Natural Pest Control Methods for the Garden – Keep Bugs From Ruining Your Harvest Without Pesticides

In this video I’m gonna show how I control pests in the garden – naturally. Insects can be a nuisance in the garden, but they play an important role in the ecosystem.They provide food for birds, they help pollinate our gardens, and they help break down organic matter into nutritious soil that our plants can use. So when you use a pesticide, no matter how organic it claims to be you are still affecting the ecosystem.
My first rule for pest free plants is to keep them happy and healthy. Compost is an excellent soil amendment that works overtime helping your plants thrive.

Stressed plants attract pests. Over fertilization is one source of such stress. Watering issues and mineral imbalances in the soil cause problems in the plants ability to carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen. The result is a stressed plant with excess soluble nitrogen and excess sugar.

Excess nitrogen is a magnet for aphids. They feed off of it. Then have lots and lots of babies, and quickly create an infestation sucking the life out of your plants. The excess sugar stored in the roots is like free ice cream at an all you can eat buffet.

Plants have a natural immune system that makes them taste terrible to pests. Just like organic, whole foods help boost our own immune system, compost provides plants with nutrients they need. The difference between compost and synthetic fertilizer is like the difference between eating a variety of nutritious foods and a diet consisting of only multivitamins.

Compost rich in decomposed organic matter provides micronutrients needed to boost plants’ natural defenses. Healthy plants are rarely attacked by pests because their immune system makes them indigestible to insects.

Soil that contains compost is full of beneficial fungi. These fungi keep plants healthy by out competing disease causing organisms and by forming symbiotic relationships with plants. The fungus through its massive mycelium network helps plants uptake nutrients and water and in exchange the plants provide the mycelium with sugars.

Trap crops are another resource you can grow to keep pests from destroying your garden. A trap crop is a sacrificial crop that you grow with the intention of getting infested with bugs. You then remove the trap crop along with the pests. Think of it as a decoy, you got the broccoli you want to eat over here and the decoy plant of radishes over there. Plant the decoy trap crop about two weeks before you plant your desired crops, so when the pests arrive, they will go to whatever they find first. Also make sure to space the trap crops far enough apart, about 4 feet, because they will cross contaminate if planted too closely.

The type of trap crop depends on the type of pest you want to attract as well as the crop you want to protect.

Herbs such as dill, parsley, cilantro, and basil make delicious companion plants. They repel pests and attract beneficial insects! Dill is also a host plant for monarch butterflies and a decoy plant for tomato hornworms. Grow dill! It attracts a ton of beneficial insects!

Beneficial insects are insects that eat other bugs and they don’t harm your plants.

Lacewings, dragonflies, spiders, and ladybugs are gardener’s friends.
Spiders – stop ants from taking over your garden to farm aphids. Just like humans farm cattle, ants farm aphids for the sweet sticky honey dew they secrete. If you stop ants, you’ll prevent aphids.

Ladybugs eat aphids. You can buy them online and release them in your garden, or you can get them for free by growing herbs that naturally attract them. Dill, parsley, calendula, and cilantro make great host plants for ladybugs.

For larger insects and caterpillars enlist the help of birds! Insects provide protein in a bird’s diet.
– So how do you attract birds to your garden?
– Grow berries they can eat
– Plant bushes where they can hide
– Provide them with a source of clean water

If you live in the southeast, you’re probably familiar with anoles, or these little lizards. They are insectivores and an important part of our ecosystem here in Florida. Besides being famous for our beaches and theme parks, we are also famous for our mosquitoes. And these little lizards are doing the lord’s work keeping insect populations under control.

This is my 3rd year gardening without pesticides. It has been a challenge, but also a joy seeing the symbiotic ecosystem come together. Luckily in Florida we have a year round growing season, so we don’t have to wait until spring to try new techniques. I’d like to encourage you to create your own ecosystem and let me know what kind of birds end up visiting your garden!

Thanks for watching, glad you made it to the end! If you want to learn more about permaculture gardening make sure to hit that subscribe button! And if you have any questions or suggestions for a video, drop them in the comments below. Until next time! Bye bye!

