Page 34 - Bringing out the Potential In Our Children - Gardeners - Food Producers

Chapter 6: Doing Pest Control and Keeping Your Plants

Disease Free

A healthy garden is the best defence.

The very best thing you can do for your garden is to check it over regularly,
a wonderful pest control method too. Make it a regular thing, part of your

daily routine. Choose a time that fits into your daily schedule, say after
breakfast. Earlier in the day is best, before the heat of the day.

Take a tour around the garden. Check -
 the rain gage to see if the garden got any rain water.
 Look for dry looking plants and check the soil to feel if it is dry.

 Look for any unhealthy plants and watch for any bugs that may be
moving in to eat your plants.

Insects and disease are usually attracted to stressed, damaged or
otherwise unhealthy plants.

Easiest way to prevent insect damage in your garden is to discourage them
from coming in the first place. Instead attract beneficial insects by creating
a garden insectary. Earth Easy shows you how at:

http://eartheasy.com/grow_garden_insectary.htm

To keep your garden healthy -

 Pull out any weak plants.
 Build healthy soil
 Try foliar sprays (mentioned earlier). Seaweed spray is great if you

can get it.
 Minimize insect habitat. Clear garden area of debris and weeds which
are breeding places for insects. Use clean mulch.
 Interplant and rotate crops. Mixed plantings makes it much less likely
for pests to spread throughout a crop. Rotating crops each year helps