Pest Control Tips for the North Carolina Organic Gardener

Essence of Successful NC Organic Gardening

Successful North Carolina organic gardeners practice a two-stage philosophy of gardening. It starts by making a decision to garden without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. But to be effective, the system must also function as a whole-health yard and garden ecosystem. An organic gardening system provides:

  • Full-scale support for plant growth.
  • Sustained nourishment for soil microbes.
  • Are a reasonable safe-haven for beneficial insects.

But how do you make it work? How do you protect plants while also promoting a better environment for local beneficial insects? And how do you know which plants best suit organic growth in the North Carolina climate?

In this article, we’ve assembled tips that can help you get the most out of your organic garden in Charlotte.

Compost – Core of Organic Garden EcoSystem

Creating an organic ecosystem begins by improving the soil. Make this happen by helping the soil better retain nutrients, water and the materials that best support beneficial microbes.

Two man-induced compost processes can be used:
1. Homegrown Compost – Homegrown compost consists of dead leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, yard debris and more. However, the NC State Cooperative Extension recommends taking advantage of the abundance of scraps from North Carolina chicken and turkey farms. Either resource can provide a handy solution for access to ready-made compost.

2. Cover Crop Compost – In the spring, seed some buckwheat, cowpeas, millet, or soybean. Just as they begin to flower, turn the soil.

Natural Insecticides – The Organic Garden EcoSystem

Derived from microorganisms, various other natural occurring materials, and from plants themselves, natural insect control products can provide your garden with successful insect control. However, proper application is essential to effective performance. Merely substituting natural for synthetic often fails to produce the desired effect.

Points to remember when applying natural insecticides in Charlotte:

  • Synthetic insecticides are designed to linger in the area, thereby increasing the likelihood of long-term pest management.
  • Natural insecticides break down quickly, mostly working against pests that are present at time of application.
  • Long lasting synthetic insecticides increase the risk of harm to beneficial insects, pets and people.
  • Short lasting natural insecticides decrease the risk of harm to beneficial insects, pets and people, but must be applied more frequently than synthetic solutions.
  • Plants rarely have time to absorb natural insecticides.

Natural solutions work best when pest populations are low. But since insect outbreaks typically run in seasons, control is no problem so long as you correctly identify the pest, and then apply the correct natural insecticide solution.

Carolina Pest Management – Reaching Out To North Carolina Organic Gardeners

Since 1939, family-owned Carolina Pest Management has provided residents in the Charlotte area with effective environmentally safe pest control resources. Whenever possible, we use 100% natural pest solutions whenever possible. For more complex pest problems, we adjust chemical additions to the bare necessities for an efficient outcome. For more information or to find out about our green pest control in Charlotte, contact us today.

By Kristin Dodd

Kristin Dodd, the President of Carolina Pest Management, has been with the company full-time for over 20 years, but has been a part of the family-owned business for much longer. She is currently an active board member of the North Carolina Pest Management Association, and was the President from 2010-2011. She is a licensed operator in...

Related Posts