The original frugal, green living magazine, founded in 1976. Natural Life is trusted
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from Natural Life Magazine, July/August
1995 Insects and rodents in the yard or home are often just a nuisance. However, some can damage food or possessions. Simple preventive measures stop most problems before they begin. Even when pests do get inside your home, you don't need to use pesticides or poisons. Often, simply removing their food supply and breeding sites is the most effective control. Steps like managing garbage so that it is less attractive, cleaning up spilled food – especially pet food – and eliminating damp conditions around the house are other simple deterrents. The first defence is making sure pests don't get into the house. Seal cracks, including spaces around exterior plumbing and electrical outlets, attic vents and under doors. Use window screens. Don't leave porch lights on all evening, as they collect insects, which are swept into the house when the door is opened. Here are some additional tips for dealing with specific pests: AntsTo discourage ants, sprinkle their nest with red pepper, eggshells, bone meal, talcum powder, wood ash, sulphur, blood meal or coffee grounds. Carpenter AntsPrevent an infestation of ants in your home by repairing wood damaged by moisture, ventilating damp areas, cleaning gutters and storing firewood on raised platforms away from the house. CockroachesCockroaches thrive in areas with moisture, food and darkness. To trap them, place glue boards in areas that they are attracted to. Monitor these traps and clean all areas where droppings are present with soap, water and a disinfectant. Seal cracks or spaces larger than 1/4-inch, particularly in the bathroom or kitchen. Cover open vents with a fine mesh screen. Eliminate all traces of grease, dirt and clutter. Repair leaky taps and avoid any water accumulations. CricketsMix molasses and vanilla extract or lemon juice with water to attract and drown crickets. Plug entry points. Flour Moths and BeetlesThe older food is, the more likely it is to develop an infestation, so buy small amounts or store in the freezer. If you buy food from open bins, seal it in plastic bags and freeze for a week before using. Dry and bulk food should be stored in glass containers with tight lids. Dispose of contaminated food and wash cupboards. Slugs Keeping plants healthy in an organic garden involves avoidance techniques like creating a garden environment that encourages plants to grow while discouraging pests and diseases. Inevitably some problems will still arise unless specific action is taken. The common slug is too common a pest to even need much of an introduction. Slugs attack a wide range of plants, causing anything from slight damage to death. Unfortunately, there is no foolproof method for eradicating slugs. All one can hope for is to reduce their numbers and protect plants when they're at a vulnerable stage. Toads, frogs, and beetles eat slugs and are worth encouraging in your garden. There are few fleshy plants that slugs don't eat. But if your slug problem is particularly bad, avoid their favorites, such as hostas and marigolds. One of the best ways of dealing with slugs is to use physical barriers. Place plastic bottle cloches around plants, or sprinkle circles of lime, eggshells, or sawdust around plants. Slugs are attracted to saucers or plastic pots of milk or beer (they drown themselves in ecstasy). To be sure you're keeping your slimy slug population under control, collect them by hand at night or on damp days. Try collecting them under a tile or wet cardboard, and squash all eggs you find while digging. |
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