Organic Gardening

 

When I first moved to my current home, the yard was nearly devoid of animal life. We had several fire ant mounts. But no lizards scampering up the side of the house; no ladybugs munching aphids on the rose bush; just plants, grass and ants.

 

 

The previous owners apparently had a yard service that sprayed chemicals monthly, killing every living thing w/ poison.  As parent, dog owner and vegetable gardener the thought of dangerous poisons all over my yard made me cringe.

 

 

Thanks to a neighbor I quickly learned ways to control the pests without using poisons that might endanger my dog or my two little boys.  At the top of my list was controlling the fire ants, creatures who withstood even the ant killer granules and bait that had been spread on the yard. After a bit of research I learned that beneficial nematodes are known to kill fire ants. They are a bit more expensive than the poison and require application at night because sunlight kills the nematodes. But, since they also kill other ground dwelling pests, like grub worms, it was worth the trouble.

 

 

Now, each April I mix the nematodes with water and spray my yard in the dark. If it hasn’t rained recently, you need to water before and after applying the nematodes. I try to spray just after a good rain. The next morning the kids can walk barefoot on the lawn because the nematodes are harmless to humans.

 

 

When I purchased the nematodes I found my local garden shop also stocks other “good bugs” – lady bugs, praying mantids and green lacewings. Though we didn’t yet have trouble with aphids, I picked up a box of lady bugs for the kids. A year later I got some praying mantid eggs for a science project, figuring a bug that ate all sorts of other bugs was worth the investment.

           

Since I was no longer spraying with poisons, slowly the “bad bugs” returned. The ladybugs seemed to be taking care of the aphids, but my garden attracted spider mites and tiny ants trying to eat the sweet nectar on my okra plants. Luckily, spider mites can be controlled with a quick spray of homemade spray. Just mix a quart of water with 1 ½ teaspoons of dish soap, put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the affected plants each morning for a few days. Be sure to get the undersides of the leaves.

 

 

As for the ants, they can be controlled by putting baking soda around the base of the affected plants.

 

 

Now, my yard is full of geckos, lizards, ladybugs and praying mantids, all feasting on the bugs I don’t want. And, the fire ants are almost completely gone. Most years we don’t see any mounds after my one application of nematodes. According to the box, the nematodes stay in the soil for up to two years, but I apply them annually.

 

 

Now I just have to decide if I want to put some cayenne pepper on my basil plants to discourage the bunny that’s been nibbling them or just consider him a new pet and keep planting more.