Pests and Organic Control

[peachguy]

I wanted to make a thread with links or just lists of garden pests and their corresponding organic controls, like their predators, plants they dislike, physical barriers or organic sprays that can be bought or made. I wanted to do this so most gardeners making an effort towards organic gardening can have a good list of organic controls. Also I thought with all of the smart and experienced gardeners here it would be a great info. page. So take it away!

[opabinia51]

Hi Peachguy, there is a great thread in the organic forum with lists of beneficial insects and I believe there is one on companion planting. I'll look for them and put them back up as stickies but, further discussion in here would also be great.

As always, any thought, advice and discussion welcome!

[opabinia51]

Hmmm, I guess we don't have a thread on companion planting.

Of course, the common threesome as far as companion planting/permaculture is concerned is affectionately called the Three Sisters Guild and consists of Corn, Beans and Squash. Potatoes are another companion plant of Corn but, Squash and Corn are reputed (so-called) enemies of one another and theoretically shouldn't be planted together.

I have planted them together before and had very nice results but, ere on the side of caution with that pairing.

Here are a couple of websites with information on companion planting:

https://www.eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/EAP55.htm
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html
https://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

Also, be sure to check out: Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway from your local library and give it a read. A wealth of information in there on both companion planting, permaculture, beneficial insects and so on. And I think that we have some articles on these topics in the main website that I edited.

[peachguy]

Thanks I thought you would answer this question, also is Rodale books good that is one that I am reading right now and there is a few more of them at my local Lib. but I couldn't Gaia's Garden I may have to buy it or going to the bigger city's Lib. to find it. I asked this question because from the books I have reading they always list the bad pest and don't really say what beneficials prey upon them. Also it talked about the bebeficials them selves but didn't give much info. on what plants they like. I read the beneficials thread but I thought I could more info from some books. Also I have been reading about mason bees and I am going to set about nesting at the beginning of march, and could I just roll paper and but it in the holes because they say to use paper straws but I can't find any. Alot of questions I just wrote srry for so many.

Oh yes I forgot I wanted to buy some beneficials from a store around here and I was thinking some ladybugs and preying mantis is it a good idea to buy because I haven't seen any around the yard last year. Also they sell traps with pheromones and would it be a good idea to buy the peach tree borer pheromones for the trap, just to catch any that come by or would it just attract unwanted attention from them if I didn't have a problem in the first place. (do you understand that sentence)

[Newt]

This site lists good and bad combos as well as the beneficial insects they attract.
https://www.moonsweb.com/companions.shtml

Some of this might be repiticious but I like the herb listings.
https://www.minifarmhomestead.com/gardening/companionplant.htm

This one lists beneficial insects as well as companion plants and insect repellent plants.
https://www.rexresearch.com/agro/comp1.htm

Here's some sites on beneficial insects.
https://www.drmcbug.com/beneficials.htm
https://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/Benefical_Insects.htm

This site is for New England but has organic pest management info.
https://pronewengland.org/INFO/PROInfoOrganic.htm

This site has loads of info on controlling pests without using pesticides. Be sure to click on the links on the right as well under 'Related Articles.
https://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-2-10-9,00.html

With this site you might be able to id what you see outdoors.
https://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/EntWeb/galleries/outdoor/beneficialneutral.html

As far as purchasing beneficials, I don't recommend it unless you have a problem that you can't control. If you purchase ladybugs and there's nothing for them to eat, they will just fly away in search of food. I always suggest that a person make themself familiar with what the different stages of development look like for beneficials. The nymph of the ladybug looks like a tiny black alligator. Be careful when pruning shrubs in late fall, winter and early spring. You might be pruning off twigs that have praying mantis egg cases attached to them. I've found several that way. I just put the pruned twig back into the bush until it hatches.

The best way to have beneficials around is to not use pesticides or herbicides, plant the flowers they prefer and be as organic as possible.

Newt

[opabinia51]

Rodales is a great book as well, I was going to recommend it so, thanks for bringing that up. Yes, Gaia's Garden has lists of beneficials and also goes into some depth describing the interaction of beneficial insects and pest insects. Check out our thread on beneficial insects as it has those relationships as well and not to mention what plants to plant to attract beneficial insects.

For instance, I have goldenrod in my garden, I plant marigolds to draw affids away from my food crops and others that I am currently forgetting. Phacelia is another good flower to plant, that is listed in Gaia's Garden as well.

Also, plant other plants to attract birds that will also eat pest insect, slugs and so on.

And yet even more information: Place some large rocks and other shady areas around your garden to provide habitats for garder (is it garder or gardner?) snakes. They will eat slugs. I use to have a huge problems with slugs in my garden but, with all the birds and (shudder) snakes in my garden I have not seen a slug in years.

And with the companion planting and plants to attract beneficial insects I have very little herbivory as well.

[peachguy]

If I may ask where did you get your goldenrod did you start it from seed or what because I can't find places that supply it.

[opabinia51]

Sure, I recieved it as a gift from the proprietor of our local organic nursery: THE GARDEN PATH. Unfortunately, she no longer runs the nursery because she is persuing selling her own brand of Certified Organic Seeds. Anyway, her name is Caroline Heriot. If you google her name you should be able to find her website. Perhaps she will ship some to you, you never know.

I will warn you that Goldenrod is on several invasive lists so, if you do grow it, watch it carefully such that it does not become a problem.

[peachguy]

Alrighty I will do.

[TheLorax]

Nice thread with info on companion planting. Bumping it because some of the links were great.

[opabinia51]

Thanks Lorax.