Chemical-Free Gardening: Natural Pest Control That Works

By Teri Silver

Nature at its finest — that’s what chemical-free gardening and organic pest control bring to Mother Earth. Managing biodiversity, encouraging beneficial insects, and planting companion flowers, shrubs, and vines help to keep the earth thriving and healthy. 

Synthetic chemicals may keep weeds out of your lawn and garden, but they also contribute to ecological pollution of ground water and watersheds.

Applying chemical-free weedkillers and pest control to lawns and gardens promotes biodiversity and cleaner living. 

Biodiversity Explained

Biodiversity — short for biological diversity — connects microbes, genes, and organisms to the ecosystems that bring us life. It’s a rather complex system, but in the end, one that functions together for humans, animals, and natural resources. 

Native trees and plants need a well-functioning biodiverse system for growing healthy greenery. 

Why Natural Pest Control?

Organic (natural) pest control lessens pollinator decline. Pollinating birds, bees, butterflies, and moths are very important to the earth’s biodiversity by transporting nectar from here to there.

Pollinators and beneficial insects eat other bugs that damage and destroy plant life. Insect pest management is part of an overall plan for a healthy environment.  

Beneficial Insects

Insects may bug us, but in the garden, not all bugs are the enemy. Beneficial insects like spiders, lacewings, and beetles prey on other bugs. Parasitic insects lay their eggs inside the eggs of other bugs, destroying the larvae. Birds and bats eat their share of those annoying mosquitoes and gnats. 

The more “good bugs” in the yard and garden, the better chance the destructive ones will disappear. 

Companion Planting 

Companion planting — placing flowers, herbs, vegetables, and other greenery next to similar varieties — helps to ward off pests (skunks, raccoons, and moles, etc.) and damaging insects. Companion planting enriches the soil and promotes biodiversity. 

What goes where? Plant these varieties together:

• Place corn alongside cucumbers, beans, potatoes, pumpkins, and squash. Keep corn and tomatoes apart (they are sought out by the same worms).

• Lettuce works well near beets, onions, radishes, carrots and strawberries. Garlic and chives ward off aphids.

• Celery dances divinely with beans, cabbage, and tomatoes. 

Lawn — Go Organic 

Organic lawn fertilizers, weed, killers, and insecticides come from life itself — things like animal manure, bone meal, seaweed, and dead vegetation. Composted organic matter such as minced leaves and grass clippings feed the lawn while providing nutrition to microorganisms in the soil. 

Chemical-free grass keeps polluted water runoff from carrying chemicals to nearby watersheds. Organic products strengthen the soil and promote its fertility. Roots are stronger and grass blades stand up better to drought and disease.

Organic pesticides approved by the EPA include corn gluten, diatomaceous earth, lime sulfur, and neem oil. 

Natural additives for fertilizing the lawn and garden include bone meal, chicken and cow manure, fish remains, seaweed, and leaf mulch — just to name a few. 

Lawn Prep

Healthy soil is the start to lush green yard grass. 

Most lawns grow best with loam-based soils containing a mix of clay, sand, and silt. Organic matter — grass clippings and manure — help enrich the soil. Aerating the dirt loosens the turf to allow water and air to flow to grass roots. 

Fertilize your lawn by adding nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — the amount depends on results of a soil test.  

Every Little Chemical-Free Bit Helps

Chemicals are everywhere — in food, clothes, furniture, and so many more products we use every day. While it’s basically impossible to avoid synthetic additives, we can manage our own yards and gardens with natural methods that promote clean soil and water. As they say ... every little bit helps.  

Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall, when homegrown veggies are on the dinner table.