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50 Comments

@rossplainold1565
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

I'm just learning PCG. The last 3 years and have had horrible problems with squash bugs and vine bores. How to I get rid of them or control them. love your videos

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@StagroFarms
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Thanks for sharing 🌱

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@gouravjungari9
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Indians understand your English pronunciation well

Than You To Speak Well Understood

Reply
@lilikoi1010
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

How can I get rid of termites?

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@MichaelGawesebmainone
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

I think I could grow food without pesticides, but I got almost nothing last year since pumpkins were attacked even before flowering. What could one use to deter I don’t know if it is pumpkin fly or fruit fly, have no clue still new

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@jenniferheaton3657
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Have you figured out what to do about white flies on peppers?

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@Javon10000000
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

nice video. really funny ending lol.

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@douglashartman729
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Great video! Finding a symbiotic way to do things has always been in the back of my mind. Now that I'm older and ready to garden again this is invaluable to me. TY so much!

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@chelin7023
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Thank you for mentioning the lizards … great roaches hunters!

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@kjerstinorell9066
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of dirt gnats?

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@sherececocco
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Our minds are like the "network " you speak of 🤭

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@jtsquatch6381
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Thank you

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@Kpp76
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

😍

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@debbiey9452
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Brussle sprouts also make great trap crops

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@manuelllanos4313
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Love your video, well done girl!!

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@brianseybert192
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

I have gone to no external inputs to my garden over the last few years. Finding out LAB is keeping the potato beetles at bay, so far.
Planted a bunch of yarrow to attract ladybird beetles and green lacewings this spring, I always do dill, fennel, cilantro and parsley.
Sounds like you garden the same way I do.
New subscriber, Stay Well!!!

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@jenniferhaywood79
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Fn cicadas 😂

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@NickGrowsVeg
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

I'm doing this in Florida as well. It's nice to see someone else doing the same. Most of the neighbors don't and I'm guessing that's why it seemed to take …a growing season or two I believe, so a year here…for the ladybugs to show up in noticable numbers to really get ahold of the aphids. Purple hyacinth bean turned out to be great at attracting aphids and is perennial here in NE FL, but ours passed during a prolonged (due to poor health) raised bed rebuild. The seeds come up great and we have our own from that plant, so I'm looking for a better trellis situation for them where I can still reach them to jet off the aphids when they become overzealous and do damage.

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@Godisincontrol325
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

😁 Thank you for sharing

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@EmperorSaistone
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

But what if I want to eat the radishes?

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@debliedel
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Great job! Wonderful presentation! This is how I garden and have had great success! Everything has a niche and works together ❤️

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@NGEBUNDIRUMAH
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

talking talking doang. dimana pestisidanya?…..

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@Godisgracious85
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Thank you for this very informative video 😊

Reply
@Queen-ev5we
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

So I'm definitely trying to go the permaculture route. I'm also trying to create my own soil and compost. How many months does it take before the soil and compose that's homemade is ready? Thank you so much!

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@BobD-yn3wj
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Never had a snake eat my crop

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@BobD-yn3wj
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Snakes are good. Rodents are bad.

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@JameLeipold
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

t the Japanese beetles devoured okra and left my other vegetable alone. Love your videos.A trap crop I use in NH is Okra. I moved to NH from GA where okra is a staple. I tried growing it in NH, and found thaF

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@LeoStops
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Yessss!! I'm trying to start up a garden for veterans to overcome government takeover of farming. This means soooo much to me. You are truly the best teacher ever!!!!

Reply
@archur111
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

I really enjoy your videos.
I want to share a recipe for a natural pesticide that you can even drink. I found this from the University of Ecuador.
Shave the stones from a couple of avocados, dry on a tray for a day or two. Boil in 6 cups water until the water becomes reddish brown. Cool, settle or strain, then spray on the plants.

Reply
@janellelonnquistakers
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Yessss!! I'm trying to start up a garden for veterans to overcome government takeover of farming. This means soooo much to me. You are truly the best teacher ever!!!!

Reply
@gladyshall224
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Wow!

