An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Plants have their own internal defenses against pests and diseases. But, just like people, stressed plants are more susceptible to illness and increased pressure from the world around them. How do plants get stressed?
- Too much or too little water
- Soil nutrients are deficient or imbalanced
- Soil is compacted (not enough air in the soil)
- Plants are getting too little or too much sun
- Plants are too close together
So water well, care for your soil, and plant the right plants in the right spot (sun, soil, and plant spacing) and you will have many fewer garden problems that need fixing.
Variety is the spice of life
Nature works with you when you plant a wide variety of plants (including flowers) in your vegetable garden. When we increase biodiversity in the garden, we can reduce the frequency and severity of damage from pests and diseases. Beneficial insects (wasps, hoverflies, ladybugs, spiders) attracted to your beautiful garden will make a home there and eat many of the pests before they cause any significant damage. If a plant does get sick or attacked the problem won’t be as likely to spread to other unrelated plants.
These preventative measures will help a ton but there will still be some hungry critters who find a delicious plant you are growing for yourself to feed themselves. There are some safe and effective strategies you can use when your plants need a little extra help defending themselves.
Safe Garden Sprays
Safely prevent many pests and diseases
