Pest & Disease Management
Identify common garden pests and diseases, and learn organic prevention and treatment methods to keep your garden healthy.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
A healthy garden ecosystem keeps most pest and disease problems in check naturally. When you work with nature—building healthy soil, encouraging beneficial insects, and choosing resistant varieties—you'll rarely need to intervene.
When problems do arise, early detection is key. Make it a habit to walk through your garden daily, looking closely at your plants. The earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to manage organically.
Prevention Strategies
Many modern varieties are bred for disease resistance.
- Look for letters like V, F, N, T on tomato varieties
- Heirloom varieties often have natural pest resistance
- Local varieties are adapted to your region's pests
Don't plant the same family in the same spot year after year.
- Rotate on a 3-4 year cycle minimum
- Keep notes on what was planted where
- Nightshades, brassicas, and cucurbits especially need rotation
Let nature's predators do the pest control for you.
- Plant flowers to attract ladybugs and lacewings
- Provide habitat with mulch and undisturbed areas
- Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that kill beneficials
Healthy plants resist pests and diseases better.
- Proper spacing for air circulation
- Consistent watering - stress invites problems
- Remove diseased plant material promptly
What to Look For:
- • Holes or chewing damage on leaves
- • Discoloration, spots, or yellowing
- • Wilting despite adequate water
- • Sticky residue or sooty mold
- • Insects on undersides of leaves
- • Eggs, larvae, or webbing
When to Scout:
- • Early morning - slugs, caterpillars active
- • Midday - look for wilting
- • Evening - many pests feed at dusk
- • After rain - diseases spread
- • Weekly thorough inspection
Common Garden Pests
Common Plant Diseases
DIY Organic Spray Recipes
Ingredients:
- • 1 tsp neem oil
- • 1 tsp liquid soap
- • 1 quart warm water
Uses:
Aphids, mites, fungal diseases, many soft-bodied insects
Notes:
Apply in evening. Repeat every 7-14 days. Avoid during flowering.
Ingredients:
- • 1 tbsp pure castile soap
- • 1 quart water
Uses:
Aphids, whiteflies, mites, mealybugs
Notes:
Must contact insect directly. Won't harm beneficial insects once dry.
Ingredients:
- • 2 bulbs garlic
- • 2 hot peppers
- • 1 quart water
Uses:
Deters many insects and some animals
Notes:
Blend, strain, dilute 1:10. Reapply after rain.
Ingredients:
- • 1 tbsp baking soda
- • 1 tsp soap
- • 1 gallon water
Uses:
Powdery mildew, some fungal diseases
Notes:
Apply at first sign of disease. Don't use on very hot days.