by Chris Hagey

Emotionalism and insect damage seem to go hand in hand. As organic gardeners we are often left with less than desirable yards but it doesn't have to be this way.

We need to begin looking at insects as the master storytellers they are, instead of in an emotionally charged haze as the destructors of our garden. Doing this will be a large factor in bringing better balance to our yard, more peace to the plants and peace of mind for us.

It’s definitely not emotional to the animals, insects, fungus and bacteria... they are simply doing their job as nature intended by taking down the plants that call as being weaker or unhappy. There is a true matchup happening here. Like any good match it is a miracle to behold, unless of course we are left with holes in our rose leaves and flowers that look decimated before they can fully bloom.

If you practice yoga, you know when you feel in good flow. This is the same secret for our yards. When our garden beds have sluggish energy flows, we may literally have very slug-ish garden beds as well. The very best way to manage pests and disease in the garden is to keep the life force of our soil and the plants at their optimal levels. While mainstream horticulture looks at the soil as the largest factor, I see that there is a need to also tune into the more subtle patterns and rhythms of our yard. We need to maximize how we plant and design to be in good balance with our yards' unique energy blueprint.

Challenged soil or plants that are not well placed will be continually irresistible to insects and animals. A bit of munching is fine. So much that the plants cannot grow is a sign that we need to look deeper as this is a measure of plants out of place and soil out of balance. It is not the insects and animals who are the real culprits but rather it is the entire dance in our yard that may need attunements and some fine adjustments. To look at it in this way truly deflates the emotionalism involved and can give us a great platform to stand on as we learn about the true depths of our yard.

Soil Attunements

The microbial life of the soil in any given area will tip toward either a majority of anaerobic microbes or aerobic microbes. The aerobic microbes are called into soil that has good mineral content, plenty of organic matter and good oxygen.

Aerobic microbes use oxygen as they consume organic matter and minerals, in the process creating what plants need in the forms they can use it well. Anaerobic microbes, however, can thrive in compacted or low oxygen soils and they give off ammonia and methane gas. These gases attract the insects as much as do the plants in this soil who are giving off imbalanced auras to the clean up squad.

When we feed the soil with plenty of organic matter by adding compost liberally, using organic mulches that will break down and feed the soil next year as well as organic fertilizers like seaweed we are going to give our soil the ability to nurture aerobic microbes and happy plants.

Along with this, we want also to be mindful of good neighborly practices... for our plants! This is essential for the vitality of the plants in our yard and can mean the difference between a few insects dining on them occasionally or a multitude of insects razing them to the ground or vitally hampering with their ability to grow.

It is always nice to have good neighbors, but for the plants in our gardens and landscapes it can sometimes be critical. This is, of course, the basis for companion planting and yet this also includes the trees and shrubs in our yard, not only the annuals and perennials. Even more critical at times can be the trees themselves and how companionable they are next to one another. Many a pine and maple subtle interaction war over many years have ended with the pines getting sawfly or fungal problems and slowly fading away, whereas a pine planted next to a serviceberry will see them both thriving. Maples will be far better placed next to a spruce tree or a concolor fir. They have natural affinities to one another and are thus good companion plants. More than simply a scientific compatibility, these have a depth of open affinity at spirit, mind and body levels.

Taking the time to look at where and how the insects and other pests in our yard are catching our attention, we can begin to think about the affinities our plants have to one another as well as how vital our soil may be. Those moth eaten leaves and mildew ridden roses just might be the beginning of a beautiful new relationship for us with the Earth, with our yard and with all the many insects, bacteria, microbes and fungi that share our yard.

Chris Hagey has achieved the status if Advanced Master Gardener with additional university training in landscape design but counts her training in subtle energy facilitation and 35 years of hands-on gardening experience as the mainstay of her thriving yard. In addition to her facilitation practice (www.earthalchcrnv.com) Chris enjoys doing on-site yard consults to aid with energy flow dynamics. (248) 643.-4755.