Pest control must be done with utmost consideration to safety;safety in terms of the plants, animals and humans. This holdsespecially true for those with vegetable and organic gardens.

The main purpose of growing vegetables organically will bedefeated if they become tainted with pest control chemicals.

Here are a few long-term maintenance tips to make pest controlless damaging and more environmentally friendly.

1. Use the physical pest control process.

This may be accomplished through picking grubs off by hand,creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. Snails can befound hiding in damp places under rocks and towrds the base ofthose plants with straplike foliage.

2. Apply biological pest control.

Encourage predatory insects such as green lacewings anddragonflies to feed on aphids and other pests that attack yourplants. You can do this by placing a shallow bowl of water inthe garden. Dragonflies especially will hover around water.Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis could also beused against caterpillars.

3. Only as a last resort should we turn to chemical pest control.

Organic pest control methods can be successful and theingredients for many of the recipes can be found in the kitchencupboards. If chemical sprays are really necessary, try and findthe least-toxic. These include insecticidal soaps, horticulturaloils, dehydrating dusts, etc.

4. Consider the use of safer pest control substitutes.

Recipes for alternative pest control include the following:

Against Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soapand a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solutionin a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.

Against Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be applied tocracks or entry points of these insects. Bay leaves on pantryshelves could also help in warding off these critters.

Make sure that the chemicals you use are made specifically forthe insects you are targeting.

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