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was told that either I or the allotment society could be liable if I put up a sign, so this was not an advisable course of action.I know that wasps are beneficial for gardeners: not only are they important for the whole ecosystem, but they eat garden pests

is provided in a bird bath and large terracotta saucers on the patio, and I don't use any pesticides around my garden at all.But to be organic you do still need to control pests to prevent damage to both edible crops and ornamental plants. So when, in the last

, such as natural pest or disease resistance.The one rule that would be close to the top of my list is to make every effort to sow seeds at the right time. Often that means making time in your busy diary to prepare pots or soil so that you can actually sow the seeds

inspector to report the discovery of a noxious pest.

to pests and diseases, and (most importantly) much quicker to crop.This is where they become exciting: aubergines are normally quite tricky to grow. They're best raised in a warm greenhouse, and if you sow seed later than March, you’re in danger of losing

the best flowers and are very useful in greenhouses where they catch whitefly and other greenhouse pests.Nepenthes produce very fetching striped cups which dangle from the plant like Sherlock Holmes' pipe. The necks of the cups are brightly coloured

pests, and also helps break down clay soils.

’t need to lift a finger. Automatic watering systems take the strain, leaving the busy gardener with time to tie in leading stems, pinch out side shoots and check for pests, and not lug endless watering cans into the greenhouse.I haven't checked

managed agriculture, either. But these 'pests' form an important part of the food chain and many species of bird and bat rely on them. Sadly, a common way of dealing with ants is to pour boiling water over the nest. I wonder how many ant mating rituals

crops to kill 'pests' dramatically reduces the amount of food available to them.Luckily, there's a lot gardeners can do to help. If you garden for amphibians, birds, bees and butterflies, you will have already created a fantastic bat habitat. You can