GARDENING WITHOUT CHEMICALS 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK...
It’s annoying when pests eat your plants. You could obliterate them with chemicals but that can damage wildlife, so what’s the solution? We asked two experts about following a more natural approach
1 HOW CAN I MANAGE UNWANTED PESTS?
You can control them naturally with nematodes – microscopic colourless worms that infect their host with a lethal bacterium. They live in the soil, but you can also get them online or from garden centres to boost the existing population, so you’re working with nature. ‘Manufacturers recommend that nematodes are used immediately and in a very targeted way,’ explains Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society. ‘Vine weevil adults can damage plants in early summer. In June and July, you might spot their telltale bite notches on the edge of cyclamen and succulent leaves followed by larvae when their eggs hatch in late summer. Treating your plants at this time can be effective in managing these pests.’
2 ARE SPECIFIC PLANTING SCHEMES HELPFUL?
‘Companion planting is a method of combining plants that are beneficial to each other,’ says influencer Anya Lautenbach in her book The Money-saving Gardener (£16.99, Dorling Kindersley). ‘You could mix strongly scented ornamentals with edible plants to help deter pests from harming your vegetable or fruit pots. A popular and effective option is French marigolds with tomatoes or, alternatively, try thyme with roses.’
3 CAN I DETER APHIDS NATURALLY?
Yes! Aphids, which include greenfly and blackfly, are part of the garden’s ecosystem and a vital food source for birds. Large infestations, however, can weaken and damage plants and if honeydew, the sticky substance they excrete, gets infested with a black fungus called sooty mould, it can stop plants photosynthesising (converting light into energy). Try hosing these aphids from large plants or simply hand-squash small outbreaks. ‘Use organic chemical-free products in a targeted way at night or at dawn when there aren’t any bees,’ advises Guy. ‘Oil-based products such as those containing rapeseed will smother the aphids and prevent them breeding.’
4 SHOULD I ENCOURAGE FROGS AND TOADS?
Definitely! Toads, newts and frogs are essential to gardens, as they feast on slugs, flies and snails. Did you know that almost a third of our amphibian and reptile species are threatened with risk of extinction?* ‘Invite these visitors back with a still-water feature such as a small pond,’ says Guy. ‘If space is tight, even a washing-up bowl sunk into the ground with a native water plant will provide a great spot for frogs and toads. And remember to leave little gaps in fences at ground level so that wildlife can move easily between gardens.’
5 WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE HEALTHY DISEASE-FREE PLANTS?
‘I’m all about harmony in the garden and believe it’s a waste of money buying expensive chemicals that upset the natural balance,’ says Anya. ‘Garden mindfully. Keep plants healthy by nurturing the soil with homemade compost if you can. Buy from reputable companies – the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a great indicator of plants that have proven to be resistant to certain diseases. I’ll sometimes gently cut off an infected rose leaf but often I’ll let them be – a watch-and-wait policy.’