Small Acts Of Kindness. Tip #1 Nurture Beneficial Insects For Pest Control

Overuse of chemical pesticides in doing terrible damage to natural ecosystems on farms, gardens and local environments.  We believe that everyone can make a difference to reduce the use of pesticides by eliminating them from our own small gardens.  Nature has solutions if we make the small efforts to activate them.  Nurturing beneficial insects can go a long way towards establishing a healthy naturally pest-free garden.

Utilizing beneficial insects for garden pest control is a natural and effective way to maintain a healthy garden ecosystem. Here's how you can easily attract and utilize these insects:

1. Identify Beneficial Insects: Familiarize yourself with beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and ground beetles. These insects prey on common garden pests.

2. Plant Attractive Flowers: Grow flowering plants that attract beneficial insects. Flowers like daisies, sunflowers, alyssum, and herbs like dill, fennel, and coriander are great choices.

3. Create a Habitat: Provide a habitat for beneficial insects by leaving some areas of your garden a little wild with logs, stones, and leaf litter where they can take shelter.

4. Avoid Pesticides: Chemical pesticides can kill beneficial insects as well as pests. Using them can upset the natural balance in your garden. If you must use pesticides, choose organic or natural options, and apply them carefully.

5. Provide Water Sources: A shallow dish of water or a birdbath can help beneficial insects stay hydrated. Be sure to change the water regularly to prevent mosquito breeding.

6. Introduce Beneficial Insects: If necessary, you can purchase beneficial insects like ladybugs or parasitic wasps from garden centers or online suppliers. Release them in your garden according to the supplier's instructions.

7. Nectar Plants: Plant nectar-rich flowers to provide food for adult predatory insects.

8. Use Companion Planting: Some plants can repel pests naturally and can be planted alongside your main crops. For example, marigolds are known to repel certain nematodes and other pests.