Organic Gardening Tips
Organic gardening tips will help you create a butterfly-friendly garden. Providing natural safe environment for caterpillars and butterflies is the basis of healthy & happy butterfly gardening experience. In addition to organic gardening tips below, a good idea is to keep the butterfly caterpillars indoors in a special butterfly pavilion, altogether with their food. That will protect them from birds, mice, bad weather and other threats. In addition, it will give you more control over the caterpillars and protect your garden from being eaten all over. Don’t worry about restricting your caterpillars’ abilities to move around. Caterpillars don’t need much excercise, they need plenty of food. They’ll move around when they turn into butterflies!
DO NOT USE PESTICIDES! At best, pesticides will drive the egg-laying butterflies away from you garden, at worst kill them and their caterpillars.
Grow Plants Native to Your Area
Choose plants for your garden that are native to your area. These plants are genetically adapted to resist insects and other garden predators, they better thrive in the soild typical for your area. In addition, by plating native plants you help preserve them in your area and restore the ecological balance in your region that has been seriously impaired in recent years.
Grow Plants that Deter Predators & Pests
Organic Gardening Tips: CalendulaSome plants and flowers a natural deterrents from pests. For example, calendula will deter Colorado beetles, ticks and other pests, while it is easy to grow, beautiful and can be used for medical and cosmetic purposes.
Attract Natural Predators
Many natural predators feed on insects harming your garden. These include ladybugs, birds, robber flies, frogs, lizards, praying mantids, assassin bugsam, bush bugs, lacewings, ground beetles. Keep a small bowl of fresh water near your garden, don’t forget to change it regularly. Sweet alyssum and dill will attract predatory insects who feed on flowers as well. Arrange flat stones in the sunny areas for lizards.
Use Organic Substances
As the last resort, try natural products that won’t harm humans, pets or wildlife, and that decompose quickly in the environment. Remember that each substance usually affects specific types of predators, so you have to identify the pest before you buy a certain substance. For example, you can use Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural bacteria that affects the digestion of undesired caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. Among other available remedies are insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, and garlic and hot pepper sprays.
Don’t Be Greedy;)
Do you really have so much caterpillars in your garden, that they may cause serious harm to your plants? Often, there is a certain natural balance that allows a certain number of caterpillars eat in your garden without seriously damaging the plants. If you haven’t used any substances in recent years and the number of insects hasn’t increased since then, just let them dine:)
We hope these organic gardening tips will help you create a healthy, thriving butterfly garden!