Minimizing Pests in the Garden Part 1
Gap-fill exercise. Fill in the blanks with words from the article.
Pests are part of any garden. Although their presence may be annoying, it is not always seriously destructive. In dealing with pests, it is important to consider that chemicals are
necessarily the first or only line of defense. This article lists some of the
and
methods used to reduce pests in the garden.
Physical
placed around some plants control certain insects.
Collars-Three- to four-inch upright cylinders of
, plastic or
inserted
inches
the soil surface prevent insects, such as
, from reaching and damaging
of plants.
Shields-Squares of
or
paper fitted snugly around the
of young
seedlings will prevent
from reaching the
.
Row Covers-Commercial spunbonded row covers or
can be used to
exclude cabbage maggots,
, leafminers,
, cucumber beetles,
and
; Remember to remove the cover from
-pollinated plants (squash, cucumbers and melons) when in
.
In biological control, pests are controlled by the introduction of
, parasites or
. This is an area many gardeners are exploring. Some biological controls are commercially available. One of the simplest to use is
(B. t.), a bacterium.
Tilling under crop
in the fall destroys the habitat for many
insects and plant
, thereby reducing their number the following year.
Insects may be
from the plant. This is one of the most
methods, especially when the pests are
, easily seen and relatively
. For example, Colorado potato beetle can be controlled this way. Insects may be killed by placing them in a bucket of water containing powdered
.
Maintain healthy plants. Horticultural practices, such as proper
preparation,
and
, will maintain plant vigor and reduce insect and disease damage. Plants under
are more apt to be
or damaged. Ideal germination conditions and rapid growth enable plants to out-compete or
.
young plants to avoid over-crowding and weak growth.
Properly
what is causing the problem. Determine if the pest is a
threat to the plant. Most garden plants can tolerate some insect
, and pests can be
after harvest. If the pest is very destructive, try to use the
method of pest control.
to plants should be avoided. Cuts, bruises and spots of insect damage are often sites of
infection. Check plants for injury and insects before
and
.