Information, Resources & Advice

Plants, Gardens & Nature

Many pests and diseases are of course undesirable. If you are going to grow food or flowers to show or sell then good presentation is paramount. For the majority of people this is not the case. For garden fruit and flowers and garden plants in general, a few bites or spots are not a problem. We have become accustomed over recent years to the perfect blemish free round red tomato in our shops. We have reached this stage through a combination of consumer preference, selection by large supermarket chains, technology (in particular pesticides) and EU standards. Obviously we do not want seriously damaged food, but a few blemishes are not serious. The main idea is not to reach for the spray just because you saw an insect on your fruit.

In general, when trying to avoid infestation and hence serious damage to plants, it may well be necessary to spray with a pesticide. You should ensure that you select the correct pesticide and make it as targeted as possible, i.e. to affect the pest species only or as few other organisms as possible. Follow the manufacturer's instructions of use and limit its spread (spray drift).

The reduction and avoidance of pesticides forms a scale of decreasing use. From wide scale use of pesticides, the middle ground is IPM- Integrated Pest Management, which is increasingly used. This uses some pesticides, say in Apple or Pear Orchards, where the known serious pests and diseases are monitored through the year and only when they reach a threshold level were economic damage will be caused, are they controlled and only then with a targeted pesticide. In the past regular and general sprays were used, with much waste, added expense and devastating effects on the surrounding ecosystem. IPM dramatically reduces this. A similar but naturally simpler approach can be used in your garden. In IPM predators can used to target and control the pest. In your garden, encouraging spider species, ladybirds and other beetles etc.. can help to keep pests in check. If you find a diseased leaf, remove the leaf and burn it. From time to time as you enjoy your garden look out for curled leaves, die back, discolouration, spots and moulds. Remove them and reach for the spray in bad cases only!.

Organic production completely removes the use of artifical chemicals including pesticides. Crop rotation prevents pest build up over years; Monocultures are avoided, which are very attactive to pests and diseases; Companion planting is used were another plant or crop is used which deters the pest or encourages predators; Crops and plants are not over fed (Many, in fact most, garden books will talk about fertilise this and that, but it should be noted, not all plants like high fertility), many plants whilst benefiting from fertilisers, will grow perfectly well on low levels of natural sources of nutrients, and most importantly, in this section on pests & diseases, lush strong growth can often make a plant more attactive to, and less able to defend itself against, attack by pests and diseases (In a sense, just like you and me, insects like a nice juicy fruit or leaf too).