Make Your Garden Less Inviting to Pests Organic gardening helps
you make your garden less inviting to pests. Most pests are
opportunists that take advantage of weak or stressed plants and
take up residence where the eating is easy. Here are some simple
strategies that will reduce the vulnerability of your garden
plants: Put plants in the right place: Choose the best location
for each plant, taking into account its particular needs for
water, sunlight, and nutrients. Plants emit a chemical signal
when they are weakened, and pests get the message loud and
clear. Confuse pests with mixed plantings: Insects have chemical
receptors that help them zero in on their favorite foods, making
your 50-foot row of squash plants look like a giant billboard
flashing the message "Squash plants here; come and get 'em!" So
plant smaller patches of each crop and scatter the patches
throughout the garden or yard. Keep time on your side: Young
plants, with their tender, succulent stems, are easy prey for
pests. As plants mature, t