ntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control

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ntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control [2025/12/16 12:45] – Dave Darbyntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Natural pest & weed control+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Natural pest & weed control ======
  
  
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-## What is natural pest & weed control?+===== What is natural pest & weed control? =====
  
 Natural pest and weed control means using non-synthetic methods to prevent or kill weeds and pests in the garden. For example, instead of using glyphosate weedkiller ('Roundup') to tame an overgrown allotment, you could cover the soil with cardboard and straw for a few months. Or instead of spraying fruit trees to kill aphids, you could put up bird boxes in or near them and let the birds do the work for you. Natural pest and weed control means using non-synthetic methods to prevent or kill weeds and pests in the garden. For example, instead of using glyphosate weedkiller ('Roundup') to tame an overgrown allotment, you could cover the soil with cardboard and straw for a few months. Or instead of spraying fruit trees to kill aphids, you could put up bird boxes in or near them and let the birds do the work for you.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Brassicas growing in a netting tunnel.+_Brassicas growing in a netting tunnel._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Why pesticides harm garden wildlife - from the RSPB.+_Why pesticides harm garden wildlife - from the RSPB._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of natural pest & weed control?+===== What are the benefits of natural pest & weed control? =====
  
 - Synthetic pesticides and weedkillers are poisonous, and therefore risky things to have around our homes, gardens and farms. - Synthetic pesticides and weedkillers are poisonous, and therefore risky things to have around our homes, gardens and farms.
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 <caption> <caption>
-These are all good – from the top: hedgehog; lacewing; blue tit; ladybird larva eating aphids (adults eat them too); common toad.+_These are all good – from the top: hedgehog; lacewing; blue tit; ladybird larva eating aphids (adults eat them too); common toad._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Here's some more reading - from the [Henry Doubleday Association (now Garden Organic)](https://cms.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/pests-doubleday.pdf) and from [South Carolina State](https://cms.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/sg_part4.pdf) in the US. Here's some more reading - from the [Henry Doubleday Association (now Garden Organic)](https://cms.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/pests-doubleday.pdf) and from [South Carolina State](https://cms.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/sg_part4.pdf) in the US.
  
-### Controlling pests+==== Controlling pests ====
  
 First, make sure you are practising good [soil management](/soil/soil), because vigourous, healthy plants growing in healthy, well-managed soil are much less susceptible to pests. First, make sure you are practising good [soil management](/soil/soil), because vigourous, healthy plants growing in healthy, well-managed soil are much less susceptible to pests.
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-'Bug hotel' made of pallets.+_'Bug hotel' made of pallets._
  
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-Some great natural / low-cost ideas for pest control in your garden (polyculture / plant diversity is the single best way to reduce pests and diseases).+_Some great natural / low-cost ideas for pest control in your garden (polyculture / plant diversity is the single best way to reduce pests and diseases)._
  
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-Carrots planted under a fleece tunnel.+_Carrots planted under a fleece tunnel._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Two different kinds of pheromone trap - one near ground level and one hanging in a plum tree.+_Two different kinds of pheromone trap - one near ground level and one hanging in a plum tree._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-Raspberries mulched with woodchip.+_Raspberries mulched with woodchip._
  
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-Nice story about someone persuading his neighbour to stop using Roundup, by being friendly (it’s much more difficult to influence enemies!).+_Nice story about someone persuading his neighbour to stop using Roundup, by being friendly (it’s much more difficult to influence enemies!)._
  
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 And finally, you can make a scarecrow or hang old CDs near to your baby brassicas to scare off pigeons. And finally, you can make a scarecrow or hang old CDs near to your baby brassicas to scare off pigeons.
  
-### Controlling weeds+==== Controlling weeds ====
  
 There are plenty of better, safer alternatives to using synthetic weedkillers. There are plenty of better, safer alternatives to using synthetic weedkillers.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Veg bed with edges made from recycled plastic board to prevent roots intruding from grass path.+_Veg bed with edges made from recycled plastic board to prevent roots intruding from grass path._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-The most important thing you can do is to not use pesticides at all in your garden or smallholding.+_The most important thing you can do is to not use pesticides at all in your garden or smallholding._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Companion planting: onions next to carrots mask the smell of the carrots and keep away carrot fly.+_Companion planting: onions next to carrots mask the smell of the carrots and keep away carrot fly._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 A barrier of really vigorous plants can be used as edging around beds and borders if you have the space - for example growing comfrey along the edge of your veg plot, to keep out neighbouring couch grass (and produce abundant comfrey leaves as useful mulch, compost material and source of liquid comfrey feed). A barrier of really vigorous plants can be used as edging around beds and borders if you have the space - for example growing comfrey along the edge of your veg plot, to keep out neighbouring couch grass (and produce abundant comfrey leaves as useful mulch, compost material and source of liquid comfrey feed).
  
-The [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=343) and [Garden Organic](http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/weed-management) can provide more detailed advice about controlling weeds without ever resorting to weedkiller, and [here's an article](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/stop-slugs-allotment-garden-naturally) about naturally repelling the arch-enemy - slugs. 
  
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
 +
 +===== Further resources =====
 +
 +- [Naturally repelling slugs](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/stop-slugs-allotment-garden-naturally)
 +- [Garden Organic](https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/weeds) - organic weed management
 - [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/controlling-pests-and-diseases-without-chemicals) - managing pests & diseases without chemicals - [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/controlling-pests-and-diseases-without-chemicals) - managing pests & diseases without chemicals
 - [Garden Organic](https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/pests-and-diseases/organic-pest-control-for-fruit-and-vegetables) - complete guide to organic pest control for fruit & veg - [Garden Organic](https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/pests-and-diseases/organic-pest-control-for-fruit-and-vegetables) - complete guide to organic pest control for fruit & veg
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-## Specialists+===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[nuts:nuts|Nuts & nut trees]] 
 +- [[soil:Soil|Soil management]] 
 +- [[vegg:Vegetable growing]] 
 +- [[smho:Smallholding]] 
 +- [[soft:Soft fruit]] 
 +- [[frui:Fruit trees|Fruit trees & orchards]] 
 +- [[herb:Herbs]] 
 +- [[pond:Ponds]] 
 +- [[wiga:Wildlife gardening]] 
 +- [[urbs:small-space gardening|Urban / small-space gardening]] 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • ntpw/natural_pest_and_weed_control.1765889154.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/16 12:45
  • by Dave Darby