BDN interviews Garland for article on chemical-free pest control
The Bangor Daily News interviewed Kate Garland, a horticultural professional with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, for an article about chemical-free pest control. The article offered “simple, eco-friendly and effective” solutions to pest problems in gardens. Garland recommends above all to visit your own garden on a regular basis to become aware of problems as soon as they emerge. The next step is to identify a specific pest so it can be targeted strategically. People can try this on their own using identification guides, or send samples to Cooperative Extension or the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association for professional consultation. Recommendations for eliminating pests organically include picking them off plants by hand, using barriers such as row covers, cleaning up debris, spraying plants with water and other chemical-free tactics. “Oftentimes people are surprised at how simple the solution is once they identify it and work with us,” said Garland.