting the environment by using a safer product that is not full of toxic chemicals.

An example is liquid garlic. Garlic is a natural plant that is grown around the world.  It can be used to keep insects off garden or farm plants. Mix with water and a dash of dish soap and this easy solution will ward off many insects.

Another example is boric acid.  Boric acid is defined as a white crystalline weak acid that contains boron.  Boron is a mineral substance, and minerals are of the earth.

If you use things made with what the earth provides, you benefit and so does the earth, animals and humans.  Natural insecticides are not always the quickest way to solve your insect problem.  And it’s not always less harmful.  That’s why education on your choices is a must.

On-line sites will help you with natural insect mixes and green gardening techniques.  And you will find additional information at your local library or gardening books.

I have used natural insect control for many years. I have noticed the longer I use natural insecticides the less insects I seem to have and the healthier my overall yard is.

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© Denise for The Gardener's Rake, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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photo credit: quinn.anya

Another area that is often overlooked is looking in you own backyard for what’s green and growing naturally. You will be surprised how many natural herbs and other foraged items you can gather. Wild onions, wild carrots, and strawberries are only a few. You can also make you own tea blends that have twice the flavor of store bought teas.

There are many wild edible herbs that grow in your yard. I use dandelion in the spring and also harvest cattails, both of which I have a large supply. You may also have elderberry bushes, wild raspberries or blackberries too. It’s time to take a good look at your yard, evaluate what you have and plan for the future.

One of the easiest steps is to add a garden. This will give you fresh produce this season. You can also look for berry bushes to buy, which will produce quickly. Adding fruit trees and other fruit bushes will take a few years before you see results.

To plan for the future make a plan of your yard or land. If you replace older shrubs with berry bushes and other fruit bearing shrubs you will add to the environment and save on the cost of food at the same time. When removing older bushes see if anyone might like them. Community centers, parks and schools might be able to transplant them and renew their vitality.
photo credit: sociotard

You will want to dig up the area a where the bushes were and add compost to enrich the soil. It’s also wise to split any berry bushes and fruit bushes up on the property. By planting bushes in full sun and in partial sun beds you can eliminate some of the natural pests. Just be sure to keep feeding the bushes and garden areas compost and you will have plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in no time.

As your garden and berry bushes begin to produce swap extra produce with your friend and neighbors. Growing you own fresh produce means healthier food for you family and less of a strain on government farms that run large farm equipment. You also know the produce will not be polluted with strong chemicals.

Technorati Tags: gardening tips, green gardening

© Denise for The Gardener's Rake, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: gardening tips, green gardening

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