What I dislike most about working in the garden is the occasional need for application of pesticides. Although the very few pesticides we use are relatively safe, they remind me of how much more toxic chemicals were once so commonly used in gardens and around homes. Many of the chemicals formerly used to control insects and diseases in the garden are no longer available because they have been found to have detrimental effects to the environment or present a health risk to those who come into contact with them.

Whenever possible, I recommend controlling pests without conventional chemicals. Not only are many of the “alternative” controls less damaging to the environment, but may be more effective because they do not damage populations of beneficial organisms. Many insecticides eliminate all insects; including the predatory insects which help control the pestilent insects. For example, a non-selective insecticide would easily eliminate aphid infestations. However, because the predatory green lacewing population would also be eliminated by the same chemicals, the aphid population would recover more quickly without natural predators. Continued application of pesticide necessary to control aphid recovery also prevents recovery of the green lacewing population. A good pest management program would be helpful also.

Alternative controls include physical controls, cultural controls and biological controls. If chemical controls are absolutely necessary, less toxic chemicals are preferred. Examples of physical controls include sticky barriers used to prevent ants from farming scale and aphid insects on garden plants as well as copper tape used to block access to snails and slugs.

Cultural control involves selection of plant species which are best suited to each situation. For example, if snapdragons can not be grown without rust problems, another