Why Skip the Spray
Chemical pesticides kill pests fast, but they also wipe out beneficial insects, contaminate soil, and leave residues on food. A healthy garden balances itself when you stop disrupting the food web. Ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps do the heavy lifting if you give them habitat — flowering herbs, a water source, and zero broad-spectrum sprays.
Companion Planting Works
Strong-scented plants confuse pests. Basil near tomatoes repels hornworms. Marigolds deter nematodes. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids. Interplant onions with carrots to mask the carrot scent from flies. Diversity breaks pest cycles that monocultures invite.
Physical Barriers and Traps
Row covers stop cabbage moths before they lay eggs. Copper tape deters slugs. Beer traps catch them. Sticky cards monitor whiteflies. Hand-picking works for Japanese beetles and tomato hornworms — drop them in soapy water. These methods cost little and scale with observation, not calendar dates.
Soil Health Is Pest Control
Plants with balanced nutrition resist attack. Compost feeds soil microbes that unlock nutrients and trigger plant defenses. Mulch conserves moisture and hosts ground beetles that eat slug eggs. Rotate crops yearly to starve soil-borne pests. A living soil grows resilient plants that pests bypass.
