Pests are a problem in many gardens and can ruin your flower bed or a good crop of vegetables. When dealing with pests, and especially in vegetable gardens, you want to use methods that are safe for both plants and humans. Since avoiding the use of harsh chemicals for pest control is a good idea all around, here's some tips on some gentler methods of getting rid of garden pests.

Physical Pest Control

Time consuming but very natural, this method consists of many things you can physically do to control bugs and other pests. Picking grubs off by hand, creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. If snails are a problem, look for them hiding in damp places under rocks and near the base of those plants with straplike foliage.

Biological Pest Control

Get rid of pests by inviting insects in that eat them! Encouraging predatory insects such as dragonflies and green lacewings into your garden can help in your pest control efforts as they eat aphids and other pests that attack your plants. So how do you attract them? Try simply placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Dragonflies especially love water and will hover around it. Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis can also be used against caterpillars.

Safer Pest Control Recipes

You can mix up some solutions for pest control that are safe - and you probably have the ingredients right in your kitchen! To get rid of green aphids and mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and 1 cup vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.

Organic pest control methods can be successful and are much better for both you and the environment. Sometimes, however you cannot get rid of pests organically and must turn to chemicals as a last resort. If chemical sprays are really necessary you must use the least-toxic. Some of the least toxic pest control includes horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and dehydrating dusts. Make sure that the chemical sprays and solutions you use are made specifically for the pests you are targeting.