Eco Friendly Solutions for Garden Pests

Spring has sprung here in the South as is evidenced by the fully blossomed cherry trees whose fragrant petals today began to gently and smoothly drift amid the warm breeze speckling the ground with patches of glorious white fluff. A much more welcome experience than the rare similar scene in February when snow fell for the first time in many years here in the southern city of Valdosta Georgia.

The uplifting song of bluebirds greeting the sunrise, ladybugs scampering on the bark of the still dormant pecan trees and untilled fields covered with the vibrant red purple blooms of clover are all sure signs that it is once again time to begin gardening.

I would like to share with you today a few common, eco friendly, low cost solutions to use while gardening which will help to preserve the balance and abundance of nature and still detour your garden from damage from pests and pesky critters.

I grew up in a basically organic remedy household and I remember many spring and summer evenings how entire families in the neighborhood would sit near their gardens and bang on pots, pans and metal buckets to prevent the huge black cloud like masses of starlings on the way to their nightly roosting point from swooping in and devouring strawberries, stripping peas and destroying other plants in the process. It was almost like hearing a storm siren as the sound of clanging grew louder and closer. It was a sure alarm that "they" were coming.

Another thing that seemed to be very helpful was stringing a line with aluminum throw away pie pans placed close enough together that the wind would cause them to make noise above the rows of what birds seemed to like. Small shepherd hooks with windchimes will have the same effect and are more pleasing to the human ear, if there is a wind. The added benefit of the mirror bright light reflection off the pie pans when there is no wind is a bonus effect I'm sure.

For things that are caged or on trellises such as grapes, berries tomatoes etc you can purchase netting that allows sun and rain in but keeps the birds out.

An effective spray to prevent any pests from bothering your garden including bugs, rabbits,rodents birds deer and polar bears :) is to make an organic spray made from "hot" "nasty" and "bitter" plants. One taste and all pests are gone and they will stay gone.

To make such a spray combine hot pepper, hot sauce, onion and garlic (wild or tame), cayenne pepper, horseradish, bar bitters, lemon peelings, banana peels and anything organic that has a hot, bitter or nasty taste to it in a pot of water and cook it. It is best if you can do this outside as the mixture could possibly burn your eyes while cooking. A turkey fryer, grill burner or camp stove would be great for this. Make large amounts at one time and store it in the shed in milk jugs for future use. When everything is cooked down, let it cool, strain it and then spray your plants with it using a garden sprayer. Always do a test spot on different types of plants to insure it is not so hot it burns the plant. It is best to apply this either in the morning or evening but never in the hot bright sun.

This must be reapplied after rain and it will eventually wear off because of dew. You will know when it is time when damage reappears in your garden.
Remember that during bloom time this should not be applied to the flowers so that pollination can occur.

Another thing I like to do is place a free flying mini kite in my garden. Here is how I do it.

Place a very tall pole about 8 ft high in the center of the garden. I use old aluminum poles from a cheap awning that is no longer usable. About 4" from the top of the pole put a hose clamp around pole and tighten. Next place two washers with a large surface area and with a loose o ring or plastic curtain ring in between the two washers. To hold everything onto the pole place another clamp around the pole about 2" from the top. Yes, tighten this one too.

Then go to the toy section of your local department or big box store and buy a mini kite. Last year they were about $3.00 and come in all kinds of designs from birds, fish, turtles etc. Attach the kite on a string just high enough to keep it from getting tangled in the plants and still reachable (about 6 ft or so.) Tie the kite string onto the ring between the washers.

When the wind blows the kite flies around in a 6 ft circle in the garden and does entertaining dives and aerobatics. I find this nice to watch and the movement keeps the birds away.

Hope this helps.

Happy gardening!