Reply
@maryamabdulrehman8059
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Watched couple of your videos, i am thinking of getting started and I understood everything! Nice one and yep I've subscribed, thanks👍

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@RenaissancetoRomantic
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Interesting video Christina, thanks very much. I believe in using compost everywhere in my garden. I live in Argentina and in my particular area we have Summer temps reaching well over 120 degrees and do not get too much of an annual rainfall so I am constantly making compost for my veggies and indoor plants, and yes you are correct, this also helps keep the insects at bay for the most part.

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@Avocado740
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Starts at 0:50

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@Dannykuyten
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

aphids i protect my plans whit other plants tabacco plant leafs repel i make sap and spray on other plans and it help repel 95 % off them only 1 thing after every shower repite spray gr danny from netherland

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@renewyckoff545
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Thank you Dear for your tips. I gave you a thumbs up 👍. Then I saw your bug bloopers. F word, you did stop it from completion though. Back in my day it was unbecoming, unlady like to have potty mouth. If men slipped in a curse he'd say pardon my french. You're a nice young lady, perhaps a grandma 👵 or another older gal can tell you stories of gentlemen opening a door for us or tipping his hat . Those respectful gestures went away when women joined men in a bath of dirty language. So we older gals miss the yes ma'am respectful days. Test it out with the fellas around you 😊. Smiles are contagious 😊 thanks again for your advice.i I'm planting more radishes for sure. Agape love

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@divinecommerce3912
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

If you're reading this, you're probably s really cool gardener so I'll tell ya a secret! Cedarwood Essential Oil makes the best natural mosquito repellent when working in the garden. Happy organic gardening fam! XOXO

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@colbyreader
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Research the difference between Ladybugs and Japanese Ladybeetles. The bugs in this video are not Ladybugs and can cause harm in large numbers. They also have endangered the Ladybugs.
You can still use ladybeetles but Ladybugs are native to the USA and better for your gardens.

Reply
@muttalipozavsar4302
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Very nice video. Thanks a lot … In fact, you are introducing a very nice example for a very impressive verse from Quran below:
Indeed, We have created everything, perfectly preordained ( Al Qamar, verse 49)…
As people, we always try to destroy this magnificient equilibrium in the nature.

Reply
@cjcampo620
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

How did you attract and keep the owls around? I'd rather not put an owl box high up on a pole.

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@brookeshepherd2313
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Just found your channel and im loving it and loving your realness!! Lol!
Another great trick here in north GA is keeping cardinals and yellow finches around year round with black oil sunflower seed and planting a few sunflowers around your yard in the growing season in addition to keeping seeds around year round, this has significantly helped with keeping down with tomato horn worms and other pest!
Cardinals love those horn worms!
Keep up the awesome content!!!

Reply
@onetrick.pony1
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Subbed for the permaculture approach described in the intro.
Turned the bell on for the "f!#* off bugs" in the outtakes 😉

Reply
@markbloyd9852
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

I really enjoy your videos, and hope this channel grows quickly, so that you can keep producing more videos.

Reply
@lindasands1433
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Any ideas about keeping bigger pests away? Deer, pigs & hares

Reply
@biodivers5294
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Watch nature and learn. I think you’re doing a good job 👌

Reply
@devoncsmith2696
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Been doing this method for years and it always works a treat, especially using your own compost to feed the plants and marigolds to attract beneficial insects along with companion planting to keep most insects at bay. The only times I encounter when plants don't respond well, is when mother nature takes a turn for the worse or when plants are weak so get attacked by insects. Only insecticide I regularly use are snail bait (bird and child friendly) and straw mulch to reduce slugs and snails crawling all over my garden.

Reply
@ALL7ZGLOBAL
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

great video!

Reply
@jay-124
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

구독자를 늘리려면 말을 줄이고 행동으로 해야 합니다…
말이 많으면 다른 나라사람들이 못들어와요…

Reply
@jay-124
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

말을 적게 하세요…그래야 쉽게 지치지 않아요…

Reply
@danhartnett3030
May 31, 2025 @ 4:14 pm

Great video The only thing I would add, is a bat House

Reply

Natural Pest Control Methods for the Garden – Keep Bugs From Ruining Your Harvest Without Pesticides

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