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In Mother Nature’s scheme of things the good and bad balance and all things basically take care of itself until the human hand is put into the cycle.
We Americans are so beleaguered with cleanliness and fighting dirt and grime that we take it over into our gardens and lawns. The minute a weed or dandelion appears we swoop down on it. We interject lawn controls that feed our lawns and kill the “bad guys” and when it comes to bugs…forgetaboutit!
I know, I hate bugs and I have to control myself now that I know better. Many of us have
Aphids in our vegetable or flower garden so the thing to do is to get Ladybugs because she and her larvae will gobble up Aphids, mites and small caterpillars and you will find that the larvae will be especially active between May and July. If you don’t have Ladybugs you can order them on-line.
A friend of mine in Northern New York has a huge apple orchard and one year had severe problems with fruit tree spider mites, green flies and some kind of small caterpillar. After he did research he brought Hover flies which resemble dark bees or wasps into his orchard. He did this by planting rows and rows of marigolds, phacelia and “poached egg” plants throughout his orchard. Hover flies get their name because of their habit of hovering over plants and dart around quickly.
Don’t spray for mosquitoes in your garden because chances are you will be killing any dragonflies that come your way. No dragonflies? Then you can plant some reedy plants in or around the edges of your garden and they will come or just purchase some through mail-order houses on the internet. Build a small pond in your garden, even a small one and the next thing you know you have a lot of frogs who will eat any mosquitoes you have. A pond will also attract dragonflies that also eat mosquitoes. A small pond with a water feature that moves your water to keep it from stagnating gives you not only attractive sight and sound but a home to beneficial insects that will improve the biodiversity of your garden.
Many people go crazy when bees appear and they should realize that bees are beneficial to fruit trees and many other things. Just plant some lavender, rosemary, daisies, cosmos, heather and/or marigolds and the bees will arrive. Teach your children to not swing at bees and best of all teach yourself that bees will not harm you unless you go into an unnecessary arm swinging mode.
Birds are a great asset in biodiversity and will control a good many pests in your garden so encourage birds by planting your garden near tall trees or have tall posts that house bird houses or nesting places for birds. We have so many birdhouses in and around our garden and they visit our gardens to feast on pesky beetles, moths and flies.
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Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/
To see Arlene’s Gardens and to read her gardening diaries and to take a walk through her pictorial garden or click on Arlene’s Books where you can download or buy her gardening & cook books, including her new book, “The ABC’s of Wine and Beer Making”. Remember to check out her artwork, especially of her fruits and vegetables. Arlene says, “All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I thank you for visiting my site.”
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