Pest control must always be done with the utmost consideration to the safety of the plants, animals and humans. This holds especially true for those with vegetable and organic gardens. The main purpose of growing vegetables organically, will be defeated, if they become tainted with pest control chemicals.

Here are a few long term maintenance tips, to make pest control less damaging and more environmentally friendly.

1. Use the physical pest control process.

This may be accomplished through picking grubs off by hand, creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. Snails can be found hiding in damp places, under rocks and towards the base of those plants with strap-like foliage.

2. Apply biological pest control.

Encourage predatory insects, such as green lacewings and dragonflies, to feed on aphids and other pests that attack your plants. You can do this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Dragonflies especially will hover around water. Bacterial insecticides, such as B. thuringiensis, could also be used against caterpillars.

3. Only as a last resort, should we turn to chemical pest control.

Organic pest control methods can be successful and the ingredients for many of the recipes, can be found in the kitchen cupboards. If chemical sprays are really necessary, try and find the least-toxic. These include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, dehydrating dusts, etc.

4. Consider the use of safer pest control substitutes.

Recipes for alternative pest control include the following:

a) Against Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution, in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.

b) Against Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be applied to cracks, or entry points of these insects. Bay leaves on pantry shelves, could also help in warding off these critters.

Make sure that the chemicals you use, are made specifically for the insects you are targeting and be careful.

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Sally Robson is a South African Internet marketer, who together with her husband Derek, have a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and other non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet, by overcoming the many obstacles facing them. They have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. Sally has a passion for gardening. For more articles and advice on gardening topics, visit Sally at: http://www.dersalsites.com/sallysgardeningtips/ 

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