There are natural ways to keep pests at bay.
Pesticides don’t just kill the intended pests, but anything that feeds on them too – it can work its way right up the food chain. But the good news is you don’t need to use any chemicals! There are plenty of wildlife friendly methods to keep those pests in check!
Slugs
- Boil atremisia and rue, strain off the water and spray your plants with the liquid
- Lay prickly thistles or bracken between the plants
- Dry egg shells in the oven, when dry crunch them up and sprinkle between the plants
- If you have plants in pots surround the posts with copper tape, the slugs get a minor electric shock from the tape and turn back
Greenfly
- Spray plants with liquid seaweed
- Grow chives or parsley amongst the plants that are likely to be affected
- Soak nettles in rainwater for 3 weeks, then use the liquid as a spray on the plants
Whitefly
- Grow nasturtiums or marigolds amongst the plants likely to be affecte
White Butterfly
- Grow fragrant herbs such as hyssop, sage, thyme, mint or rosemary near the cabbages
Caterpillars
- Compost grown plants can normally withstand caterpillar damage with no long lasting effects
Ants
- Repel them by growing tansy or pennyroyal
- If ants are invading your house, find out where they are getting in and lay bay leaves along their track
- Plant peppermint near entrances or place crushed mint leaves near doorways
- To keep ants from entering the house (or anywhere else) sprinkle baby powder on entry points
Wood Pigeons
- Deter them by hanging up red rags or sacks
Written by Sharon Roberts