Are bugs in the garden a good thing?
In the world of gardening, there's a battle between good and evil: the battle between good bugs and bad bugs. Good bugs are beneficial insects that eat other bugs, primarily those that like to eat our plants. Using bugs to fight other bugs is an important element of what we horticulturalists call integrated pest management, or IPM. Beneficial bugs are nature's way, and my way, of keeping garden pests in check.
A key part of welcoming the good guys into our gardens is being able to identify them – and their larvae. It's also important not to use chemicals, which are banned in some regions.
This story was originally titled "Pest Control" in the June 2010 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!
