Garden Tips and Gardening Advise

In nature, pests are usually controlled by the presence of insect predators and parasites which keep the populations of the harmful insects in control.

Most of the insects in nature are either beneficial or at least harmless. There are many ways to encourage insect predators in one's garden.

1. Create a suitable habitat for insect
    predators

    Flowering shrubs and trees throughout the
    garden will attract many beneficial insects
    including parasitic wasps which require
    pollen and nectar for their growth and
    maturity.

    Plants belonging to Umbelliferae family are
    particularly effective in attracting natural
    enemies of pests.

2. Provide alternate hosts for pests

    To ensure availability of food for the beneficial organisms, grow alternate host plants along fence
    lines and in between cultivated crops. The natural enemy populations on these alternate host
    plants will control pests attacking the cultivated crop.

3. Create nesting sites for frogs, reptiles and birds

    Logs of dead trees, irregularly shaped rocks with crevices and cavities and plenty of mulch can
    be a good nesting sites for snakes, lizards, frogs, rove beetles and carabid beetles and carabid
    beetles, which feed on insects.

4. Increase humidity by providing water holes

    Humidity is much needed for the survival of natural enemies. It serves as a source of drinking
    water for reptiles, birds and frogs. Many predatory insects live in, on and near water. Well-
    vegetated small dams, little water pools and swales scattered throughout the garden will create
    conditions for the build-up of natural enemies.

5. Practice mixed crops and harvesting them in strips help maintain natural enemies and
    confuses pests.

    For fungal pathogens, the practice of mixed cropping is desirable as the root exudates of
    another crop can be toxic to the pathogen. Mixed cropping also encourages soil microbes
    which, in turn, act as barriers to the fungal pathogen.

6. Reduce dust build up in crop plants

    Dust inhibits the functioning of natural enemies. Growing well-designed windbreaks and ground
    cover crops like centrosema and lablab bean will reduce dust. Use of overhead sprinklers will
    also help periodically in washing off the dust.

7. Avoid spraying chemical pesticides

    Chemical pesticides eliminate beneficial insects. If pest infestation reaches economic threshold
    levels and spraying cannot be avoided, use selective chemical, such as:

    a. soil incorporated granular systematic insecticides for sucking insects;
    b. stomach poisons; avoid broad-spectrum contact poisons
    c. insecticides with short-term residual action rather than persistent action.

Improved application method should be developed and minimum doses should be applied.