Natural ways to fight unwanted weeds
and insects in your garden
In addition
to the northwest’s often fickle weather, two of the biggest obstacles to a
beautiful, healthy garden are weeds and insects. Weeds are unwanted plants that
grow wild, often encroaching on your cultivated garden, damaging the root
systems and the plants themselves. Many weeds are labeled noxious, meaning they are damaging and non-native, spreading
aggressively and harming our pastures, ecosystems, and human / animal health.
The damaging potential of such weeds is serious enough that Washington state
passed a noxious weed law to control them. Some insects, like weeds, invade and
feed off your garden, also damaging roots and plants. It’s important to note
that in addition to insect pests, there are many “good” insects that are
natural pesticides.
Chemical pesticides can produce immediate results; however,
there are several drawbacks to this method that can be harmful and even fatal. Pesticide
poisoning in humans causes illness, cancer, and sometimes death. Children and
pets can track pesticide into your home putting everyone at risk. Pesticides
can also seep into the soil and water supply, increasing the risk of harm to
the ecosystem. In addition, pesticides can kill your healthy plants as well as
“good” insects that pollinate your plants and eat the “bad” bugs. There are
several alternatives to chemical pesticides that can keep weeds and bugs at bay
while minimizing risk of harm to people and damage to healthy plants and
animals.
To minimize weed growth: Planting
healthy plants will crowd out weeds. If you plant native plants, they will
thrive and crowd out noxious weeds. Use good soil and mulch to make weeds
easier to pull and prevent them from germinating. Cardboard sheets / newspaper,
covered with compost, chips, or stones, will smother weeds. Plant a variety of
different sizes to shade the ground; fewer weeds grow in the shade.
To minimize insect damage: Choose
pest-resistant plants (many native plants are pest-resistant). Keep plants
healthy, and clean out rotten and diseased plants, as insects are attracted to
unhealthy material. Attract pest-eating birds and bugs to your garden (many
native plants do this), as they will not only consume the bugs, but they will
pollinate your healthy plants. Welcome good bugs by planting nectar-producing
flowers.
Nature supplies us with countless ways
of dealing with unwanted pests and insects. If you decide to use a chemical
pesticide, be sure to carefully research its potential side effects. If you
have any questions about this, be sure to give us a call.
