How Do You Kill Garden Pests Without Harming Beneficial Insects?
There are few things more disheartening than discovering that the rewards of your labor in the garden have gone to the bugs. While most insects found in the garden are actually helpful in some way, some insects and soil-dwelling creatures, such as aphids, cutworms and thrips, can quickly ravage your vegetable crops and ornamental plants without timely intervention. Unfortunately, pesticides that control many garden pests also target the “good” insects that prey on them. However, there are a few simple ways to kill garden pests without harming beneficial insects. Photograph, sketch or hand-pick any insects you suspect of being leaf eaters and try to make an identification using a field guide to garden pests or a gardening reference book. Include any larvae that you find on the underside of plant leaves as well, since these may be specimens of pre-adult pests. Most field guides and reference books include illustrations of common garden pests in varying stages of life. (See Resources for
