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Organic Pest Control

There are 90 species of bees in the Bay Area. Some native bees like to burrow in the soil, so organic gardeners should take care not to apply pesticides to flower buds or the base of plants. 

Did you know that different types of bees emerge during different seasons? There are bees who emerge in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Therefore, because bees are present year-round in California, there is no safe time to use pesticides in our gardens.

Surprisingly, many natural pesticides and DIY garden remedies can harm bees and other pollinators. The following natural pesticides should be used with extreme care or avoided* to protect bees:
Organic Pest Control
You can protect native bees by avoiding the use of pesticides in your garden. 

For more information check out what the bee experts at 
UC Berkeley’s Urban Bee Lab have to say.

WHAT IS A FRUSTRATED GARDENER TO DO?

When it comes to pests prevention is key. Watering regularly, and weeding are a few basic tasks which protect your garden and prevent pests. Below are my tried and true garden solutions for natural pest control.

1. Keep Soil Healthy

See 5 Reasons to Say No to Tilling

Soil is your crop’s immune system and first line of defense against diseases and pests. In a way pests in your garden are good since their presence lets you know your soil is weak and that it’s time to add compost or fertilizer. Don’t till your soil which will weaken it further making it more susceptible to pests. Do add compost immediately to the crown of affected plants. Nematodes are a pest that emerges Awww in poor soil to attack plants’ roots.

2. Companion Planting

Add companion plants to your garden which repel common pests such as aphids nematodes and horn-worm. Did you know that roses love garlic? Garlic planted near roses repels aphids (nasty black dots often all over roses) to allow your roses to thrive.
-Plant Marigolds to protect plants’ roots from nematode a..
-Plant chamomile which repels all types of nasty bugs.
-Plant beans to protect corn from pests 
-Plant basil with tomatoes to deter tomato hornworm 

3. Attract Beneficial Insects

See Attracting Beneficial Insects and Pollinators

Some plants attract beneficial insects like lady bugs, parasitic wasps and lacewing larvae who love to eat aphids. Plant dill, alyssum, fennel and spearmint to attract ladybugs

4. Don’t Over-crowd Plants

Know and respect each plant’s spread to avoid encouraging pests and disease.

5. Physical Pest Control

- White cabbage moth is territorial so plastic white cut-outs on sticks in your cabbage bed deters them.
- Remove pest such as tomato hornworms by hand in the early morning (basil plants deter them too!)
- Wash aphids off affected plants with a high pressure setting on your hose. Do this in the evening in summer and morning in winter to avoid encouraging disease.
-Set traps for slugs and snails by leaving a large flower pot upside down tilted up with a rock. Slugs will be drawn to this convenient hiding spot and you will be able to easily find them to remove from your garden.

 6. Pull Weeds. 

Weeds attract pests. Weeds near your plants can help pests spread.

7. Water Regularly

Watering fruit trees regularly in the drier months preventS spider mites, they like to attach themselves to dried out plants.

8. Keep A Tidy Garden

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