Pest Control and Beneficial Insects

Trap crops are crops which are grown with the intention of them being attacked by pests rather than your main crops. They are a diversion, a metaphorical bone that a gardener throws to the pests so they ignore your real food. For example right now I’ve got strawberries as a main crops with clover as […]

What Are Grubs? Grubs are the larval form of beetles. Why Grubs Love Garden Soil Grubs like cool, moist places filled with decomposing matter. This means they’ll feel right at home in your garden soil or your compost bin. You’re likely to find grubs in both places if your soil and compost are healthy. What

If you’re a gardener, you’re likely familiar with lots of plants and plenty of pests. How familiar are you with the full cast of local pollinators who visit your garden, though? Here in the Sonoran Desert, we’ve got a unique list of characters who will come to your aid and help keep your veggies and

Cabbage worms aren’t worms at all! They’re caterpillars and they absolutely LOVE cabbage and other brassicas. You’ll often see these critters all up in your cruciferous as the weather cools, when your plants are livin’ / laughin’ / lovin’. They love taking advantage of the abundance as your brassica production comes into full-swing. Here in

Gophers, AKA pocket gophers are a burrowing rodent and might well show up as a garden pest. If that happens to you, let’s talk about how you might deal with gophers in the garden. What Are Gophers? Despite the common misconception, gophers are not related to groundhogs. Groundhogs are in the squirrel family, gophers are

To many gardeners, birds in the garden are only seen as an annoying nuisance. They steal your fruit and eat your tomatoes, and make you have to put that dang bird netting over anything that’s close to ripe. But this underestimates the important role that birds play in the garden ecosystem! Let’s learn to see

Today we’re talkin’ how to deal with hornworms on tomatoes. Y’all already know. Hornworms are notorious in tomato gardens! Don’t worry though, we’re looking at some organic & holistic solutions for all your hornworm probs here. Let’s try and find a way to deal with these obnoxious little buggers, while maintaining healthy balanced ecosystems. Understanding

If you’ve got cucumber beetles wreaking havoc in your garden, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about some natural ways you can deal with these menaces without reaching for pesticides or killing beneficial species in the process. We need not surrender to primitive chemical warfare, NO. Never again. Instead of resorting to harmful pesticides

For organic gardeners, beneficial insects are a critical aspect of your garden pest control and ecosystem balance. So what are beneficial insects anyway? Here we’ll dive into the wonderful world of beneficials such as predatory insects. Let’s look at the important roles these creatures play in organic gardens, their use cases, and how to attract

If you’re like me, you LOVE it when hummingbirds visit your garden. Flitting from flower to flower, agility and vibrancy on full display, one can’t help but be captivated by their alluring dance. Did you know that these little bitty birds can be attracted to your outdoor space with more than just sugar water feeders?

As much as we all love gardening, it’s so easy to get discouraged when pests shred our carefully-tended plants. I’ve been there too, I know! Sadly lots of gardeners reach for the pesticides and synthetics as soon as pests arrive. I used to be one of them. It’s important to remember, though, that pests are

If you’re an organic gardener and are curious about how to control pests naturally, you’re in the right place! Pests will always be present in organic gardens. Unless you’re growing indoors in a sterile synthetic grow, you’re going to have pests (and even then, they’ll show up. IYKYK!) You can learn how to work with

As a gardener, you’re probably all too familiar with the frustration of seeing aphids on your precious brassicas. Let’s talk about why they’re here, and what you can do about them… What Are Aphids, Anyway? These tiny, soft-bodied buggos love to feast on ya juicy broccoli leaves, along with your cauliflower and other brassicas. It’s

If you’re looking for how to get rid of whiteflies organically, you’ve come to the right place! Whiteflies can be a pretty big nuisance for gardeners in Tucson and can quickly become a problem if left unchecked. Thankfully there are numerous organic options that can be used to get rid of them. What Are Whiteflies,

If you’re a Tucson gardener embracing organic methods, beneficial insects are one of your most important garden allies! There are so many helpful insects in Tucson that will pollinate your garden, eat pests, help decompose your compost, and more. Ready to learn about cultivating a harmonious garden ecosystem that’s well-balanced? You’re in the right place

Curious how I get rid of ants in my garden? Before reaching for the insecticides, let’s learn a little more about the role these critters play! Ants in the garden can be a common sight, and many gardeners want to rid themselves of the once and for all. That’s the wrong mindset. Before reaching for

You may have heard of black soldier flies, or have some in your compost or garden. But are black soldier flies good or bad? I believe that most insects have a role to play in the garden – even if it’s that’s to feed other insects and critters. With a range from garden guardian to

Woodlouse, aka “pill bugs”, “roly-polys”, “isopods”, or “potato bugs” are a funny thing… Let’s dig deeper into the world of these fascinating isopods to understand their behavior, their role in the ecosystem, and how we can cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship with them in our gardens. Understanding Roly Polys Did you know that isopods are

If you’ve ever had a fungus gnat fly up your nose, you know just how obnoxious and personal-space-invading these critters are. What’s that, you’ve never had a fungus net fly up your nose you say? Well aren’t you lucky… But you still might want to get rid of them! Fungus gnats are a common problem

I know you’re frustrated with the garden damage from these critters and wondering how to deal with ground squirrels in the garden, let’s talk… Squirrel Prevention the best option for dealing with ground squirrels in your garden to not let them get into your garden in the first place. Squirrel-Proof Fencing I’ve seen smart fencing,