The most important part to effective, organic pest control, is maintaining a healthy garden. Remember, your plants have been successful in their natural environment because they have inherent abilities to repel harmful insects and pests that have adverse effects on them. This means that by maintaining healthy soil, with the right amount of humus, the appropriate pH for your environment, and regular watering, your plants will better defend themselves.

Keep in mind, if you're just beginning your garden or landscape, that native species are far less susceptible to the local area's pests because they have evolved to cohabitate in that environment. This means that they will require significantly fewer extra-measures for successful pest management.

Regular pruning and ground cleanup is also important to keep a balanced ecosystem in your yard. Especially ensure that rotting fruits and berries are cleaned up, as these will always attract insects and other pests. Well-rotted organic matter can be a nutrient-rich supplement to your garden, but the compost should be fully decomposed before it is applied.

To avoid insecticides, even the natural or organic ones, you can try organic insect repellents first. A significant portion of the recommended organic insect repellent recipes, and even commercially-available sprays, are garlic-based. The strong smelling oils of natural garlic will not kill insects, but it will repel most species, sending them off in search of better-smelling plants. However, between heavy rain and regular watering, these repellent sprays are quickly washed away, meaning that reapplication must be both thorough and frequent.

To avoid the constant reapplications, you may also consider the use of "companion plants." Companion plants can be strategically placed near your most sensitive species. The two main categories of companion plants are those that compliment the needs of other plants (regarding nutrients, shade, sunlight, etc.) and those that ward off insects that harm the other plants. As previously mentioned, garlic should be a useful tool in your arsenal, so planting garlic, as well as fragrant onions, amid your organic plants will repell a wide array of insect species. These companion plants can then also be harvested, as most effective companion plants, like garlic, are also especially useful in repellant sprays, which can still be applied to particularly susceptible plants when extra care is required.

The introduction of beneficial insects to your garden may also help deter plants, however your degree of success is dependent on a wide range of factors, and the introduction of a new species into your garden is risky at best. While the introduction of lady bugs or praying mantis are harmless in most areas, we recommend consulting with a professional first.