Q: This is our first time planting a garden. We would like to protect the garden with natural pesticides. Do you know if there is an effective organic pesticide that can be used?

A: The best way to protect a vegetable garden is to make the plants healthy and to attract beneficial insects. To that end, follow my suggestions at http://xrl.us/SOILAMEND (broken link). Plant dill, fennel, salvia, zinnia, agastache and clethra flowers among your vegetables to bring pollinators and pest predators into the garden. If your garden plants are affected by a pest or disease thereafter, send a photo to your local Extension office (1-800-ASKUGA-1) and they’ll tell you how to achieve organic control.