Why use environmentally friendly pest controls? It is known that chemical pesticides kill insects effectively but these chemicals can also be toxic to humans and animals alike and lead to environmental issues if not used correctly and properly managed. On the other hand natural pesticides are usually more environmentally friendly and are more conducive to environmental sustainability.

The following list contains environmentally friendly ideas for pest control in your garden. They are worth trying before using chemical pesticides.

1. A saucer of beer will lure and drown slugs and snails.
2. To keep birds from eating your home grown fruit drape bird netting over trees or alternatively hang aluminum pie dishes or old CDs from the branches to create a reflection to scare the birds away.
3. Aphids can be squashed by hand, or blasted with a garden hose (water restrictions permitting). Aphids can also be deterred by making a nasturtium spray. The spray is made by taking one cup of nasturtium leaves and one cup of water and gently bringing to the boil over 15 minutes. When the mix is cool, strain and spray.
4. To protect young seedlings create a protective collar from an old yogurt container.
5. To combat mildew quarter fill a rubbish bin with seaweed, cover with water and leave for several weeks. Dilute the mix to the ratio of one part seaweed stew to six parts water before application. 
6. To deter aphids and caterpillars make a spray by boiling rhubarb leaves in water. Strain the mix and dilute to the ratio of one part rhubarb to four parts water.
7. Gritty sawdust spread around seedlings will deter snails and slugs who dislike the texture.
8. Used coffee grounds spread around seedlings will kill slugs and snails.
9. Control pear and cherry slug by throwing wood ashes into the affected trees. The ashes dehydrate the slugs.
10. Make a chive spray to reduce mildew on zucchini and squash plants by steeping 1 cup of chopped chive leaves and three cups of water for several hours. Strain and add an equal part of water before spraying.
11. Make a chamomile spray to help prevent damping off fungus and powdery mildew by steeping one cup of chamomile in three cups of boiling water. After several hours strain and mix with an equal part water before spraying.

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Nancy Conlon - Eco Friendly Gardening   | 203.87.24.xxx | 2008-02-06 21:05:05 Thank you for posting these eco friendly pest control ideas! So many of these good old pre-pesticide remedies have been forgotten over the years. I have another one for you that I remember from one of my long deceased relatives: To keep mosquitoes and fleas off of pets and away from the house and garden, plant Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium, family Lamiaceae) in pots or plant beds. It is a member of the mint genus and has a very strong spearmint fragrance, SO GARDENERS SHOULD BE CAREFUL USING PENNYROYAL AROUND CHILDREN AND PETS! Pennyroyal is extremely concentrated and highly toxic, even in small doses. The leaves can be dried and crushed, then placed inside pet beds with cedar shavings to help keep fleas and mosquitos away. Fresh leaves can be harvested, crushed and boiled in water for 20 mins. to make a tea; allow the tea to cool, strain, and pour full strength or diluted into a plastic spray bottle to use as an insect repellant on clothing, lawn furniture, etc. Be sure chil... Reply 3   0

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