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Recently in the Dirt Lovers membership we were chatting all things bugs for our monthly garden theme. As part of this theme I interviewed an entomologist about all things bugs in the backyard veggie patch and wanted to share my key learnings from our chat.
Every year is different
Every year you’re going to experience a different epidemics of certain bugs depending on conditions.
Avoid all sprays, organic included
If you want to work on keeping a good balance of diversity avoid all sprays, this includes a lot of the ‘organic options’.
Observe and diversify
The best way to keep things in check is by observation and good diversity of plants. Your good bugs will always want two things - food and shelter. Make sure you’re growing plants that will
On introducing good bugs
If you want to buy in bugs to help a specific pest, don’t wait until they are in plague proportions as it will take a while for them to catch up. Also make sure you are growing the food and shelter they need.
Good guys
Spiders and wasps are great insects to have in the garden for keeping things in check. Bug hotels can help, but it’s not proven to be of great benefit.
Stick with what works
Always adapt what you plant, if you find that you get epidemic proportions of pest insects then look at alternatives of what you can grow.
